In today’s world, privacy is often traded for convenience. Most chat platforms store your conversations, track your activity, and link your identity to every message you send. ZerID challenges that norm, a new way to communicate where no email, phone number, or personal data is ever required. In this post, we’ll explore how ZerID is being built and why it’s designed to be one of the most secure and minimal chat systems ever created.
Privacy by Design
ZerID doesn’t collect data, it protects it. Each user is identified not by a username or number, but by a unique 7-word passphrase. This passphrase generates a cryptographic key pair that allows only the intended sender and receiver to read messages.
// Example: Key generation
const { publicKey, privateKey } = generateKeyPair();
const encryptedPrivateKey = encryptWithPassword(privateKey, userPassword);
// Store only the public key in the database
saveUser({ publicKey, encryptedPrivateKey });Every message is encrypted end-to-end, meaning even ZerID’s servers cannot read, track, or analyze it.
Self-Destructing Messages
Messages on ZerID are designed to vanish, forever. ZerID users can toggle timers that destroy messages after reading, after one hour, or within 30 days if untouched. ZerID+ users get extended controls, including permanent storage or timed deletion.
// Example: Message timer
setTimeout(() => {
deleteMessage(messageId);
}, user.timerSetting); // from 1 minute to 30 days
This ensures that your digital footprint remains as small as possible, and entirely under your control.
Secure Storage, Zero Metadata
Unlike traditional messaging apps, ZerID stores no metadata such as sender IDs, IP addresses, or timestamps. Even the database structure is minimal, built around security and encryption first.
{
"id": "random_generated_id",
"recipientPublicKey": "RSA_PUBLIC_KEY",
"message": "ENCRYPTED_TEXT",
"expiry": "2025-10-10T13:00:00Z"
}When a message expires, it’s automatically and permanently deleted from all servers.
Built with Simplicity and Trust
ZerID’s design philosophy is black minimalist: clean, distraction-free, and fast. Every design decision reinforces the product’s purpose: security through simplicity.
Technologies used include:
- Frontend: React (Next.js) + Tailwind CSS
- Backend: Node.js + Express + MongoDB
- Encryption: Web Crypto API & libsodium
- Storage: IndexedDB (client-side)
- Hosting: Vercel (frontend), Railway (backend)
Conclusion
ZerID isn’t just another chat app, it’s a rebellion against data exploitation and digital surveillance. It’s built for people who value privacy, control, and peace of mind in a noisy digital world.
Messages belong to you, and only you.
ZerID: Private. Encrypted. Anonymous.
✍️ Written by Nelson Nathan, founder of NLXN.