PrivateNotes 2025.7.19 - Image Attachments & Security Fixes

2025-07-198 min read

This release adds encrypted image attachments to PrivateNotes, along with important security fixes and bug patches. You can now drag and drop images directly into your notes while keeping everything encrypted and private.

Download PrivateNotes 2025.7.19 →

header image: privatenotes screenshot

New: Image Attachments

How it works

  • Drag images from your computer into any note
  • Images show up immediately
  • Everything gets encrypted and stored in your vault file
  • Images load back quickly when you return to notes

Privacy & Security

  • Images are encrypted with AES-GCM 256-bit before storage
  • Nothing gets uploaded to the cloud - stays on your device
  • Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, and WEBP files up to 10MB each

Performance

  • Uses web workers to decrypt images without freezing the app
  • Keeps recently viewed images cached for faster loading
  • Handles up to 20 images per note smoothly
  • Falls back gracefully if web workers aren't available

Security Fixes

Image format security

  • SVG files are excluded from supported formats due to potential security risks
  • Supports secure image formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, and WEBP
  • File validation ensures only safe image types are accepted

Fixed injection vulnerabilities

  • Improved input validation and sanitization
  • Enhanced security measures for user content

Improved process isolation

  • Enhanced security architecture
  • Better memory management for sensitive data

Bug Fixes

Fixed note operation bugs

  • Major fix: Delete and rename actions now work on the correct note
  • Issue: When you clicked a link to go from Note A to Note B, then tried to delete or rename, it would affect Note A instead of Note B
  • Solution: Fixed the reactive state management to track the currently displayed note properly

Memory improvements

  • Fixed memory leaks that would slow down the app over time
  • Better cleanup when switching between notes with images
  • Improved cache management to prevent excessive memory usage

Performance & Technical Changes

Simplified image loading

  • Streamlined architecture for better reliability
  • Images load in parallel without blocking the UI
  • Automatic timeouts prevent hanging on large files

Better memory management

  • Improved caching for faster loading
  • Automatic cleanup to prevent memory bloat
  • Better resource management during navigation

Testing & Quality

Improved test coverage

  • Wrote 22+ unit tests covering the new image functionality
  • Tests for error scenarios, memory leaks, and edge cases
  • Integration tests for the communication between app components
  • Performance testing with large image collections

Better code quality

  • Improved type safety throughout the image handling code
  • Better error logging for when things go wrong
  • More thorough input validation
  • Cleaner separation between different parts of the system

What's Next

Known issues I'm working on

  • Image deletion: When you delete images from notes, they stay in storage (I'll fix this soon)
  • Cleanup tools: Better utilities for managing attachment storage over time
  • Error recovery: More robust handling of edge cases

Future features

  • Support for other file types (PDFs, documents) with proper security validation
  • Image compression options to save storage space
  • Batch operations for managing multiple attachments
  • Integration with search to find notes containing specific images

Supported formats

Image format choices

  • Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, and WEBP formats
  • SVG files are excluded for security reasons (can contain executable code)

Upgrading

  • Your existing vaults will work fine with no changes needed
  • The app will automatically update the vault format if needed
  • I recommend backing up your vault file before upgrading (always a good idea)

System requirements

  • Windows, macOS, or Linux
  • 4GB+ RAM recommended for optimal performance with images

Download & Install

  • Update notifications: The app will notify you when updates are available
  • Download: Get the latest version at privatenotes.pro
  • Backup first: Always a good idea before major updates

This was a big update focused on adding a much-requested feature while keeping security and privacy as the top priorities. The image attachment system is designed to be simple, secure, and fast - letting you focus on your notes instead of fighting with the technology.