SecurityNet: User Guide

System Requirements

System Requirements
What you’ll need to run SecurityNet smoothly on your system.

Windows

Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit recommended)
Works best with latest updates installed

macOS

All 64-bit macOS versions supported
Personally tested on Ventura and Sonoma

Disk Space

Minimum: 500 MB free space
Recommended: 2 GB free (especially for handling encrypted file transfers)

Memory & Performance

Minimum RAM: 4 GB
Recommended: 8 GB+ for large file operations

Tip: For optimal performance when handling multiple file transfers or encrypted chats, keep background processes to a minimum.

Next: See the Internet Requirements section.

Internet Requirements

Internet Requirements
SecurityNet can operate over any standard broadband connection, but faster speeds improve reliability.

Minimum Upload/Download Speed

4 Mbps recommended minimum
10 Mbps+ for large file transfers

File Size Support

Can send files up to 2 GB in size without issues
Transfers are encrypted end-to-end regardless of size

Stability & Reliability

A stable broadband connection ensures encrypted tunnels remain active during large transfers.
If using a VPN or firewall, ensure outbound HTTPS traffic is allowed on port 443.

Tip: If you often send large encrypted files, wired Ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi.

Next: See the SecurityNet Installation section.

SecurityNet Installation

Windows

Download the Windows version of SecurityNet (EXE installer).
Double-click the exe and follow the on-screen instructions
Follow the Installation Process (below)

Apple Mac (macOS)

SecurityNet is essentially a Windows Application. To run on macOS SecurityNet has been wrapped inside a Windows emulation program called Wine.

As this has NOT been added to the Apple App Store, there are multiple ways to install.
Click here to see the various ways to install the software on your Mac.
Follow the Installation Process, below.

Verifying Your Download (Optional)

All SecurityNet executables are digitally signed.

On Windows:

Right-click the downloaded file
Select Properties
Open the Digital Signatures tab
Confirm the signer is ZAT TEK LTD

If SecurityNet has been altered or corrupted, it will automatically refuse to run.

Installation Process

You will be presented with the SecurityNet Installation screen:

Choose your SecurityNet ID - this must be unique. You will share this with your contacts - you have to exchange SecurityNet IDs to be able to connect. You add your contact's SecurityNet ID to your contact list; they will add yours to their list. This creates the "permission" to connect with each other.
Choose and confirm your application password
Enter your email address. Note: this is NOT stored on the website. This is local only for allowing an email notification if you have forgotten your password.
Copy-and-paste your License Key. This will be on your purchase receipt, or when the license owner shares this license with you.

Next: See the Administration & Network Control section.

Administration & Network Control

Administration Overview

The Admin panel is available only to the License Owner.

It provides full control over:

Authorising internal users
Granting or revoking permissions
Allowing external invitations
Enabling group creation
Maintaining controlled access to the licensed network

All permissions default to disabled for new shared-license users and must be explicitly enabled by the License Owner.

User Roles Explained

License Owner

The License Owner controls the licensed network and can:

Approve or revoke internal users
Enable or disable Invite External permission
Enable or disable Create Groups permission
Control who may participate in group messaging

Only users authorised by the License Owner can log in.

Internal Users

Internal users:

Must be explicitly authorised to log in
Cannot invite external users unless granted permission
Cannot create groups unless granted permission
Can only access groups they are added to

Permissions are granular and must be deliberately enabled.

External Users

An External user:

Holds their own independent SecurityNet license
Can be added to Contacts by an authorised internal user
Is marked as “External” in Contacts
Cannot access internal groups
Cannot see or interact with other internal members
Communicates only with the internal user who added them

External connections do not expand access to the licensed network.

Permission Controls (Admin Panel Columns)

Authorised

Determines whether the user may log in to the licensed network.

Invite External

Allows the user to add external licensed users to the Contacts List

Disabled by default for new license users.

Create Groups

Allows the user to create internal groups for licensed network members.

Disabled by default unless granted.

Security Model Summary

SecurityNet uses a default-deny permission model:

New users cannot log in until authorised.
Permissions are disabled unless explicitly enabled.
External contacts remain isolated from internal groups.
No user gains broader network access automatically.

This ensures full administrative control while allowing flexible, secure peer connections when deliberately enabled.

Network Considerations

SecurityNet provides end-to-end encryption between authorised endpoints and does not rely on VPNs for its core security model.
For general network privacy—particularly on untrusted or public networks—users may choose to use a VPN as an additional layer of protection.

