What Is the Best Cloud Storage for Privacy and Security?
Here you are going to find a secure and private alternative to Dropbox. For you we have evaluated popular cloud storage services on privacy, security and transparency, guided by the three criteria for data-privacy.
Updated, 12/05/2020
Three Central Privacy Criteria
An online service is secure, if the transfer of data and its storage on a server or user device is encrypted. Here different methods are used which differ in its strength. The most secure method is end-to-end encryption. It guarantees that only sender and recipient have access to the digital keys for the data.
An online service is private, if the provider of the service collects no or only minimal data, which are not directly needed its service. This means that no personal data is collected, which could be sold to other companies or used by the provider itself.
An online service is transparent, if it can be guaranteed that it is secure and private. To prove this, the program’s source code can be made publicly available and accessible for everyone to inspect. This practice is called open source and is a central aspect of digital trustworthiness, as it makes the software’s operations transparent.
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| Cloud Storage | Secure | Private | Transparent |
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Google Drive1)Privacy Policy: Google |
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Dropbox2)Privacy Policy: Dropbox |
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OneDrive3)Privacy Policy: Microsoft |
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iCloud4)Privacy Policy: Apple |
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Riseup Share5)Privacy Policy: Riseup |
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| Cloud Storage | Secure | Private | Transparent |
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Google Drive9)Privacy Policy: Google |
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Dropbox10)Privacy Policy: Dropbox |
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OneDrive11)Privacy Policy: Microsoft |
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iCloud12)Privacy Policy: Apple |
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Riseup Share13)Privacy Policy: Riseup |
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An online service is secure, if the transfer of data and its storage on a server or user device is encrypted. Here different methods are used which differ in its strength. The most secure method is end-to-end encryption. It guarantees that only sender and recipient have access to the digital keys for the data.
An online service is private, if the provider of the service collects no or only minimal data, which are not directly needed its service. This means that no personal data is collected, which could be sold to other companies or used by the provider itself.
An online service is transparent, if it can be guaranteed that it is secure and private. To prove this, the program’s source code can be made publicly available and accessible for everyone to inspect. This practice is called open source and is a central aspect of digital trustworthiness, as it makes the software’s operations transparent.
= Criteria meet= Criteria partially meet= Criteria not meet
Our Favourite: MEGA
Why Is MEGA Our Favourite Encrypted Cloud Storage Service?
MEGA is a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive, that encrypts all data you store on it with end-to-end encryption, before your data is being uploaded.17)MEGA Review: Best Free Cloud Storage and Backup for Small Business This makes MEGA a very secure cloud service, because only you (and not even Mega) can access your photos, videos, documents and other data.
MEGA also offers lots of useful features to make your work easier.
What Makes MEGA Better Than Dropbox and Google Drive?
Dropbox and Google Drive are both cloud storage services which don’t use end-to-end encryption (E2E) for protecting your data. With E2E encryption, every file you upload is being encrypted with an encryption key – for MEGA this is your password –, so that only you can access your data.18)Mega’s Clever Encryption Will Protect You, But Mostly Kim Dotcom19)Mega review File sharing for the privacy minded20)MEGA Security White Paper Your files are therefore not as secure on Dropbox’ or Goole Drive’s servers as they are on MEGA’s.
Because your photos, videos, documents and other files are not protected by E2E encryption on Dropbox or Google Drive, Google or Dropbox could access your data. Also your data could be stolen by hackers who could then access your data.21)Why Most Web Services Don’t Use End-to-End Encryption
Since a lot of us store private and sensitive data in the cloud, such as copies of passports, bank statements and private photos, it is important that your data is protected against the wrong people and financially motivated analysis.
In 2011 Dropbox had a serious security issue, which resulted in all accounts being accessible with an arbitrary password for four hours.22)Dropbox confirms security glitch–no password required With E2E encryption, your data could have been downloaded, but only in an encrypted state, so no one would have been able to access your data.
End-to-end encryption also protects your data from hacker attacks and software glitches. Only you have the means to decrypt your data stored on MEGA, using your password. Automatic scanning of your documents is also not possible with E2E encryption, which also protects you against espionage and analysis of your data.
Furthermore MEGA’s software code for its apps is accessible for inspection.23)MEGA: Source Code Transparency As a result everyone can verify that the software does what it is supposed to.
This makes MEGA a secure alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive.
Can MEGA Keep up With the Functionalities Dropbox Offers?
With MEGA you can create folders and labels to sort your data and share them with others.
Folders can be shared with other MEGA accounts, for example to collaborate on documents. E2E encryption stays intact also for shared folders. For shared folders you can assign reading, writing or full access rights to your collaborators. You also have access to a chat feature within MEGA, protected by E2E encryption, offering you to message as well as video call contacts.
Download links are also available, to be able to share access to single files or folders with people who don’t have an account. For this the encryption key for the shared files has to be securely provided to the recipient.
And for modified documents, there are copies kept which can be separately deleted.
MEGA doesn’t only offer apps for iPhone, Android as well as web access but also for Linux, macOS and Windows for syncing some folders – or your entire computer – with your MEGA cloud.
MEGA is not an online office suite, so editing documents online is not possible.
| Functions | MEGA | Dropbox |
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Folders |
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Labels |
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Sharing of folders with others |
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Download links for folders and files |
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Access rights (read, write…) |
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Search function (file name, folders…) |
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Version record |
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Sync client |
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Document editor |
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Chat funktion and video conferencing |
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| Functions | MEGA | Dropbox |
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Folders |
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Labels |
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Sharing of folders with others |
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Download links for folders and files |
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Access rights (read, write…) |
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Search function (file name, folders…) |
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Version record |
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Sync client |
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Document editor |
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Chat funktion and video conferencing |
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This is our change log for the page Cloud Storage. Here are all the changes and updates recorded for this page.
This page’s content is not timeless. This is why its content hast to be updated regularly. To make this process transparent, we have set up this change log.
- May 2020: Page created