diff --git a/bookmarks/services/exporter.py b/bookmarks/services/exporter.py
index 289aa67..fcc775d 100644
--- a/bookmarks/services/exporter.py
+++ b/bookmarks/services/exporter.py
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ def append_bookmark(doc: BookmarkDocument, bookmark: Bookmark):
     desc = html.escape(bookmark.resolved_description or '')
     tags = ','.join(bookmark.tag_names)
     toread = '1' if bookmark.unread else '0'
+    private = '0' if bookmark.shared else '1'
     added = int(bookmark.date_added.timestamp())
 
-    doc.append(f'<DT><A HREF="{url}" ADD_DATE="{added}" PRIVATE="0" TOREAD="{toread}" TAGS="{tags}">{title}</A>')
+    doc.append(f'<DT><A HREF="{url}" ADD_DATE="{added}" PRIVATE="{private}" TOREAD="{toread}" TAGS="{tags}">{title}</A>')
 
     if desc:
         doc.append(f'<DD>{desc}')
diff --git a/bookmarks/services/importer.py b/bookmarks/services/importer.py
index 588c86c..f130dfa 100644
--- a/bookmarks/services/importer.py
+++ b/bookmarks/services/importer.py
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ class ImportResult:
     failed: int = 0
 
 
+@dataclass
+class ImportOptions:
+    map_private_flag: bool = False
+
+
 class TagCache:
     def __init__(self, user: User):
         self.user = user
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ class TagCache:
         self.cache[tag.name.lower()] = tag
 
 
-def import_netscape_html(html: str, user: User):
+def import_netscape_html(html: str, user: User, options: ImportOptions = ImportOptions()) -> ImportResult:
     result = ImportResult()
     import_start = timezone.now()
 
@@ -70,7 +75,7 @@ def import_netscape_html(html: str, user: User):
     # Split bookmarks to import into batches, to keep memory usage for bulk operations manageable
     batches = _get_batches(netscape_bookmarks, 200)
     for batch in batches:
-        _import_batch(batch, user, tag_cache, result)
+        _import_batch(batch, user, options, tag_cache, result)
 
     # Create snapshots for newly imported bookmarks
     tasks.schedule_bookmarks_without_snapshots(user)
@@ -114,7 +119,11 @@ def _get_batches(items: List, batch_size: int):
     return batches
 
 
-def _import_batch(netscape_bookmarks: List[NetscapeBookmark], user: User, tag_cache: TagCache, result: ImportResult):
+def _import_batch(netscape_bookmarks: List[NetscapeBookmark],
+                  user: User,
+                  options: ImportOptions,
+                  tag_cache: TagCache,
+                  result: ImportResult):
     # Query existing bookmarks
     batch_urls = [bookmark.href for bookmark in netscape_bookmarks]
     existing_bookmarks = Bookmark.objects.filter(owner=user, url__in=batch_urls)
@@ -135,7 +144,7 @@ def _import_batch(netscape_bookmarks: List[NetscapeBookmark], user: User, tag_ca
             else:
                 is_update = True
             # Copy data from parsed bookmark
-            _copy_bookmark_data(netscape_bookmark, bookmark)
+            _copy_bookmark_data(netscape_bookmark, bookmark, options)
             # Validate bookmark fields, exclude owner to prevent n+1 database query,
             # also there is no specific validation on owner
             bookmark.clean_fields(exclude=['owner'])
@@ -152,8 +161,14 @@ def _import_batch(netscape_bookmarks: List[NetscapeBookmark], user: User, tag_ca
             result.failed = result.failed + 1
 
     # Bulk update bookmarks in DB
-    Bookmark.objects.bulk_update(bookmarks_to_update,
-                                 ['url', 'date_added', 'date_modified', 'unread', 'title', 'description', 'owner'])
+    Bookmark.objects.bulk_update(bookmarks_to_update, ['url',
+                                                       'date_added',
+                                                       'date_modified',
+                                                       'unread',
+                                                       'shared',
+                                                       'title',
+                                                       'description',
+                                                       'owner'])
     # Bulk insert new bookmarks into DB
     Bookmark.objects.bulk_create(bookmarks_to_create)
 
@@ -187,7 +202,7 @@ def _import_batch(netscape_bookmarks: List[NetscapeBookmark], user: User, tag_ca
     BookmarkToTagRelationShip.objects.bulk_create(relationships, ignore_conflicts=True)
 
