Send files.
Know when they land.
Starkive encrypts any file and fires an instant notification the moment it's opened — with the time, location, and a signed PDF certificate. Built for professionals who can't afford to wonder.
Try free · Secure Container from $2.99/mo · Windows 10/11
Subject
[Starkive] Vega — "Resume_Google_SWE.ssz" was opened
File: Resume_Google_SWE.ssz
Star: ★ Vega
Time: Mon, 09 Jun 2026 14:32 UTC
Country: 🇺🇸 US
Total opens: 1
📎 Starkive_Vega_Certificate.pdf attached
Certainty isn't a luxury.
It's the minimum.
For professionals who send documents that matter.
See it in action
From file to notification in seconds
Click any step or watch the walkthrough automatically.
Resume_Google_SWE.pdf
The SSZ format
Not just a ZIP file.
A secure delivery container.
The .ssz format is Starkive's purpose-built secure container. It's not a renamed ZIP — it's a binary format engineered for tracked, encrypted delivery.
- 🔑
Unique file token
Every .ssz file contains a UUID that's registered to your account. When opened, it calls home — that's how you get notified.
- 🔒
AES-256 encrypted payload
Your file content is encrypted inside the container. No password, no access — full stop.
- 🧬
SHA-256 integrity hash
A hash of your original file is embedded in the header. Recipients can verify the file hasn't been tampered with.
- 📦
Encrypt any file type
PDFs, Word docs, images, spreadsheets, executables — if it's a file, Starkive can wrap it.
SSZ file structure
Total header: 100 bytes · Payload: variable
Cloud features
Local-first. Cloud-ready.
Starkive works entirely offline. Connect to the cloud when you need it.
Open tracking dashboard
Every file you protect appears in your cloud dashboard with full open history — time, country, and notification status. Accessible from any browser.
Encrypted vault backup
Back up your password vault to Google Drive or OneDrive. Your passwords are DPAPI-encrypted before they ever leave your device — the cloud never sees plaintext.
SSZ file hosting
Upload your .ssz files directly to Google Drive or OneDrive from the app. Get a shareable link in one click — no manual upload required.
How the cloud layer works
File contents never touch Starkive servers. Only the open event (timestamp + country) is recorded.
Features
Built for people who need receipts
Every feature exists to answer one question: did they open it?
AES-256 Encryption
Military-grade encryption on every file before it leaves your device. Zero plaintext ever touches the network.
Instant Open Alerts
Email notification fires within seconds of the file being decrypted — including time, country, and total open count.
PDF Certificate
Every open generates a signed PDF certificate you can save as a timestamped record of delivery and receipt.
Star Identities
Assign each recipient a unique star name. Track every open across every file you've sent to that person.
Cloud Vault Sync
Back up your encrypted vault to Google Drive or OneDrive. DPAPI-protected before upload — never plaintext.
Guaranteed Delivery
Built-in retry queue ensures notifications always arrive, even if the email provider has a momentary outage.
Use cases
For anyone who sends documents that matter
From job seekers to law firms — if you need proof it was read, Starkive is for you.
Know your resume was reviewed
Send your resume as a Starkive file. The moment a recruiter or hiring manager opens it, you get an alert — so you know exactly when to follow up. No more wondering if it landed in the void.
Confirm proposals and contracts are seen
Stop chasing clients. Attach your proposal as a Starkive file and you'll know the instant they open it — along with how many times they've come back to review it.
Time your follow-up perfectly
Know the exact moment a prospect opens your pricing deck or proposal. Follow up while you're top of mind — not three days later guessing if they've looked at it.
Maintain a verifiable chain of receipt
Send contracts, NDAs, and compliance documents with a built-in audit trail. Each open generates a timestamped PDF certificate — admissible, exportable, and stored in your account.
Confirm offer letters and policy docs are opened
Track when candidates open offer letters and when employees acknowledge policy documents. Maintain a clean compliance record without chasing down signatures.
Secure delivery of sensitive financial documents
Send tax documents, financial statements, and reports with end-to-end encryption and delivery receipts. Know who opened what and when — with a full audit log per file.
