Questions, answered plainly
Before you trust Untilum with a message
No hidden caveats below a purchase button. These are the answers we would want before creating a capsule ourselves.
01Where is my capsule stored?
The current application saves the UDDP file to the location shown on your device. Untilum does not keep an automatic backup. You choose and maintain additional copies.
02Does Untilum copy it to a distributed network automatically?
No. That is not a current core feature. Delivery Labs is experimental and requires separate explicit consent.
03What happens if Untilum closes?
The UDDP format, embedded instructions and public specifications are designed to allow compatible opening without Untilum. You still need an intact file, the password and the required public time proof.
04What if the public time network stops before my date?
That is an availability risk. The current consumer implementation relies on drand quicknet for its time proof. Protocol drafts describe broader beacon policies, but this is not a completed consumer guarantee.
05Can my password be recovered?
No. Untilum never receives or stores it. Keep it separately and plan how the future recipient will obtain it.
06What if all copies are lost?
The capsule is unrecoverable. Keep at least two independent copies and periodically move them from aging storage media.
07Can I change the date or cancel a capsule?
Not without creating a new capsule. The chosen date is part of what the file protects; a published copy cannot be remotely revoked.
08What costs money?
The current Windows, Android, iOS testing and Web releases are free. Managed preservation at €9.99/€19.99 is a planned one-time service and is not currently for sale. Opening should never require a subscription.
09Can Untilum read my file?
The supported application encrypts locally and does not need to upload plaintext or the password. Early-access software still carries implementation and device risks; an external security audit has not yet been completed.
10Is the capsule a legal will or notarization?
No. A cryptographic capsule does not replace the legal form required for a will, contract, notarization or other regulated document.
11Is a 50–100 year opening guaranteed?
No. Longevity is a design goal supported by an open, self-describing format and compatibility policy. It is not a warranty against every future cryptographic, device, storage or network failure.
12Why not use a password-protected ZIP or scheduled email?
A ZIP has no independent time factor; anyone with its password can open it immediately. A scheduled email depends on the sender service and account continuing to operate. Untilum combines time and password in a portable file.
Ready to test it?
Use an unimportant file and a short date first. The Android internal beta is free.