Receive Mode: Let Others Upload Files to You — Securely and Encrypted
SecureEU Team
Privacy & Security
Sharing files is easy — but what about receiving them? Asking a client or colleague to sign up for yet another service just to send you a document creates friction and security risks. SecureEU's new Receive Mode flips the script: you create a personal upload link, share it, and anyone can send you files with full end-to-end encryption — no account required.
The Problem: Collecting Files Securely Is Hard
Think about how you currently receive files from others. Maybe you ask people to email attachments (capped at 25 MB, scanned by Google or Microsoft). Maybe you share a Dropbox folder (which means giving access to your cloud storage). Maybe you use a form service that stores files on US servers without encryption.
All of these approaches have the same fundamental issue: someone else controls the security of your incoming data. With Receive Mode, the sender encrypts directly in their browser before anything leaves their device — using the same AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge pipeline as regular SecureEU transfers.
How Receive Mode Works
📥 Three Simple Steps
-
Create your link — Go to /receive/create, add a label (e.g. "Send me invoices") and optionally your email for notifications.
-
Share the URL — You get a unique link like
secureeutransfers.com/receive/a1b2c3d4e5f6. Send it by email, chat, or embed it on your website. -
Receive encrypted files — Your sender opens the link, drops their files, and everything is encrypted in their browser before upload. You get a secure download link.
Who Needs Receive Mode?
This feature solves a real problem for anyone who regularly collects sensitive documents from others:
- Accountants and tax advisors — clients can upload financial documents, payslips, and tax returns securely instead of emailing them
- Lawyers — receive case files, contracts, and evidence from clients with full encryption and EU data residency
- Healthcare professionals — collect patient records, lab results, or insurance documents in GDPR-compliant fashion
- Recruiters and HR teams — candidates can submit CVs, portfolios, and references through a branded, secure link
- Freelancers and agencies — receive project assets, briefs, and feedback from clients without sharing cloud storage access
- Teachers and professors — students can submit assignments securely without a platform account
Security: Same Zero-Knowledge Guarantee
Receive Mode uses the exact same encryption pipeline as a normal SecureEU transfer. Here's what that means:
- AES-256-GCM client-side encryption — files are encrypted in the sender's browser
- Zero-knowledge architecture — we never see the files or the encryption keys
- EU-only hosting — encrypted files are stored on Hetzner servers in Finland
- Automatic expiry — receive links expire after 7 days by default
- No account for senders — your contacts just open the link and upload
Configurable Limits
Each receive link comes with sensible defaults you can customise:
| Setting | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 1 GB | Prevent excessively large uploads |
| Max file count | 10 files | Limit how many files per upload session |
| Link expiry | 7 days | Auto-deactivate after this period |
| Email notifications | Optional | Get notified when someone uploads |
Receive Mode vs. Email Attachments
| SecureEU Receive | ||
|---|---|---|
| Max size | 25 MB | Up to 1 GB |
| Encryption | TLS only (provider reads content) | E2E AES-256-GCM |
| Data location | US servers (Google/Microsoft) | EU only (Finland) |
| Sender account | Email account required | No account needed |
| Auto-delete | Stored indefinitely | 7-day auto-delete |
| Scanning | Provider scans content | Zero-knowledge |
Real-World Example
Imagine you're an accountant preparing tax returns. Instead of asking five clients to email you sensitive financial documents (where they'll bounce off attachment limits, get scanned by Gmail, and sit in your inbox forever), you:
- 1. Go to secureeutransfers.com/receive/create
- 2. Create a link labelled "2025 Tax Documents" with your email for notifications
- 3. Send the link to your clients: "Please upload your documents here"
- 4. Each client opens the link, drops their files, and everything is E2E encrypted automatically
- 5. You receive a secure download link — decrypt and download in your browser
No cloud storage sharing, no account creation, no file-size headaches, and full GDPR compliance with EU-only data residency.
Try It Now
Create your first receive link at /receive/create — it takes about 10 seconds. Share the URL with anyone and start receiving files securely.