Frequently Asked Questions

So you want to create a new account and then invite someone to a tunnel! Here's what you'll do:

1. Select an image key. This is simply a image file, a digital photo that you took yourself and that you haven't shared with anyone. Perhaps a blurry picture of your dog! You will use this key to sign in every time you return to the web site, so remember which photo you used. This is much more secure than a typical username/password because hackers guess passwords with ease, but they can't guess photos. If you want to be able to access your account from any computer, you may keep your image in "cloud" storage, such as SpiderOak or Dropbox, but if you are seriously concerned about security, be aware that these systems may or may not be secure.

2. Select a 6-digit PIN. You can use your bank PIN or any 6-digit number that it would be hard for someone else to guess. We ask for a PIN in addition to the image key just in case someone were to gain access to your photo files on your computer.

3. Select a handle. Similar to a handle on Twitter or Skype, except you don't use it to sign in. It is uniquely yours. After you create your account you may exchange handles (offline) with other Tunnel X users in order to connect quickly and easily.

4. Invite your first confidant. Now Tunnel X creates your first tunnel. You will get a passphrase, which is two random sentences. Your job is to deliver the passphrase to your confidant, so he or she can connect to the tunnel. How you do that depends on how much security you need. If you are not very concerned, simply email the passphrase (you may click a link to automatically generate the email message). To be more careful, you might split the passphrase in two and send each by a different means. You can even read it over the phone! Once you have done this, you can leave a welcome message for your confidant in the tunnel. We recommend waiting until you know your confidant has signed in with the passphrase before you leave confidential information in the tunnel. Enjoy, and let know what you think!

Someone sent you a passphrase? Follow these steps to set up your account:

1. Type the passphrase in the blank space and click the arrow. Capitals, punctuation, and spaces don't matter. Just the letters.

2. Select a handle. Similar to a handle on Twitter or Skype, except you don't use it to sign in. It is uniquely yours. After you create your account you may exchange handles (offline) with other Tunnel X users in order to connect quickly and easily.

3. Select an image key. This is simply a image file, a digital photo that you took yourself and that you haven't shared with anyone. Perhaps a blurry picture of your dog! You will use this key to sign in every time you return to the web site, so remember which photo you used. This is much more secure than a typical username/password because hackers guess passwords with ease, but they can't guess photos. If you want to be able to access your account from any computer, you may keep your image in "cloud" storage, such as SpiderOak or Dropbox, but if you are seriously concerned about security, be aware that these systems may not be secure.

4. Select a 6-digit PIN. You can use your bank PIN or any 6-digit number that it would be hard for someone else to guess. We ask for a PIN in addition to the image key just in case someone were to gain access to your photo files on your computer.