Next: See the SecurityNet Licenses section.

SecurityNet Licenses

SecurityNet Licenses
How your license works, how to manage it, and how to share access securely.

The License Key

Each purchase of SecurityNet includes a unique License Key, allowing activation on a specific number of Windows or macOS devices.
The first user to activate the license becomes the Owner, who manages activations and support access.

The SecurityNet License

On purchase, you receive a License Key for your chosen number of activations.
The first user to activate becomes the Owner.
The Owner has access to the support ticket system via the website.
The Owner may share their license key with others (e.g., other devices or team members).
Shared users are known as Shared License Users.

Note: Shared users can use the app independently, but only the Owner can raise support tickets or modify the plan.

License Management - How to manage, upgrade, or purchase your own SecurityNet license.

1
Click File → Manage License in the top-left corner of SecurityNet.
2
The Owner can view activations and choose to upgrade or extend the license.
3
Upgrades allow you to: (a) Increase the number of activations; and (b) Move from a Monthly to an Annual plan

Sharing the License - The Owner can share their license with trusted users up to the activation limit.

Click File in the top left corner of SecurityNet to reveal the “SecurityNet License” option
Click the Share button (available only to the Owner), and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: Sharing is ideal for teams, family and group setups, or business partners who need encrypted communication without separate purchases.

Next: Learn how to add and manage your contacts — see the Contacts section.

Contacts

Contacts
How to add, manage, and communicate with your contacts securely.

Watch: Managing Contacts

How do I communicate with my contacts?

Every user must create a SecurityNet ID when installing the app
Exchange IDs just like you would share email addresses.
Once connected, you can chat, send files, or share groups — all encrypted end-to-end.

Tip: You don’t need to know a contact’s email address or phone number — communication happens only through SecurityNet IDs.

How to add a new contact?

Click on the Contacts menu item, and select “New Contact”
Enter their SecurityNet Id (This must already exist on the SecurityNet network)
Add a name or label to help you recognise them.
Optionally, include their email for convenience (not required).
Click Save

How do I update a contact?

Click on the Contacts icon, highlight the contact and click “Update Contact” . Or you can double-click the contact to update.
You can change anything except the SecurityNet ID
Click Save when done.

How do I delete a contact?

Highlight the contact and click “Delete Contact”
Confirm the removal.
You’ll no longer be able to communicate with them once deleted.

If they still have you in their list, they will also lose the ability to connect.

Can I see if contacts are online?

Click "Online/Offline Status" to view availability.
This helps you time messages or file sends for when they’re online.
If your contact is not online, you can send them an optional email nudge prompting them to come online.

Next: Learn how to group contacts together for shared file access — see the Groups section.

Groups

Groups
How to create, manage, and use Groups for shared encrypted file access.

What is a Group?

A Group is a private shared space that allows multiple SecurityNet users to exchange encrypted files through a single Group Folder.
It’s ideal for teams, departments, families, or projects that need joint access to common documents.

A Group belongs to the Licensed Contact who created it.
Members must be contacts in your SecurityNet network that have the same license as you.
This ensures that all members of a Group belong to your organisation.
Once connected, you can share files with the entire group — all encrypted end-to-end.

Tip: Groups make it simple to manage shared encrypted folders without using cloud services.

How to Add a New Group

1
Click Groups → New Group
2
Enter a Group Name and optional description.
3
Click Save.
4
Highlight your new group and select Members → Add Contacts.
5
Check the boxes beside contacts you want to include, then click Add.

Note: Your new Group Folder will appear automatically in your file view.

Updating Group Members

Select the group, click Members → Edit.
Tick or untick members as needed.
Click Save when finished.

Note: Changes take effect instantly — no need to resend invitations.

Removing a Member from a Group

Open the group and untick the member’s name, or select Remove Member.
They immediately lose access to the Group Folder.
You can re-add them at any time.

When someone is removed, any pending file transfers to that member are cancelled automatically.

What Happens When Someone Adds or Removes Me?

You’ll receive a notification if you’re added to a new group.
If removed, the Group Folder and associated access are deleted from your view.

Practical Uses

Teams — Share encrypted project files between multiple users.
Families — Keep personal documents private yet shared among members.
Businesses — Create separate groups for departments or clients.

Next: Learn how to send encrypted files to your contacts or groups — see the Send Files section.

Send Files

Send Files
How to securely send encrypted files to your contacts or groups.

