This text will self-destruct in 40 seconds

Found on Silicon.com on Sunday, 11 December 2005
Browse Technology

A service offering Mission Impossible-style text messages that "self-destruct" after they have been read has been launched.

Staellium UK said that its StealthText service will allow business executive dealing in sensitive information to send texts which will delete themselves from the recipient's mobile phone as soon as the person has read them.

Once opened, the message will disappear after about 40 seconds. Staellium said it has already had interest from financial services companies, the Ministry of Defence and celebrity agents.

"In spring 2006 we will be launching new services such as self-destruct email, voice and picture messages, so ultimately no one will ever have to worry about their messages or pictures ending up in the wrong hands ever again," she added.

This is secure because? If the protocol itself is open, developers just need to add the option "Disable Self-Destruct". It's like the "Return Receipts" which should make sure an email was received; but mailclients can turn that off. You could also copy and paste the text or images; if that fails, make a screenshot. Perhaps it might work on cellphones, where options are limited, but on a computer it's getting really hard; I'm tempted to say impossible.