Foil Notes

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Foil Notes allows you to encrypt notes with a password stronger than the lock code. Strictly speaking, each note is encrypted with a unique random 256-bit AES key which in turn is encrypted with an RSA key which in turn is encrypted with your password. If the bad guys get your encrypted notes, they would have to crack the AES key (different for each note) or the RSA key (shared by all notes but harder to crack) in order to extract the content. If they get the encrypted RSA key as well, then they can brute force your password. So in the end, the encryption is as strong as your password.

The format of the encrypted file is described here - it's the same format as used by Foil Pics and Foil Auth apps. Plain text (unencrypted) notes are stored in the format understood by Jolla Notes. Encrypted files are stored in ~/Documents/FoilNotes.

The RSA key is shared with Foil Pics and Foil Auth apps. It's stored in ~/.local/share/foil/foil.key - you can copy it from one device to another. Using the same RSA key on different devices, protected with different passwords, is actually not such a bad idea. If you forget the password, you can use the backup key to decrypt your notes, assuming that it's protected with a password that you still remember.

Two Foil Auth apps can exchange plaintext notes via NFC.

Note that you can add your encrypted files and the Foil key to the backup with the help of My Backup app.

Source code: https://github.com/monich/harbour-foilnotes

Screenshots: 
Application versions: 
AttachmentSizeDate
File harbour-foilnotes-1.1.1-1.aarch64.rpm311.95 KB19/02/2023 - 22:41
File harbour-foilnotes-1.1.1-1.armv7hl.rpm275.7 KB19/02/2023 - 22:41
File harbour-foilnotes-1.1.1-1.i486.rpm318.72 KB19/02/2023 - 22:41
File harbour-foilnotes-1.1.0-1.aarch64.rpm305.88 KB21/03/2022 - 03:43
File harbour-foilnotes-1.1.0-1.armv7hl.rpm270.15 KB21/03/2022 - 03:43
File harbour-foilnotes-1.1.0-1.i486.rpm311.64 KB21/03/2022 - 03:43
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.28-1.aarch64.rpm306.83 KB22/11/2021 - 03:30
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.28-1.armv7hl.rpm271.32 KB22/11/2021 - 03:30
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.28-1.i486.rpm313.16 KB22/11/2021 - 03:30
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.27-1.aarch64.rpm264.84 KB18/11/2021 - 03:56
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.27-1.armv7hl.rpm235.15 KB18/11/2021 - 03:56
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.27-1.i486.rpm270.07 KB18/11/2021 - 03:56
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.26-1.aarch64.rpm265.54 KB06/11/2021 - 02:38
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.26-1.armv7hl.rpm628.32 KB06/11/2021 - 02:38
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.26-1.i486.rpm740.67 KB06/11/2021 - 02:38
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.25-1.aarch64.rpm263.48 KB13/09/2021 - 20:30
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.25-1.armv7hl.rpm233.36 KB13/09/2021 - 20:30
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.25-1.i486.rpm267.44 KB13/09/2021 - 20:30
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.24-1.aarch64.rpm254.35 KB12/09/2021 - 02:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.24-1.armv7hl.rpm224.62 KB12/09/2021 - 02:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.24-1.i486.rpm258.69 KB12/09/2021 - 02:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.22-26.1.aarch64.rpm242.13 KB18/06/2021 - 21:25
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.22-26.1.armv7hl.rpm217.38 KB18/06/2021 - 21:25