Overview

SecurityNet allows you to send encrypted files directly to your contacts or groups — with no cloud storage, no metadata, and no residual copies left behind.

Think of it as a direct, encrypted hand-off between devices — simple, private, and under your full control.

How to Select Files to Send

1
Open the Contacts List
● Double-click a contact or a Group; or select multiple Contacts and click Save Selection.
2
Go to the Send Files screen
● Click Add Files and navigate to the folder containing your data.
3
Choose Files
● Highlight the files you want to send.
● Select Copy to Selection List (this confirms your choices).
4
Confirm & Send
● Click the Send Files button.
● The system will ask for confirmation before encrypting and sending.

Note: You can queue multiple files — SecurityNet will handle each securely in sequence

Sending to Multiple Contacts

Select several contacts before adding your files.
If you want, you can send the same file(s) to multiple recipients.
The system automatically encrypts and delivers a unique copy for each recipient.

Note: This saves time while maintaining full end-to-end encryption per user.

Navigating Folders

You can browse your local folders easily — just like Windows Explorer or Finder.
Click the + icon to expand folders.
Select the desired folder to view its contents in the file pane.

Removing Files from the Selection List

If you’ve added files by mistake, Click Clear Outbox to remove them before sending.

Once a transfer has started, the files can’t be modified or recalled.

Encryption Process

When you press Send Files, SecurityNet:

1
Encrypts each file using your unique session key.
2
Transmits it directly to the recipient’s inbox — no cloud, no relay storage.
3
Deletes temporary working copies automatically after confirmation.

Note: If the recipient is NOT online, SecurityNet simply holds the request the queue. When the recipient logs on, the files will send.

Next: Learn how to chat securely with your contacts — see the Chat Messages section.

Chat Messages

Chat Messages
How to send, receive, and manage encrypted chats in SecurityNet.

Overview

SecurityNet’s chat feature lets you send fully encrypted messages to your contacts — all without using any third-party servers or cloud storage.

Each chat session is private, direct, and automatically encrypted end-to-end.
No one (not even SecurityNet) can see your messages, metadata, or contact list.

Each chat session is private, direct, and automatically encrypted end-to-end.
No one (not even SecurityNet) can see your messages, metadata, or contact list.
Encrypted messages are sent as encrypted files that end up in the recipients Chat Box.
Remember — messages are never stored online or backed up externally.

Note: Chat in SecurityNet is NOT real-time. To avoid using the cloud to relay messages, they are sent as peer-to-peer files. It takes a minute or so for chats to reach the recipient.

Sending a Chat Message

1
Click Start a New Chat.
2
Select a contact from your list.
3
Type your message in the text box (bottom-right corner).
4
Click Send and your message is queued to send.

Note: When pasting text from Word or other rich editors, some symbols or emojis may be replaced or removed.

Receiving Messages

When a new encrypted message arrives:

If your Chat screen is open, you’ll see the new message when it arrives.
If it’s closed, the system displays a New notification on the contact’s name.
The chat automatically decrypts when viewed — no manual step needed.

All messages are decrypted on your device only.

Deleting Chats

Right-click on a contact name and select Delete Chat.
This removes your local copy of the conversation.

If a message is still pending delivery, it cannot be deleted until it’s sent or cancelled (on the Status screen).

Next: Learn how to track your file transfers and message delivery — see the Status Screen section.

Status Screen

Status Screen
How to track your messages and file transfers in real time.

Overview

The Status Screen gives you a live overview of all your SecurityNet activity — including sent files, received files, and active chat sessions.
It’s your dashboard for monitoring progress, confirming delivery, and identifying any issues.

This screen shows the list of contacts that are waiting to send and receive files.
Once the send/receive has completed for that contact, it is removed from the list.

Note: All statuses are automatically updated — no refresh required, unless you turn off the Auto Refresh.

Viewing Details in Real-Time

To see the send/receive progress for a contact, double click on the contact when the status says “sending” or “receiving”.
The progress for each file is displayed as it is being processed.
To see your network connection to the Internet, click Network Status
To see if your contacts are online or not, click Online/Offline Status

Network Status and Online/Offline Status

To see your network connection to the Internet, click Network Status - if your Connection Rating is slow, you can always try a faster VPN connection.
To see if your contacts are online or not, click Online/Offline Status

Availability & Online Status

Both users must be online for communication to occur.
If a recipient is offline, the sender may issue a notification email prompting them to come online.

Cancel a pending send/receive

To cancel a send process, highlight the line and click “Cancel Request”

Next: Learn how to review and manage your transfer history — see the Activity Log section.