What professionals say
Built for people who need certainty
“We track every offer letter and policy acknowledgement through Starkive. The PDF certificates have saved us twice in compliance audits.”
Sarah M.
Senior HR Manager · Healthcare Group
“I know the exact moment a client opens my proposal. My follow-up timing went from guesswork to a science — I close faster now.”
James T.
Independent Consultant · Finance
“NDAs, engagement letters, settlement documents — every send has a certificate. It's now part of our standard delivery process.”
Rachel K.
Legal Operations · Law Firm
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing
Start for free. Unlock the full experience for less than a coffee.
Free
Try the core experience — no card required.
- ✓Zip & Encrypt any file (AES-256)
- ✓Unzip & Decrypt .ssz files
- ✓Open history log
- ✓Windows 10/11
Starkive Pro
Everything in Free, plus the full Secure Container experience.
- ✓Secure Container (.ssz) with open tracking
- ✓Instant email notifications on open
- ✓PDF open certificate per event
- ✓Country-level geo on every open
- ✓Star identity system
- ✓Cloud dashboard (browser access)
- ✓Google Drive & OneDrive vault sync
- ✓Guaranteed delivery retry queue
Enterprise
Volume licensing, SSO, and dedicated support for your team.
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Seats-based volume pricing
- ✓Centralized billing
- ✓Admin dashboard & audit logs
- ✓Priority email support
- ✓Custom onboarding
- ✓SLA available
We're in early access — pricing may evolve as we ship more features. Early subscribers lock in their rate.
For enterprise teams
Document tracking built for compliance-conscious organizations
Starkive gives your team a lightweight, auditable system for tracking sensitive document delivery — without the overhead of a full DRM platform.
- ✓Timestamped PDF certificates for every open — shareable and archivable
- ✓Per-recipient star identities for clean audit trails across your team
- ✓AES-256 encryption ensures documents are never intercepted in transit
- ✓Cloud vault sync with DPAPI encryption keeps credentials secure at rest
- ✓Full open history dashboard — sortable by file, recipient, or date
- ✓EULA-compliant — no IP addresses stored, country-level geo only
Dashboard overview
124
Files sent
89
Opens tracked
100%
Notifications delivered
Q2_Proposal_Acme.ssz
★ Rigel
NDA_PartnerCo.ssz
★ Deneb
FinReport_Jun.ssz
★ Spica
How it works
Three steps. Zero friction.
From file to verified delivery in under a minute.
Encrypt
Drag any file into Starkive, assign a star identity and password, and click Encrypt. You get a .ssz file to share.
Share
Send the .ssz file however you like — email, Drive, Slack, or a link. Share the password separately.
Get notified
The moment the recipient opens it, you receive an email alert and a PDF certificate of opening.
FAQ
Common questions
How does pricing work?
The app is free to download and try. Basic encryption and decryption are included at no cost. Secure Container — the .ssz format with open notifications, PDF certificates, and cloud features — is $2.99/month. Enterprise teams get custom seat-based pricing.
What does the recipient need?
The recipient needs the free Starkive app (Windows 10/11, 64-bit) to decrypt the file. It's a quick install — and decryption is always free for recipients.
Where are my files stored?
All files stay on your machine. Starkive never stores file contents on any server. Only open-event metadata (timestamp, country, open count) is recorded.
Is this legally admissible as proof of delivery?
The PDF certificate includes a timestamp and file hash. While it's strong evidence of receipt, consult your legal counsel for jurisdiction-specific admissibility requirements.
How is this different from WinZip or 7-Zip?
WinZip and 7-Zip are compression tools with no delivery tracking. Starkive is a document tracking platform — it tells you who opened what, when, and from where.
How strong is the encryption?
AES-256 — the same standard used by banks, governments, and defence agencies worldwide.
Stop wondering. Start knowing.
Try it free. Unlock Secure Container for $2.99/mo.
Windows 10 / 11 · 64-bit · v1.4.0 · Early access