WE ALL HAVE skeletons in our hard drives: those mortifying college spring break photos or that incensed email we wish we’d never sent the boss. But even when you delete your Facebook account or gut a message, digital clones of that oft-incriminating data may be archived by a third party—forever.

A crew of computer scientists at the University of Washington aims to restore control of your online life through Vanish. The software, for which a beta version was unveiled in July, dooms messages and images to self-destruct over time.

Certain shamed politicians wish their trysty missives had expired via Vanish.

After installing the tool in the Firefox browser, explains project lead and UW assistant prof Yoshi Kohno, a sender highlights sensitive text or photos and clicks the “Vanish” button, muddling the words and images into gibberish. The recipient hits the same button and the message appears in its original form. When the sender’s predetermined time—hours, weeks, years—elapses, Vanish renders the message permanently irretrievable.

Kohno’s quick to reference politicians—like email Don Juan and shamed South Carolina governor Mark Sanford—who likely wish their trysty missives had expired before they got into the wrong hands. But we hardly need to be convinced of the software’s value. We have some Cancun spring break pics with Vanish’s name written all over them.