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.22-26.1.i486.rpm250.25 KB18/06/2021 - 21:25
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.21-25.1.aarch64.rpm231.77 KB31/03/2021 - 02:01
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.21-25.1.armv7hl.rpm198.49 KB31/03/2021 - 02:01
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.21-25.1.i486.rpm239.78 KB31/03/2021 - 02:01
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.20-23.1.armv7hl.rpm197.89 KB03/01/2021 - 04:58
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.20-23.1.i486.rpm239.2 KB03/01/2021 - 04:58
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.19-22.1.armv7hl.rpm196.83 KB14/12/2020 - 02:10
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.19-22.1.i486.rpm239.08 KB14/12/2020 - 02:10
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.18-21.1.armv7hl.rpm195.65 KB12/12/2020 - 23:12
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.18-21.1.i486.rpm237.4 KB12/12/2020 - 23:12
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.17-20.1.armv7hl.rpm195.04 KB21/11/2020 - 20:45
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.17-20.1.i486.rpm237.02 KB21/11/2020 - 20:45
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.16-19.1.armv7hl.rpm191.86 KB16/11/2020 - 00:31
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.16-19.1.i486.rpm232.88 KB16/11/2020 - 00:31
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.15-17.1.armv7hl.rpm190.67 KB31/10/2020 - 04:52
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.15-17.1.i486.rpm231.77 KB31/10/2020 - 04:52
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.14-16.1.armv7hl.rpm187.69 KB12/10/2020 - 04:34
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.14-16.1.i486.rpm228.76 KB12/10/2020 - 04:34
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.13-15.1.armv7hl.rpm189.31 KB06/09/2020 - 02:02
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.13-15.1.i486.rpm230.31 KB06/09/2020 - 02:02
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.12-14.1.armv7hl.rpm188.74 KB01/03/2020 - 20:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.12-14.1.i486.rpm229.38 KB01/03/2020 - 20:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.11-13.1.armv7hl.rpm188.04 KB05/01/2020 - 20:21
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.11-13.1.i486.rpm229.21 KB05/01/2020 - 20:21
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.10-12.1.armv7hl.rpm180.88 KB03/05/2019 - 00:55
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.10-12.1.i486.rpm220.64 KB03/05/2019 - 00:55
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.9-11.1.armv7hl.rpm180.7 KB30/04/2019 - 02:06
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.9-11.1.i486.rpm219.99 KB30/04/2019 - 02:06
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.8-10.1.armv7hl.rpm165.16 KB11/03/2019 - 03:26
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.8-10.1.i486.rpm200.13 KB11/03/2019 - 03:26
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.6-8.1.armv7hl.rpm160.36 KB19/02/2019 - 02:47
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.6-8.1.i486.rpm195.22 KB19/02/2019 - 02:47
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.5-7.1.armv7hl.rpm160.8 KB17/02/2019 - 16:58
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.5-7.1.i486.rpm194.72 KB17/02/2019 - 16:58
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.4-6.1.armv7hl.rpm160.81 KB17/02/2019 - 12:52
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.4-6.1.i486.rpm195.11 KB17/02/2019 - 12:52