Activity Logs

Activity Logs
How to review your SecurityNet history and verify past activity.

Overview

The Activity Log records every important event in SecurityNet — sent and received files, chat sessions, group updates, and status changes.
It provides a private audit trail stored only on your device, so you can always verify what happened without exposing data online.

Each entry includes:

Date & Time — when the event occurred.
User / Contact — who the action involved.
Action Type — sent file, received file, message, group update, etc.
Status — success, pending, or failed.
Details — file name, message ID, or short description.

The log automatically updates in real time as you use SecurityNet.

Note: Logs are not uploaded or synced — your log stays local and encrypted unless you choose to share it.

System and Traffic Logs

Each connection also creates a daily file of its processing, if there is any. This is a file of technical messages generated by the send/receive process. These are also retained for 30 days unless you configure otherwise.
Detailed Activity Logs. Select a contact and the screen will list any saved activity logs. You can delete these files manually at any time (click ”Delete Selected Log File”), but you cannot delete today’s log file until midnight, when a new file is started.
These files are useful for debugging purposes if you run into problems. If necessary, we at SecurityNet may ask you to send us a log file (but only if you choose to share it) so we can analyse any send/receive problem you may encounter.

Real-Time Logs

Yes, you can see the live activity for each contact, if you are interested. Select a contact and click “Display Live Activity Log” to see the live messages from the File Transfer process.
Note – this is only populated as the actual Transfer Process is running.
If the Status screen shows sending or receiving, you can come here to see the live progress.

Next: Learn how to manage received and sent files — see the Inbox/Outbox section.

Inbox / Outbox

Inbox / Outbox
View, decrypt, and manage your received and outgoing files securely.

Overview

Every contact in SecurityNet has two file areas:

Inbox — where you receive encrypted files and messages.
Outbox — where files and messages you’ve queued for sending are stored.

These are displayed in the main app interface for quick access and easy management.

Inbox

Each file in your Inbox displays a Status: Encrypted or Decrypted.
The Action column tells you what will happen when you click a file.
Click an Encrypted file to start decryption

Once a file is decrypted, you can:

Open the file (if your system recognises the file type — e.g., PDF, Word, Excel).
View Folder to open the folder where it’s stored.

Outbox

Your Outbox lists files waiting to be sent to contacts.
Files stay in the Outbox until successfully sent — then they’re automatically removed.
You can view the folder directly by clicking Open Outbox.

If a file remains in your Outbox for an extended time, check your internet connection or your contact’s online status.

Tips for Use

Regularly decrypt and relocate received files from your Inbox to secure local or encrypted storage (like a protected NAS or encrypted drive).
Keep your Inbox clean and ensure you retain complete control over your data.

Next: Learn how to manage settings and configuration — see the Settings section.

Settings

Settings
Adjust SecurityNet preferences, password protection, and 2FA for enhanced security.

Overview

SecurityNet allows you to configure how logs, notifications, and authentication behave.
All settings are stored locally, giving you full control over your data and privacy preferences.

Note: Settings changes apply immediately — no restart required.

General Settings

Number of Days:
Set how long to retain activity logs. The default is 30 days, but you can shorten or extend this in the configuration screen. Activity logs record file transfer events such as connection times and transfer completion status. Logs are stored locally on your device and can be automatically deleted after a user-defined number of days. NOTE: You cannot delete today's log, as this file is needed during the day. However, setting this to zero will delete all historical logs when you login the next day.
Notify – SecurityNet Is Set To:
Turn on/off notification alerts when files are sent (a load "whoosh") or received (a double ding".
Always Login Using Your SecurityNet ID:
If you are on a laptop, we recommend you set this to "Y" in case your laptop gets stolen. If you are on a desktop in a private area, you can set this to "N" and you will not be prompted to login - it will happen automatically.
Maximum Processes:
his tells SecurityNet how many files the system can send or receive at the same time. The default is 1, but I generally have this set to 5 - it depends on the power of your PC and the strength of your Internet connection. Experiment to see what works best.
Sleep Mode:
Keeps your computer awake while SecurityNet is running — useful when sending large files.
If unchecked, your system sleep settings will control background behaviour.
Folders Location:
On initial installation, the SecurityNet Folders location is set on the C-Drive. But by clicking "Change Default Location" you can choose another drive, network location, or even an external or removable drive. This separates your encrypted data from the host device.

