Secure and easy file sharing with non-geeks

Haydon said:

@badrobot Are you on a vendetta after I pointed out that you misunderstood the issue?

The same argument as with DropBox applies, not everyone out there has Google Drive either ... I know non-geeks that don't even know that DropBox or Google Drive even exists ...

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No. Not all. Everything good. Should I not rreply after that? I just thought you still need help because the thread is not closed yet. Sorry.
I'll just put you in my ignore list then so I won't get anymore notification from you.

Well, that's unfortunate!

Anyway, I revisit the issue every now and then, and sometimes, the reason given why sites require registration before allowing uploads is potential attacks on the site via the uploads, that's purportedly the biggest fear of site designers and site hosting companies, e.g. ceteris paribus a poster site that only allows downloads is cheaper to design/host than a transactional site that allows downloads/uploads.

Oh, well ... security is expensive on the net and it's not that secure either

@Haydon

Dropbox (without the app).
You just upload (drag and drop), whatever you want to Dropbox, then post the link to the file, to share.

I just keep a folder in bookmarks, with the links...

Like so...






Yes, it's a bit manual. But there's no tie to my computer.
And the best part... non-geeks can just go to the link and click... download.

In all these years, Dropbox still hasn't decided that the whole world should use their site,
so they don't hassle the downloaders.

@Ghot It's about downloads/uploads, not about downloads only. The latter is not a problem, the former is a problem, read the thread why it is a problem.

Hint: You need a DropBox account to upload and not everyone has a DropBox account ... it's like non-registered users on this forum who can only read messages but not post messages ...

... and there is really much, much more in the thread ... read the whole thread ...

Haydon said:

@Ghot It's about downloads/uploads, not about downloads only. The latter is not a problem, the former is a problem, read the thread why it is a problem.

Hint: You need a DropBox account to upload and not everyone has a DropBox account ... it's like non-registered users on this forum who can only read messages but not post messages ...

... and there is really much, much more in the thread ... read the whole thread ...

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Same answer for the uploaders.
Dropbox is the simplest and least intrusive.
You get a certain amount of storage space for free. (2GB, it seems).
I just use the free 2GB.

Pricing...

No. I don't work for Dropbox. I just really like their "don't hassle me" policy.

Ghot said:

Same answer for the uploaders.

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That statement contradicts previous posts which say that you cannot upload without having a DropBox account. It's the same for the other cloud providers OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.

Even with an invitation from someone on the platform to upload, you cannot upload to the platform without having an account on the platform.

Anyway, can you corroborate your statement?

Haydon said:

That statement contradicts previous posts which say that you cannot upload without having a DropBox account. It's the same for the other cloud providers OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.

Even with an invitation from someone on the platform to upload, you cannot upload to the platform without having an account on the platform.

Anyway, can you corroborate your statement?

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In my original post I never mentioned "other" uploaders.
But yes... they need to make a free account. Ya know... like you have to do for pretty much everything these days.

Then, there's no rocket science required. You just drag and drop a file to upload, and it pops up a "copy link" button.
They have an app, that supposedly makes it even easier... but then you have a client on your comp... which I don't like.



The major difference I see with Dropbox and everyone else,
is that Dropbox isn't a black hole for all the data on your comp.

OneDrive is constantly trying to suck the innards out of your comp. There's posts about it constantly.
I assume Google is the same. You can't even transfer phone contacts anymore, w/o using Google Drive.

Ghot said:

In my original post I never mentioned "other" uploaders.
But yes... they need to make a free account. Ya know... like you have to do for pretty much everything these days.

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Well, that's exactly the problem. I quote from a previous post of mine

... X is a non-geek (see thread title) who has only a browser, the URL, and the credentials, but X has nothing else ...

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nothing else also means that X has no other cloud accounts

... X logs in at the URL with the credentials > X uploads/downloads > I get notified so I can check my cloud ...

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X will NEVER login at the URL if he has to go through another cloud.

I can't rehash the whole thread though.

Haydon said:

X is a non-geek who has only a browser, the URL, and the credentials, but X has nothing else

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How is your recipient obtaining the URL and the credentials??? Are you personally hand delivering the information, written down on a piece of paper, to their home!?!?!? Or, are you sending them the information via Gmail???
Then, bite the bullet already and use Google Drive!!! Anyone who has a Gmail account has Google Drive!!!

Otherwise, you're limited to using some sketchy, limited service like Zippyshare or transfernow, or the like.

It's quite elementary..., if your recipient isn't using any cloud services, then they probably don't have a computer!!!

As @Edwin said, you could use Zippyshare or the like or your last option...

1.) Obtain webhosting (either paid or host your own)
2.) Write your own website that drops the user into a folder where they can download anything in it... You'll have to write your own upload functions of they wont have that.
2.a) You can purchase a prebuilt site template for this, but then you have to worry about security if it phones-home or monitors you in some way
3.) Deliver the username/password to "Mr. X"

@Edwin Perhaps the following couple of examples will help.
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X finds me via Duck Duck Go > X contacts me by email > I send X a URL and password > X logs in > X downloads/uploads files and folders

X can be anyone in the general population > X has only a browser, the URL, and the credentials, but X has nothing else, and that's what just about everyone on the net has.

If X has to have Google Drive or DropBox or MS account or ... then you limit who X can be.
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Y finds 11f.com via Webopedia > Y registers with a username and password of his own choosing > Y logs in > Y downloads/uploads messages

Y can be anyone in the general population on the net, Y does not have to have Google Drive or DropBox or MS account or ...
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The latter example (where Y can register with a username and password of his own choosing) would require me to operate a website so that Y can download/upload not messages but files and folders.

The former example is simpler and I wonder if there is a way I can share a folder in the cloud so that X can download files and folders after logging in as per the above.

@Archigos That's essentially example Y in my previous post (i.e. me having to have a website) example X would be simpler (if I can make it to work)

Yes and based on what you want... Example Y is pretty much your only option.

Archigos said:

Yes and based on what you want... Example Y is pretty much your only option.

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LOL, I hope not

Anything here,

Sounds like you need an FTP server. Have you thought about file sharing from a NAS connected to your own network?

@Fabler2 (and also @Edwin and @Archigos) I actually had a trial with a promising file sharing outlet some years ago, just to get a general feel how it works. You could get a reasonably priced subscription, but the login window has their banner on it and a lot of ads. If you want no ads > higher subscription price. If you want their banner gone > even higher subscription price. If you want to customize the login window with your own banner > subscription price goes through the roof. I let the trial expire.

@NavyLCDR The last time I looked, having a web or ftp server on your own equipment is fraught with rather immense security issues > I like to offload the issues to a better equipped and better staffed service provider LOL. Moreover, a server is like shooting at sparrows with a cannon. It should be a folder, not a server.

Sorry folks, but this is an issue that I visit and revisit from time to time since well over a decade.

It looks like dropbox offers password protection. I don't know if it is free or not, though.

NavyLCDR said:

It looks like dropbox offers password protection. I don't know if it is free or not, though.

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The current issue with DropBox appears to be that X can only download from my folder. Only if X happens to have a DropBox account then X can upload to my folder too. If this restriction did not apply, then the problem would have been solved.

Edit: A more complete answer is in post #28

How about we transfer or Send Big