Request

Created August 23, 2022
Updated May 23, 2025

If you want to request or get data from others securely, you can use the “Request” feature provided by Sypher. This feature allows you to send your customized request form to others asking them to share data with you. Users sending the data are not required to have an account on Defense Stations’ Sypher tool.

I. Step-By-Step Guide

1) Enter Passphrase

When you click the “Request” button, you will be prompted to enter a passphrase. This security passphrase is identical in the Dropzone section.

Note: Make sure to create a secure phrase & remember it, as you will always need this phrase to access the Request Module..

2) Choose Form Option for your request

Sypher offers two options for creating a request form: “Select Template” and “Start from Scratch.” These options also apply to the Dropzone module. Below is designed for users, who choose to start from scratch.

For more details, please refer to the Form Builder Options section.

3) Create the Form

On the form creation screen, you can easily drag and drop field elements from the sidebar to your design on the right. To drag an element, simply use the button corresponding to each element . The sidebar contains 5 categories:

• Contact Information: These elements allow you to create fields for users to securely enter their email addresses, phone numbers, or other sensitive information.

• Text & Files: These enable you to create input fields, text fields, or dropboxes for users to enter information or upload files.

• Layout: Use these elements to label, group, and organize other elements, providing structure and clarity to your form.

• Choice Fields: These elements offer a convenient way to create checkboxes, radios, or drop-down menus for users to select.

• Other Fields: These fields let you set up specific questions that require certain formatting rules (such as IPv4 addresses, SIN numbers, dates, and more). Sypher will automatically handle the formatting conditions for you, and you can adjust them.

You can preview your form in progress by clicking the button above your element outputs.

4) Properties for branding (Optional)

Additionally, you can customize the appearance of your form by selecting the “Properties” button on the sidebar while not selecting any specific element. This feature enables you to add a title, choose a colour theme, include descriptions, and more!

At the bottom of the “Properties” section, you can select the “Multi Step” option to convert your request from a “Normal Form” to a “Stepper Form” for recipients. Below are visual representations of these two formats, which you can view when previewing your form:

Normal Form	Stepper Form

Moreover, you can also preview with “Mobile View” or “Full Screen” option.

For many elements, you can customize default values and make additional configurations by selecting the “Advanced Settings” option within the “Properties” section. This allows you to set limits, create mandatory questions, apply conditional logics, and more!

Properties

Each element’s properties allows you to configure 3 settings:

• Required – Makes the field mandatory, preventing people from moving on without filling it out
• Secret – Hides the input by displaying it as dots, similar to a password field
• Read Only – Prevents users from modifying or interacting with the field

Advanced Settings

Additionally, each element offers unique advanced features tailored to its purpose. For example:

• Email element – Set minimum and maximum character limits
• Input element – Define a regular expression or input pattern users must follow
• Layout element – No advanced settings available

A key feature shared by all elements is the “Rule Builder,” which significantly enhances your ability to control and design your form. You can access this by clicking the green “Add Condition” button. More details on this feature are covered in the Rule Builder section.

Once you have configured the form to your liking, click the green “Continue” button on the right to proceed to the next stage.

5) Request the data

Now you’re set with your customized request form, enter your recipients’ emails and configure how long and how many times your form will stay open before expiring. This will ensure better security in preventing old documents being leaked. This will send an email to the recipients with the link to submit the requested data

Moreover, you can click on “Advance Settings” to allow recipients with responder controls to set access time for themselves, enable login features, and show/hide stats.

II. History

Sypher offers a “History” option that allows you to view the status of your requests. To access your Request History, follow these steps:

1. Go to the “Request” section in the left navigation pane.
2. Click on the “History” button.

This will display a list of all the requests you have made, along with their statuses, including whether they have expired.

By clicking on a specific request, you will be redirected to the Dropzone sections, where you can share or download the responses.

III. Responses

Similarly, Sypher also provides a “Responses” feature that lets you view all the responses from your recipients. When you receive data from your recipients, you can also view the date and time the request was sent, the number of clicks on the link and more.

Additionally, you can visualize this information on a global map by returning to the Dashboard. Sypher offers additional details on the Dashboard such as the IP address, location, whether a proxy was used and more.

Clicking on a specific request will also redirect you to the Dropzone section.