Stealth Notes

A sophisticated note-taking application designed to be invisible from screen recording software. Built with Electron, React, and TypeScript, featuring advanced anti-screen recording protection.

🎯 Features

• 🛡️ Advanced Recording Protection: Multi-layered invisibility from screen recording software
• 📝 Full Note Management: Create, edit, delete, and organize notes with rich text support
• 🌐 Global Stealth Access: Access via keyboard shortcuts without visible presence
• 💾 Local SQLite Storage: All notes stored securely on your device
• ⚡ Real-time Detection: Monitors and alerts when recording software is detected
• 🎨 Clean Interface: Modern, dark-themed UI with intuitive controls
• 🖱️ Smart Window Dragging: Draggable window with protected interactive areas
• 🔒 Cross-Platform: Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux

🔒 Recording Protection

Tested Environment: macOS Sequoia 15.5 with Apple Silicon

✅ Protected Against:

• Browser-based screen recording
• Discord screen sharing
• Native macOS screenshot functionality (⌘+Shift+4)
• Microsoft Teams Version 25163.3001.3726.6503
• OBS Studio version 31.0.4
• Zoom screen sharing (most versions)
• Basic screen capture utilities
• Many streaming software applications

⚠️ May NOT Work Against:

• QuickTime Player Version 10.5
• Advanced screen capture tools
• Specialized forensic software
• Some enterprise recording solutions

🛡️ Anti-Screen Recording Features

Detection System

• Real-time Monitoring: Continuously scans for recording software
• Smart Alerts: Non-intrusive notifications when recording is detected
• Process Detection: Identifies common recording applications
• Protection Status: Visual indicator showing current protection level

Invisibility Techniques

• Content Protection: macOS-specific content protection API
• Frameless Window: No visible window decorations
• Skip Taskbar/Dock: Hidden from system UI elements
• Strategic Positioning: Window positioned outside visible area when hidden
• Transparency Control: Semi-transparent background
• Workspace Management: Not visible on all virtual desktops

📋 Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+
• npm or yarn package manager
• macOS (for full protection features)
• Administrator privileges (for some protection features)

🚀 Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd stealth-notes

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Build the application:

   npm run build

🎮 Usage

Launching the App

npm start

The app starts completely hidden - no dock icon, no taskbar presence, no visible windows.

Accessing the Interface

Global Shortcut: Cmd+Shift+N (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux)

• First press: Shows the notes window
• Second press: Hides the window completely
• Always accessible: Works from any application

Using the Note Interface

1. Create New Note: Click the "New Note" button
2. Edit Existing Note: Click any note in the sidebar to open it
3. Save Changes: Click "Save" or changes auto-save
4. Delete Notes: Click "Delete" while editing a note
5. Quick Hide: Click "Hide" button or use global shortcut

Window Controls

• Draggable Areas: Click and drag the title bar, header areas, or empty content space
• Protected Buttons: All buttons and text inputs remain clickable
• Smart Positioning: Window remembers position and centers automatically

⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Context
Cmd+Shift+N (macOS)	Toggle app visibility	Global
Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux)	Toggle app visibility	Global

🧪 Testing Protection

Confirmed Working Protection

Tested on macOS Sequoia 15.5 with Apple Silicon:

• ✅ Native macOS Screenshot (⌘+Shift+4): App remains completely invisible
• ✅ Microsoft Teams v25163.3001.3726.6503: Not visible during screen sharing
• ✅ OBS Studio v31.0.4: Successfully hidden from window and display capture
• ✅ Discord screen sharing: App not detected in shared content
• ✅ Zoom screen sharing: Protected across most Zoom versions

Testing with Other Software

Test the protection by:

1. Launch Stealth Notes: npm start
2. Show the app: Press Cmd+Shift+N
3. Open recording software and attempt capture
4. Verify invisibility: App should not appear in recordings or capture lists

Expected Results

• Window not in capture lists
• App remains invisible in recordings
• Real-time protection alerts when recording software detected
• Full functionality maintained during protection

🛠️ Development

Development Mode

npm run dev

Starts both Electron main process and React development server with hot reload and live debugging.

