How to Keep Your Shared Content Private and Secure

Not everything you share should be accessible to the whole internet. Copypastia gives you several layers of control depending on how sensitive your content is.

Code-Protected Sharing

The simplest form of access control. When you share a paste, switch the visibility toggle from Public to Code, then set a passcode of your choice.

Anyone who follows the share link will see a locked page asking for the code. Without it, the content is hidden. This works well for:

• Sharing drafts with a specific reviewer
• Sending config files to a team member
• Protecting notes that aren't meant for general access

The passcode is set by you and never stored in plain text.

Link-Only (Unlisted) Sharing

By default, public pastes are not marked as discoverable — meaning they won't appear in any public feeds or sitemaps. The link still works for anyone who has it, but it won't be indexed unless you explicitly check the Discoverable option.

This is the "unlisted YouTube video" equivalent: shareable but not findable.

Expiry Dates

Set an expiry time in the Share modal to make a paste automatically stop being accessible after a certain point. Use this for:

• Time-sensitive information (meeting notes, event details)
• Temporary access grants
• Links shared in public channels that you don't want to live forever

Burn After Reading

For the highest sensitivity content — passwords, tokens, private keys — burn after reading ensures the paste is permanently removed from public access after the first view. Once someone opens the link, it's gone.

This is available on paid plans. Enable it with the Burn after reading toggle in the Share modal.

These controls work together. A paste can be code-protected, set to expire after 24 hours, and marked as burn-after-reading all at once. Match the combination to the sensitivity of your content and adjust as needed.