Is Postimages Safe?

If you use or plan to use Postimages, you need to know: Is Postimages safe? 

Below, we explain whether Postimages is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is Postimages?

Postimages is a free online image hosting service. 

You can upload, store, and share images through it without needing to sign up for an account or download any software (though you can sign up if you want to – doing so means you’ll be able to manage your uploads, organize custom galleries, and delete files as needed).

You can upload images from your device or a URL, and you can upload multiple images simultaneously. 

There’s no limit on how many images you can upload. 

Postimages supports most image formats, including JPG, PNG, and GIF. It also gives you direct links to your images as well as BBCode and HTML links so that you can embed your images on social media, websites, and forums.

Before uploading an image, you can choose whether you want to resize it. You can also choose the image’s expiration date (no expiration, 1 day, 7 days, or 31 days). 

Postimages does not remove images due to inactivity. 

Is Postimages Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe,” but generally, yes, it appears to be safe for casual use. 

According to Postimages’ privacy policy, Postimages regularly scans the website for any security holes, known vulnerabilities, and malware. 

Personal information is kept behind secured networks and is only accessible to a limited number of people who are required to keep it confidential. All sensitive information is encrypted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, and all transactions are processed through a gateway provider. 

Postimages was included in Lifewire’s 2023 roundup of ‘7 Best Free Image Hosting Websites.’ 

The platform does not require users to create an account, which minimizes the risk of personal information being exposed. Additionally, the links generated for sharing images are private by default, meaning only those with the link can view the images.

No major data breaches have been associated with Postimages at the time of writing.

Is Postimages Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.”

Postimages offers a basic level of privacy but is not designed with advanced privacy features in mind, so its suitability for privacy depends on how you use the service. 

You don’t need to create an account to use Postimages, which reduces the risk of personal data being collected and stored and may be a good option for those who don’t want to link their activities to a personal account. Not having to create an account also means less spam, promotional emails, and unnecessary notifications. 

The links generated for sharing images are private by default, so only those with the link can view them. That said, anyone with the link can view and distribute the image. There’s no access control or password protection.

Postimages does not offer end-to-end encryption for stored images. 

In its privacy policy, Postimages describes the kind of data it collects (e.g., email address if you register for an account) and what it does with it (e.g., to personalize your experience).

Postimages says it does not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personally identifiable information to outside parties (except as necessary for the website to function) unless they let you know in advance or it’s required to do so by law. 

However, it may provide users’ non-personally identifiable information to other parties for advertising, marketing, and other uses. 

The site allows third-party behavioural tracking by trusted partners. 

The privacy policy of Postimages has not been evaluated by an external review site such as Terms of Service; Didn’t Read at the time of writing. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Postimages

Follow the steps below for a safer and more private experience while using Postimages. 

• Only share image links with trusted individuals. Postimages generates public links for your uploaded images, which can be accessed by anyone with the URL. To keep your images more private, only share the link with people you trust and avoid posting it in public forums or spaces where it could be easily discovered.
• Use temporary image uploads. Postimages allows you to choose an expiration period for your uploads. Selecting a time frame, like 1 day, 7 days, or 31 days, ensures that your image is automatically deleted after that period, reducing the risk of it being accessed long-term.
• Avoid uploading sensitive or personal images. Since Postimages doesn’t offer password protection or encrypted storage, avoid uploading sensitive or personal images that could compromise your privacy if accessed by others. For highly sensitive content, consider using a more privacy-focused platform.
• Regularly check and delete old uploads. If you have an account with Postimages, regularly review your uploaded images and delete those you no longer need. This minimizes the risk of outdated images being accessed unexpectedly.
• Consider using a URL shortener. If you want to add an extra layer of obfuscation, use a URL shortener to mask the direct link to your Postimages upload. While this doesn’t fully secure the image, it makes the link harder to guess.