[November 17, 2014]

Unseen Debuts Secure, Disappearing Direct Messaging to Photo Sharing App

Bearch, an Austin-based software development company, today announced a new version of Unseen, its anonymous social networking app for college students. Introducing a disappearing, direct messaging function with end-to-end data encryption, the new version features enhanced capabilities for user-to-user interaction and privacy.

In the interest of total anonymity, Unseen encrypts all information coming from users' devices so that nothing posted to the public feeds can be traced back to an individual. In its previous version, Unseen noticed students were eager to use the app to meet new people, exchanging Snapchat or Kik handles when they wanted to continue conversations outside the public feed. Committed to user privacy, Unseen had concerns about the public exchange of information that could put users' identities at risk. Unable to protect the anonymity of their users when third-party apps are involved, Unseen decided to incorporate a secure direct messaging piece into their product.

"Unseen was created to help students form meaningful connections based on real intersts, and user privacy and anonymity is absolutely integral to that," said Michael Schramm, CEO of Unseen. "We love that students are using the app as a means to meet new people, but publically swapping Snapchat handles undermines anonymity. We knew the only way to build on this exciting dimension of the app without compromising our users' privacy was to create our own private messaging option within Unseen."

While other messaging apps claim to be private, user data is often stored unencrypted on servers. Storing data in raw form leaves it vulnerable if the server is breached or messages are intercepted. Within Unseen's direct messaging function, images and text will travel fully encrypted between users' inboxes and the Unseen server. Should the message be intercepted by a hacker or third-party application, its content would be completely unreadable due to this extensive encryption process. Unseen takes security features one step further, setting the message to self-destruct after viewing.

Schramm highlights additional improvements in the app: "We have redesigned the user interface for more intuitive and clutter-free browsing. We also decided to make Unseen available to every 4-year college in the country, regardless of the size of their student body. Now students from any American college or university can register their alma mater for Unseen's waitlist."

First released in May 2014 to Texas A&M University students, Unseen is now used on almost 150 college campuses and continues to grow, with many universities waiting in a virtual line to gain access.

To download Unseen or request access on your college campus, visit the Apple or Google app store.

About Bearch

Bearch, Inc. is an Austin-based company that builds social collaboration tools to solve problems by connecting people in unique ways. Unseen is Bearch's anonymous photo sharing app that helps students connect with others without fear of social repercussions.

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