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.3-5.1.armv7hl.rpm160.06 KB17/02/2019 - 02:24
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.3-5.1.i486.rpm194.65 KB17/02/2019 - 02:24
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.2-4.1.armv7hl.rpm157.45 KB12/01/2019 - 22:55
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.2-4.1.i486.rpm192.28 KB12/01/2019 - 22:55
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.1-3.1.armv7hl.rpm156.22 KB07/01/2019 - 12:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.1-3.1.i486.rpm190.96 KB07/01/2019 - 12:44
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.0-2.1.armv7hl.rpm151.85 KB06/01/2019 - 12:42
File harbour-foilnotes-1.0.0-2.1.i486.rpm186.77 KB06/01/2019 - 12:42
Changelog: 
  • 1.1.1 (Feb 19 2023)
    - Made auto-lock configurable
  • 1.1.0 (Mar 21 2022)
    - Opt out of sandboxing (no more Jolla Store updates)
    - Updated Polish translation (Atlochowski)
    - Added Chum metadata
  • 1.0.28 (Nov 21 2021)
    - Share notes via NFC
  • 1.0.27 (Nov 18 2021)
    - Fixed bulk deletion of multiple plaintext notes
    - Load libcrypto.so dynamically
  • 1.0.26 (Nov 6 2021)
    - Link OpenSSL 1.0 statically for compatibility with Sailfish OS 4.3
    - Tweaked color editor UI
    - Updated Polish translation (Atlochowski)
  • 1.0.25 (Sep 13 2021)
    - Allow selecting arbitrary colors
    - Updated Polish translation (Atlochowski)
  • 1.0.24 (Sep 12 2021)
    - Save/restore the last view (encrypted vs plaintext)
    - Improved context menu behavior
    - Removed unnecessary notification
    - Updated Polish translation (Atlochowski)
  • 1.0.22 (Jun 18 2021)
    - Search mode improvements and fixes
  • 1.0.21 (Mar 31 2021)
    - Updated Polish translation (Atlochowski)
    - Added aarch64 package
  • 1.0.20 (Jan 2 2021)
    - Fixed hints
    - Harmonized pulley menu behavior
    - Don't activate search on empty pages
    - Integration with My Backup
  • 1.0.19 (Dec 13 2020)
    - Added Spanish translation
  • 1.0.18 (Dec 12 2020)
    - Improved sync with plaintext Jolla Notes database
    - Miscellaneous UI tweaks
  • 1.0.17 (Nov 21 2020)
    - Fixed cover behavior
    - Added fancy cover lock animation
    - Adapted to Jolla Notes changes
  • 1.0.16 (Nov 15 2020)
    - Adapted to recent changes in Sailfish OS
    - Fixed a few minor UI glitches
  • 1.0.15 (Oct 31 2020)
    - Fancy headers
    - Improved orientation transition
    - Fixed a problem with the page stack after cover action
  • 1.0.14 (Oct 12 2020)
    - Miscellaneous UI tweaks
  • 1.0.13 (Sep 6 2020)
    - Fixed remorse item positioning
    - Freshened up selection and reorder UI
  • 1.0.12 (Mar 1 2020)
    - Fixed a battery drain issue (animators suck)
    - Ditch MD5 and use SHA256 for signing
  • 1.0.11 (Jan 5 2020)
    - Delay autolock by 15 seconds
    - Freshened up the UI
  • 1.0.10 (May 3 2019)
    - Fixed QR code rendering defect
    - Updated Chinese translations
  • 1.0.9 (Apr 30 2019)
    - Added QR code generation
    - Tweaked translations
  • 1.0.8 (Mar 10 2019)
    - Fixed password change functionality
    - Redesigned shared key warning
  • 1.0.6 (Feb 19 2019)
    - Updated French translations
  • 1.0.5 (Feb 17 2019)
    - Updated Chinese translations
  • 1.0.4 (Feb 17 2019)
    - Updated Polish and Swedish translations
  • 1.0.3 (Feb 17 2019)
    - Undo and redo
    - French translations
  • 1.0.2 (Jan 12 2019)
    - Fixed German translations
    - Chinese translations
    - Fixed deletion of a new note
  • 1.0.1 (Jan 7 2019)
    - Polish translations
    - Swedish translations
    - German translations
  • 1.0.0 (Jan 6 2019)
    - Initial version