 
-def _copy_bookmark_data(netscape_bookmark: NetscapeBookmark, bookmark: Bookmark):
+def _copy_bookmark_data(netscape_bookmark: NetscapeBookmark, bookmark: Bookmark, options: ImportOptions):
     bookmark.url = netscape_bookmark.href
     if netscape_bookmark.date_added:
         bookmark.date_added = parse_timestamp(netscape_bookmark.date_added)
@@ -199,3 +214,5 @@ def _copy_bookmark_data(netscape_bookmark: NetscapeBookmark, bookmark: Bookmark)
         bookmark.title = netscape_bookmark.title
     if netscape_bookmark.description:
         bookmark.description = netscape_bookmark.description
+    if options.map_private_flag and not netscape_bookmark.private:
+        bookmark.shared = True
diff --git a/bookmarks/services/parser.py b/bookmarks/services/parser.py
index 7d27e7a..b757507 100644
--- a/bookmarks/services/parser.py
+++ b/bookmarks/services/parser.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class NetscapeBookmark:
     date_added: str
     tag_string: str
     to_read: bool
+    private: bool
 
 
 class BookmarkParser(HTMLParser):
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ class BookmarkParser(HTMLParser):
         self.title = ''
         self.description = ''
         self.toread = ''
+        self.private = ''
 
     def handle_starttag(self, tag: str, attrs: list):
         name = 'handle_start_' + tag.lower()
@@ -58,7 +60,9 @@ class BookmarkParser(HTMLParser):
             description='',
             date_added=self.add_date,
             tag_string=self.tags,
-            to_read=self.toread == '1'
+            to_read=self.toread == '1',
+            # Mark as private by default, also when attribute is not specified
+            private=self.private != '0',
         )
 
     def handle_a_data(self, data):
@@ -79,6 +83,7 @@ class BookmarkParser(HTMLParser):
         self.title = ''
         self.description = ''
         self.toread = ''
+        self.private = ''
 
 
 def parse(html: str) -> List[NetscapeBookmark]:
diff --git a/bookmarks/templates/settings/general.html b/bookmarks/templates/settings/general.html
index 7070b3b..1da58c6 100644
--- a/bookmarks/templates/settings/general.html
+++ b/bookmarks/templates/settings/general.html
@@ -144,6 +144,16 @@
         added and existing ones are updated.</p>
       <form method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" action="{% url 'bookmarks:settings.import' %}">
         {% csrf_token %}
+        <div class="form-group">
+          <label for="import_map_private_flag" class="form-checkbox">
+            <input type="checkbox" id="import_map_private_flag" name="map_private_flag">
+            <i class="form-icon"></i> Import public bookmarks as shared
+          </label>
+          <div class="form-input-hint">
+            When importing bookmarks from a service that supports marking bookmarks as public or private (using the <code>PRIVATE</code> attribute), enabling this option will import all bookmarks that are marked as not private as shared bookmarks.
+            Otherwise, all bookmarks will be imported as private bookmarks.
+          </div>
+        </div>
         <div class="form-group">
           <div class="input-group col-8 col-md-12">
             <input class="form-input" type="file" name="import_file">
@@ -171,6 +181,10 @@
     <section class="content-area">
       <h2>Export</h2>
       <p>Export all bookmarks in Netscape HTML format.</p>
+      <p>
+        Note that exporting bookmark notes is currently not supported due to limitations of the format.
+        For proper backups please use a database backup as described in the documentation.
+      </p>
       <a class="btn btn-primary" href="{% url 'bookmarks:settings.export' %}">Download (.html)</a>
       {% if export_error %}
         <div class="has-error">
diff --git a/bookmarks/tests/helpers.py b/bookmarks/tests/helpers.py
index d68875a..e72f2fd 100644
--- a/bookmarks/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/bookmarks/tests/helpers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import random
 import logging
+import datetime
 from typing import List
 