Available Scripts

Command	Description
npm start	Launch the built application
npm run dev	Development mode with hot reload
npm run build	Build for production
npm run build:main	Build Electron main process only
npm run build:renderer	Build React renderer only
npm run pack	Package app for distribution

Project Structure

stealth-notes/
├── src/
│   ├── main/                 # Electron main process
│   │   └── main.ts          # App entry with protection features
│   ├── renderer/            # React frontend
│   │   ├── App.tsx          # Main component with UI logic
│   │   ├── index.css        # Tailwind CSS styles
│   │   └── main.tsx         # React entry point
│   ├── database/            # SQLite operations
│   │   └── database.ts      # Note storage and retrieval
│   ├── types/               # TypeScript definitions
│   │   └── electron.d.ts    # API interfaces
│   └── preload.ts           # Secure IPC bridge
├── dist/                    # Built files (committed for distribution)
├── CLAUDE.md               # Development instructions
└── package.json            # Dependencies and scripts

🔧 Technical Implementation

Protection Architecture

// Main Process Protection
- setContentProtection(true)        // macOS content protection
- skipTaskbar: true                 // Hide from dock/taskbar  
- show: false                       // Start hidden
- transparent: true                 // Enable transparency
- alwaysOnTop: true                // Controlled layering

// Process Detection
- Real-time OBS detection           // Monitor recording software
- Process scanning every 5s         // Background monitoring
- IPC alert system                  // Notify renderer of threats

Window Management

// Smart Dragging
- WebkitAppRegion: 'drag'          // Title bar and headers
- WebkitAppRegion: 'no-drag'       // Buttons and inputs
- Position management               // Center on show, hide off-screen
- Focus control                     // Proper window activation

Data Security

• Local SQLite Database: ~/Library/Application Support/stealth-notes/notes.db
• No Network Requests: All data stays on device
• Encrypted Storage: SQLite with secure file permissions
• Auto-save: Real-time note preservation

⚠️ Important Limitations

1. Not 100% Invisible: Professional recording software may bypass protection
2. macOS Focused: Full protection features require macOS
3. Global Shortcuts: May conflict with other applications using same keys
4. Resource Usage: Continuous background monitoring
5. Detection Lag: Recording software detection has ~5 second delay

📦 Building for Distribution

Package for macOS

npm run pack

Distribution Notes

• Code Signing: May be required for some protection features
• Notarization: Recommended for macOS distribution
• Permissions: App may request accessibility permissions

🔐 Security Considerations

Legitimate Use Cases

• Private note-taking during recordings
• Sensitive information protection
• Privacy-conscious documentation
• Confidential meeting notes

Ethical Guidelines

• ✅ Personal privacy protection
• ✅ Confidential business notes
• ✅ Educational use and research
• ❌ Malicious hiding of activities
• ❌ Circumventing legitimate monitoring
• ❌ Violating terms of service

📄 License

This project is open source. Use responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

🤝 Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
4. Push to branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

Development Guidelines

• Follow existing code style
• Test protection features thoroughly
• Update documentation for new features
• Ensure cross-platform compatibility

⚡ Quick Start Summary

# 1. Install
git clone <repo-url> && cd stealth-notes
npm install

# 2. Build
npm run build

# 3. Launch (starts hidden)
npm start

# 4. Access
# Press Cmd+Shift+N (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux)

# 5. Use
# Create notes, edit content, save automatically
# App stays hidden from most recording software

🆕 Recent Updates

Version 1.0 Features

• ✅ Smart window dragging - Draggable title areas with protected interactive elements
• ✅ Enhanced OBS protection - Successfully tested with OBS Studio v31.0.4
• ✅ Real-time detection - Monitoring with visual protection status alerts
• ✅ Clean user interface - Professional, production-ready design
• ✅ Comprehensive testing - Verified protection across multiple applications

Current Status

• Fully functional on macOS Sequoia 15.5 with Apple Silicon
• Proven protection against major recording software
• Stable performance with continuous background monitoring

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This application is designed for legitimate privacy use cases. Users are responsible for complying with applicable laws, regulations, and terms of service. The developers assume no responsibility for misuse of this software.