Comments

eson's picture

Foil Notes don't start from app drawer on SailfishOS 4.4. Had to use command line.

slava's picture

What if you add these two lines to /usr/share/applications/harbour-foilnotes.desktop:

[X-Sailjail]
Sandboxing=Disabled
norayr's picture

hello!

i noticed recently that foilnotes cover page (when minimized) shows just notes, not foil notes notes.

then i pressed '+' button on the cover page, and added a note.

now when i start foil notes, it doesn't ask for a password, and just shows content of the notes application.

i don't understand what is happening. i lost all my foil notes?

please help!

slava's picture

You can switch between encrypted and plaintext notes by swiping the main view left and right. Encrypted notes are on the left, plaintext notes on the right. To work with the encrypted notes, you will have to enter your password.

I guess you got confused because the app recently started to remember the last state of its main view. If you close it with the plaintext view active, next time it will open the plaintext view. That makes it more convenient to use the app merely as a replacement for Jolla Notes.

norayr's picture

oh thank you! will try now, and i believe everything will work!

norayr's picture

foil notes is not installable on 4.3? i was able to install foil auth, but not foil notes.

slava's picture

Version 1.0.26 should be installable. I submitted it to Jolla Store too, but it's still sitting in the queue there.

UPD. It's there

lpr's picture

same here: don't link openssl1.0 statically. All but Jolla1 users can update to at least SFOS4.0 and JollaPhone users can install newest (SFOS4.3-version 1.1.1l) openssl from here: https://openrepos.net/content/lpr/curl

slava's picture

Same here: Chum is your friend if you want an armv7hl build linked against openssl1.1. There's nothing wrong with linking openssl1.0 or anything else statically if it's not part of the OS anymore.

lpr's picture

but why make things complicated with a huge-static-build here when everybody (Jolla1 users too) are encouraged to upgrade openssl to 1.1.1

illyrion's picture

For backup: is it sufficient to add the application to the backup, or do I need also to select a folder for backup with MyBackup?

slava's picture

If application appears in the list of available applications in My Backup, then you can assume that it has listed everything it needs to back up in its .desktop file, so you don't have to add anything manually.

apozaf's picture

Thx a lot, deleting the key solved it. Sorry fir not looking at the description and thx for your effort.

apozaf's picture

Xperia 10 - II, 4.1 (x64), TIA

slava's picture

Try the latest version and if the problem is still there, please create an issue at https://github.com/monich/harbour-foilnotes/issues

For some reason openrepos doesn't notify me of new comments, gitlab is more reliable in that (and not only that) respect.

And check if anything suspicious shows up at the console if you run harbour-foilnotes from the command line.

As the app description says, the encryption key is ~/.local/share/foil/foil.key and the key itself is additionally encrypted with your password (that's what ssh-keygen calls a passphrase). The password is not stored anywhere in plain text, you have to remember it.

apozaf's picture

Cannot write pw anymore, screen stays empty. Showing non encryptet notes normally when swiping left. Same with FoilPics. Where is the pw stored to wipe the settings? Reinstallation does not help. Tia

slava's picture

Which device and OS version?

glanternier's picture

Do you plan to add the Aarch64 version to the official Jolla Store?

slava's picture

That's an easy thing to do, but unfortunately that bumps OS version requirement for 32-bit packages to 4.0.1 and I want to keep those packages available for earlier versions of Sailfish OS. I humbly asked Jolla Store guys to do something about it (i.e. support per-arch OS version requirements) but AFAICT the problem is still there.

64-bit rpm is going to be only on OpenRepos for the time being. Sorry for the inconvenience!

TMavica's picture

Thx

TMavica's picture

Any 64 bit package?

slava's picture

Here we go!

carlosgonz's picture

Thank you slava. Good improves.

lxmx's picture

Hi Slava, thanks for all the Foil apps! Wondering what is the best workflow to have the encrypted notes in sync between the phone and e.g. a desktop? (I am not worried if the notes are stored decrypted on the desktop but I do care about the phone)

slava's picture

This might actually be helpful. Even though that issue describes decrypting Foil Pics files, the procedure would be exactly the same for Foil Notes or Foil Auth, since they all use the same encrypted file format.

lxmx's picture

Thank you!

objectifnul's picture

Is this release 1.0.11 supposed to auto-lock after 15 seconds? Or to auto-lock only 15 seconds after the device itself is locked? If so, it doesn't on my XperiaX.

slava's picture

And no, it's not supposed to auto-lock while the screen is on.

Here's why I did this in the first place. I have my "Automatic locking" setting set to "No delay", and display to sleep after 30 seconds. As a result, it I don't tap the screen when it gets dimmed, the phone gets locked and every time I unlock it I have to re-enter the Foil password. That was annoying.

Now this logic gives me 15 seconds to unlock the phone (e.g. by swiping a finger) before I have to re-enter my long and secure Foil password. That's what I was after.

slava's picture

Notes are now supposed to get auto-locked 15 seconds after the phone is auto-locked  (i.e. when you leave it unattended, the display is first dimmed then turns off, then after certain period of time the phone gets locked and then 15 seconds later notes are locked). In all other cases notes should still be locked immediately.

Historyscholar's picture

Can we add recordings and  photos   to notes ?

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