 from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ class BookmarkFactoryMixin:
                        website_description: str = '',
                        web_archive_snapshot_url: str = '',
                        favicon_file: str = '',
+                       added: datetime = None,
                        ):
         if not title:
             title = get_random_string(length=32)
@@ -45,6 +47,8 @@ class BookmarkFactoryMixin:
         if not url:
             unique_id = get_random_string(length=32)
             url = 'https://example.com/' + unique_id
+        if added is None:
+            added = timezone.now()
         bookmark = Bookmark(
             url=url,
             title=title,
@@ -52,7 +56,7 @@ class BookmarkFactoryMixin:
             notes=notes,
             website_title=website_title,
             website_description=website_description,
-            date_added=timezone.now(),
+            date_added=added,
             date_modified=timezone.now(),
             owner=user,
             is_archived=is_archived,
@@ -125,13 +129,15 @@ class BookmarkHtmlTag:
                  description: str = '',
                  add_date: str = '',
                  tags: str = '',
-                 to_read: bool = False):
+                 to_read: bool = False,
+                 private: bool = True):
         self.href = href
         self.title = title
         self.description = description
         self.add_date = add_date
         self.tags = tags
         self.to_read = to_read
+        self.private = private
 
 
 class ImportTestMixin:
@@ -141,7 +147,8 @@ class ImportTestMixin:
         <A {f'HREF="{tag.href}"' if tag.href else ''}
            {f'ADD_DATE="{tag.add_date}"' if tag.add_date else ''}
            {f'TAGS="{tag.tags}"' if tag.tags else ''}
-           TOREAD="{1 if tag.to_read else 0}">
+           TOREAD="{1 if tag.to_read else 0}"
+           PRIVATE="{1 if tag.private else 0}">
            {tag.title if tag.title else ''}
         </A>
         {f'<DD>{tag.description}' if tag.description else ''}
diff --git a/bookmarks/tests/test_exporter.py b/bookmarks/tests/test_exporter.py
index aab46af..74f7b06 100644
--- a/bookmarks/tests/test_exporter.py
+++ b/bookmarks/tests/test_exporter.py
@@ -1,10 +1,36 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
+from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookmarks.services import exporter
 from bookmarks.tests.helpers import BookmarkFactoryMixin
 
 
 class ExporterTestCase(TestCase, BookmarkFactoryMixin):
+    def test_export_bookmarks(self):
+        added = timezone.now()
+        timestamp = int(added.timestamp())
+
+        bookmarks = [
+            self.setup_bookmark(url='https://example.com/1', title='Title 1', added=added,
+                                description='Example description'),
+            self.setup_bookmark(url='https://example.com/2', title='Title 2', added=added,
+                                tags=[self.setup_tag(name='tag1'), self.setup_tag(name='tag2'),
+                                      self.setup_tag(name='tag3')]),
+            self.setup_bookmark(url='https://example.com/3', title='Title 3', added=added, unread=True),
+            self.setup_bookmark(url='https://example.com/4', title='Title 4', added=added, shared=True),
+
+        ]
+        html = exporter.export_netscape_html(bookmarks)
+
+        lines = [
+            f'<DT><A HREF="https://example.com/1" ADD_DATE="{timestamp}" PRIVATE="1" TOREAD="0" TAGS="">Title 1</A>',
+            '<DD>Example description',
+            f'<DT><A HREF="https://example.com/2" ADD_DATE="{timestamp}" PRIVATE="1" TOREAD="0" TAGS="tag1,tag2,tag3">Title 2</A>',
+            f'<DT><A HREF="https://example.com/3" ADD_DATE="{timestamp}" PRIVATE="1" TOREAD="1" TAGS="">Title 3</A>',
+            f'<DT><A HREF="https://example.com/4" ADD_DATE="{timestamp}" PRIVATE="0" TOREAD="0" TAGS="">Title 4</A>',
+        ]
+        self.assertIn('\n\r'.join(lines), html)
+
     def test_escape_html_in_title_and_description(self):
         bookmark = self.setup_bookmark(
             title='<style>: The Style Information element',
diff --git a/bookmarks/tests/test_importer.py b/bookmarks/tests/test_importer.py
index 24aef88..fbe154d 100644
--- a/bookmarks/tests/test_importer.py
+++ b/bookmarks/tests/test_importer.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookmarks.models import Bookmark, Tag, parse_tag_string
 from bookmarks.services import tasks
-from bookmarks.services.importer import import_netscape_html
+from bookmarks.services.importer import import_netscape_html, ImportOptions
 from bookmarks.tests.helpers import BookmarkFactoryMixin, ImportTestMixin, BookmarkHtmlTag, disable_logging
 from bookmarks.utils import parse_timestamp
 
