Introduction

Description

• Online to our servers.
• Offline to your computer.

Warning: The encryption feature is serious encryption. If you forget your map's encryption password, we cannot help you access your data. There are no exceptions.

Scribble Maps' encryption uses the military standard AES-256 with a PBKDF2 key.

Q&A about encrypting maps

Where do the encryption/decryption processes happen?

The encryption/decryption processes are executed on your computer. The encryption password never comes to our servers. When encrypted map data is saved to our servers, we have no way to access the data.

When you want to retrieve the map from our servers, the encrypted map data is first returned to your computer. The data is then decrypted on your computer.

How do I access an encrypted map?

Double authentication requires you to complete two steps before accessing the encrypted map data.

• Logging in to an account and having access to the map.
  OR
• Providing the initial password.

Second, you provide the encryption password to decrypt the map data.

How do I encrypt a previously unencrypted map?

You can only save a specific map with encryption if the map has not been saved by using another save option (Public, Unlisted, or Secure).

Note: If you want to encrypt a previously unencrypted map, you must first create a new, unique Map ID when you save the map.

(Optional) To learn how to save maps, visit this link: Save a map

How do I convert an encrypted map to an image or other file format?

• Producing images.
• Downloading to other file formats (PDF, KML, GPX, SHP, DXF, CSV, GeoJSON).

The reason these features are disabled is: "We cannot access the encrypted data on our servers". Therefore we cannot produce images and other file formats.

• How to create an image from the Chrome browser window.
  OR
• How to create a PDF from the Safari browser window.

How do I auto-save an encrypted map?

Auto-save is disabled for encrypted maps. Make sure you always save your map before closing your browser.

How do I load a previously saved version of an encrypted map?

To load a previous version, you need to use the encryption password you used to encrypt the previous version.

Note: To learn how to load a previous version, visit this link: Load a map from the Your Maps window > (Option 2) - Load a previous saved version of the map

How do I improve security by managing collaboration permissions for encrypted maps?

• Users who can access the map.
• Role-based permissions each user has.

Note: For encrypted maps, you improve security by enabling map access through user accounts, because you don’t need to share the initial password. You only need to share the encryption password.

The Manage Users feature is located on the "Save Map" window in Scribble Maps.

The Team web app opens in its own browser tab. All changes saved in the Team app automatically register in Scribble Maps.

If you will be collaborating on a single map, we recommend you use the Manage Users feature when saving. To learn how visit this link: Intro to the Manage Users feature - Collaborate on a single map

If you will be collaborating on multiple maps, we recommend you use the Team web app. To learn how visit this link: Intro to the Team web app - Collaborate on multiple maps

How does another user access an encrypted map?

1. Login to their account.
2. Load the encrypted map data (without providing the initial password).
3. Provide the encryption password to decrypt the map data.

Note: We strongly recommend you manage collaboration permissions for encrypted maps. So you won't need to share the initial password.

• Initial password to load the encrypted map data.
  AND
• Encryption password to decrypt the map data.

How do I share the encryption password?

You must share the encryption password for other users to access the map. Be careful when sharing the encryption password.

Note: When sharing encryption passwords, we recommend sharing the password verbally or via a password manager service, such as: LastPass

If the encryption password has been leaked, is the map data compromised?

• User account password / or initial password.
  AND
• Encryption password.

Instructions

How to save a map online with encryption

Note: To save a map file online with encryption, you must be logged-in to a Pro account. To learn how to upgrade, visit this link: How to upgrade to a Pro account

1. Login to your Scribble Maps account at:
   https://www.scribblemaps.com/create 
   (Optional) To learn how to log in, visit this link:
   How to login/register
    
2. In the Map View, create an overlay. For example: a marker.

   Visit this link to learn how to:
   Create a marker - (Marker Tool) 

    
3. Click the "MENU" button in the top toolbar.
    
4. Under the "Scribble Maps" heading, click "Save Map".
   (Optional) For detailed instructions about how to save maps, visit this link: Save a map
    
5. In the "Title" field, type in the name of the map.
    
   In the "Description" field, type in the description of the map.
    
6. Select the radio button: "Encrypted".
   You will see a pop-up displaying the message:
   "Once a map is encrypted it cannot be saved as any other type. Some features will not work with encrypted maps."
    
7. Click "Ok".
    
8. Click the "Save Map" button.
    
9. When prompted, type the password in the top and bottom fields.

   The password requires:

   • At least 7 characters (total).
   • At least 1 digit.
   • At least 1 special character (punctuation marks and other symbols).

    
10. Click "Submit".
    You will see the "Map Saved" window.
     
11. In the top-right corner of the "Map Saved" window, click the "X" button.
     
12. In the top-right corner of the "Save Map" window, click the "X" button.

See also

Save a map file offline > (Option 2) - Save a map file offline with encryption

Upload an offline map file > (Option 2) - Upload an offline map file that’s encrypted