Password and Email Updates

Access these options from the Settings → Password / Email panel.
You’ll be prompted for your current login password before changes are applied.
Change Password:
Enter the new password and confirmation, then click Save.
Update Email:
Enter your new address and click Save.

If you forget your password, you can request a rest from the Login Screen.

2FA Authentication Settings

Two-Factor Authentication adds another layer of protection when signing in.

Follow the on-screen setup to enable 2FA using Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator.
Set up an Emergency Login Code (recommended if your phone is unavailable).
To activate 2FA, tick the checkbox “Use 2FA at Login.”
Once enabled, you’ll only need your authenticator code — no need to re-enter your password every time.

Tips for Use of 2FA

For quicker login, set the Always login to "N" and check the Use 2FA checkbox – that way you only need your phone to login.
WARNING: Keep a note of your password if you do this – it is easy to forget if you are just using Authenticator to login.

Group Chat

Group Chat is an optional feature and must be explicitly enabled by each user.

Unlike standard one-to-one chat and file transfers, Group Chat supports offline delivery by using temporary encrypted relay storage. Individual group messages are stored only in encrypted form and remain cryptographically unreadable to SecurityNet and any third party.
Group Chat is the only feature that requires temporary relay storage for user-initiated messages. While message contents remain fully end-to-end encrypted, this mode does not follow SecurityNet’s default “no storage” design..
To enable Group Chat, tick the checkbox “Enable Group Chat (Optional)” in Settings.
Once enabled, you may invite colleagues to enable Group Chat if they wish. Participants who do not enable Group Chat will not see group chat options or receive group messages.

Next: Learn about how SecurityNet manages encrypted transfers in the background — see Send / Receive Process section.

The Send / Receive Process

The Send / Receive Process
How SecurityNet transfers encrypted files safely between devices.

Send / Receive Overview

The Send / Receive process is the heart of SecurityNet.
It handles all file encryption, transmission, receipt, and verification between users — automatically, securely, and entirely within your private network tunnel.

All one-to-one messages and files remain stored on the sender’s device until the recipient is online, at which point they are AES-encrypted and transferred directly over an end-to-end AES-encrypted peer-to-peer tunnel, with no server or cloud involvement.

In SecurityNet, chat messages are handled the same way as files: each message is encrypted locally and transferred as a secure data object through the peer-to-peer tunnel.

Note: Think of it as your encrypted delivery engine — always local, always under your control.

Encryption Layers

SecurityNet uses a double encryption system for every transfer:

1
A tunnel-level encryption secures the live connection between sender and receiver using one-time-use passwords.
2
Each file is individually encrypted inside that tunnel, ensuring even intercepted data is unreadable.

This means your files remain encrypted in transit and while stored on the sender’s and recipient’s devices, and are only decrypted by the intended recipient.

How It Works

This is the process that controls all the connections for your contacts. This works behind the scenes to send your files to your contacts, and to receive their files into your inbox.

This process will start automatically when SecurityNet starts. If you want to stop it, simply click on the green menu item.
When Send/Receive menu item shows green, this indicates the process is fully running
Send/receive starts an encrypted tunnel connection to each one of your contacts that has files waiting for transmission.
It also checks all your contacts to see if they have files to send to you. If so, it starts an encrypted connection to receive the files.
The send/receive process keeps cycling around, checking your contacts to see if there is anything to process.
When you want to stop the send/receive process, click the green menu item.
When Send/Receive menu item is black, this indicates the process is completely stopped.

Send / Receive in Action

When files are ready to send, SecurityNet automatically establishes a secure encrypted connection between devices when both users are online.
Files are transferred directly through the encrypted tunnel and verified upon arrival.
Temporary working data is securely removed once the transfer is complete.

Note: The process can handle multiple transfers simultaneously, depending on your Max Processes setting.

Automatic Operation

While the Send / Receive main menu item is green, SecurityNet automatically manages transfers and retries when necessary.
Once the recipient is seen as on-line, the encrypted files queued for sending are dispatched automatically.
If the recipient is offline, SecurityNet automatically retries later until the recipient gets online and ten sends the files.
It also checks for new incoming files from your contacts and downloads them securely.

Please note: If the Send / Receive main menu item is black, then the process is stopped. Nothing will happen until you turn it on again.

Error Handling

If a transfer fails:

It is logged in red on the Activity Log with a short explanation
The system automatically retries after a short delay.
Persistent failures (e.g. no connection) remain in queue until Send/Receive retries or you manually cancel.