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class ImporterTestCase(TestCase, BookmarkFactoryMixin, ImportTestMixin):
             self.assertEqual(bookmark.description, html_tag.description)
             self.assertEqual(bookmark.date_added, parse_timestamp(html_tag.add_date))
             self.assertEqual(bookmark.unread, html_tag.to_read)
+            self.assertEqual(bookmark.shared, not html_tag.private)
 
             tag_names = parse_tag_string(html_tag.tags)
 
@@ -66,35 +67,46 @@ class ImporterTestCase(TestCase, BookmarkFactoryMixin, ImportTestMixin):
                             add_date='3', tags='bar-tag, other-tag'),
             BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/unread', title='Unread title', description='Unread description',
                             add_date='3', to_read=True),
+            BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/private', title='Private title', description='Private description',
+                            add_date='4', private=True),
         ]
         import_html = self.render_html(tags=html_tags)
         import_netscape_html(import_html, self.get_or_create_test_user())
 
+        # Check bookmarks
+        bookmarks = Bookmark.objects.all()
+        self.assertEqual(len(bookmarks), 5)
+        self.assertBookmarksImported(html_tags)
+
         # Change data, add some new data
         html_tags = [
             BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com', title='Updated Example title',
                             description='Updated Example description', add_date='111', tags='updated-example-tag'),
-            BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/foo', title='Updated Foo title', description='Updated Foo description',
+            BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/foo', title='Updated Foo title',
+                            description='Updated Foo description',
                             add_date='222', tags='new-tag'),
-            BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/bar', title='Updated Bar title', description='Updated Bar description',
+            BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/bar', title='Updated Bar title',
+                            description='Updated Bar description',
                             add_date='333', tags='updated-bar-tag, updated-other-tag'),
             BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/unread', title='Unread title', description='Unread description',
                             add_date='3', to_read=False),
+            BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://example.com/private', title='Private title', description='Private description',
+                            add_date='4', private=False),
             BookmarkHtmlTag(href='https://baz.com', add_date='444', tags='baz-tag')
         ]
 
         # Import updated data
         import_html = self.render_html(tags=html_tags)
-        result = import_netscape_html(import_html, self.get_or_create_test_user())
+        result = import_netscape_html(import_html, self.get_or_create_test_user(), ImportOptions(map_private_flag=True))
 
         # Check result
-        self.assertEqual(result.total, 5)
-        self.assertEqual(result.success, 5)
+        self.assertEqual(result.total, 6)
+        self.assertEqual(result.success, 6)
         self.assertEqual(result.failed, 0)
 
         # Check bookmarks
         bookmarks = Bookmark.objects.all()
-        self.assertEqual(len(bookmarks), 5)
+        self.assertEqual(len(bookmarks), 6)
         self.assertBookmarksImported(html_tags)
 
     def test_import_with_some_invalid_bookmarks(self):
@@ -254,6 +266,33 @@ class ImporterTestCase(TestCase, BookmarkFactoryMixin, ImportTestMixin):
         self.assertEqual(import_result.success, 0)
         self.assertEqual(import_result.failed, 2)
 
+    def test_private_flag(self):
+        # does not map private flag if not enabled in options
+        test_html = self.render_html(tags_html='''
+        <DT><A HREF="https://example.com/1" ADD_DATE="1">Example title 1</A>
+        <DD>Example description 1</DD>
+        <DT><A HREF="https://example.com/2" ADD_DATE="1" PRIVATE="1">Example title 2</A>
+        <DD>Example description 2</DD>
+        <DT><A HREF="https://example.com/3" ADD_DATE="1" PRIVATE="0">Example title 3</A>
+        <DD>Example description 3</DD>
+        ''')
+        import_netscape_html(test_html, self.get_or_create_test_user(), ImportOptions())
+
+        self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.count(), 3)
+        self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[0].shared, False)
+        self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[1].shared, False)
+        self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[2].shared, False)
+
+        # does map private flag if enabled in options
+        Bookmark.objects.all().delete()
+        import_netscape_html(test_html, self.get_or_create_test_user(), ImportOptions(map_private_flag=True))
+        bookmark1 = Bookmark.objects.get(url='https://example.com/1')
+        bookmark2 = Bookmark.objects.get(url='https://example.com/2')
+        bookmark3 = Bookmark.objects.get(url='https://example.com/3')
+        self.assertEqual(bookmark1.shared, False)
+        self.assertEqual(bookmark2.shared, False)
+        self.assertEqual(bookmark3.shared, True)
+
     def test_schedule_snapshot_creation(self):
         user = self.get_or_create_test_user()
         test_html = self.render_html(tags_html='')
diff --git a/bookmarks/tests/test_parser.py b/bookmarks/tests/test_parser.py
index 78b92f5..f5c370b 100644
--- a/bookmarks/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/bookmarks/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class ParserTestCase(TestCase, ImportTestMixin):
             self.assertEqual(bookmark.description, html_tag.description)
             self.assertEqual(bookmark.tag_string, html_tag.tags)
             self.assertEqual(bookmark.to_read, html_tag.to_read)
+            self.assertEqual(bookmark.private, html_tag.private)
 
     def test_parse_bookmarks(self):
         html_tags = [
@@ -123,3 +124,28 @@ class ParserTestCase(TestCase, ImportTestMixin):
         bookmarks = parse(html)
 
         self.assertTagsEqual(bookmarks, html_tags)
+
+    def test_private_flag(self):
+        # is private by default
+        html = self.render_html(tags_html='''
+        <DT><A HREF="https://example.com" ADD_DATE="1">Example title</A>
+        <DD>Example description</DD>
+        ''')
+        bookmarks = parse(html)
+        self.assertEqual(bookmarks[0].private, True)
+
+        # explicitly marked as private
+        html = self.render_html(tags_html='''
+        <DT><A HREF="https://example.com" ADD_DATE="1" PRIVATE="1">Example title</A>
+        <DD>Example description</DD>
+        ''')
+        bookmarks = parse(html)
+        self.assertEqual(bookmarks[0].private, True)
+
+        # explicitly marked as public
+        html = self.render_html(tags_html='''
+        <DT><A HREF="https://example.com" ADD_DATE="1" PRIVATE="0">Example title</A>
+        <DD>Example description</DD>
+        ''')
+        bookmarks = parse(html)
+        self.assertEqual(bookmarks[0].private, False)
diff --git a/bookmarks/tests/test_settings_import_view.py b/bookmarks/tests/test_settings_import_view.py
index 1012f4a..7e59800 100644
--- a/bookmarks/tests/test_settings_import_view.py
+++ b/bookmarks/tests/test_settings_import_view.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.urls import reverse
 
+from bookmarks.models import Bookmark
 from bookmarks.tests.helpers import BookmarkFactoryMixin, disable_logging
 
 
@@ -77,3 +78,30 @@ class SettingsImportViewTestCase(TestCase, BookmarkFactoryMixin):
             self.assertRedirects(response, reverse('bookmarks:settings.general'))
             self.assertFormSuccessHint(response, '2 bookmarks were successfully imported')
             self.assertFormErrorHint(response, '1 bookmarks could not be imported')
+
+    def test_should_respect_map_private_flag_option(self):
+        with open('bookmarks/tests/resources/simple_valid_import_file.html') as import_file:
+            self.client.post(
+                reverse('bookmarks:settings.import'),
+                {'import_file': import_file},
+                follow=True
+            )
+
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.count(), 3)
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[0].shared, False)
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[1].shared, False)
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[2].shared, False)
+
+        Bookmark.objects.all().delete()
+
+        with open('bookmarks/tests/resources/simple_valid_import_file.html') as import_file:
+            self.client.post(
+                reverse('bookmarks:settings.import'),
+                {'import_file': import_file, 'map_private_flag': 'on'},
+                follow=True
+            )
+
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.count(), 3)
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[0].shared, True)
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[1].shared, True)
+            self.assertEqual(Bookmark.objects.all()[2].shared, True)
diff --git a/bookmarks/views/settings.py b/bookmarks/views/settings.py
index 2fc981a..d743af0 100644
--- a/bookmarks/views/settings.py
+++ b/bookmarks/views/settings.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ def integrations(request):
 @login_required
 def bookmark_import(request):
     import_file = request.FILES.get('import_file')
+    import_options = importer.ImportOptions(map_private_flag=request.POST.get('map_private_flag') == 'on')
 
     if import_file is None:
         messages.error(request, 'Please select a file to import.', 'bookmark_import_errors')
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ def bookmark_import(request):
 
     try:
         content = import_file.read().decode()
-        result = importer.import_netscape_html(content, request.user)
+        result = importer.import_netscape_html(content, request.user, import_options)
         success_msg = str(result.success) + ' bookmarks were successfully imported.'
         messages.success(request, success_msg, 'bookmark_import_success')
         if result.failed > 0: