Forem: Internxt

How to Monitor and Protect Your Google Activity History

Internxt — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 05:45:46 +0000

Imagine someone having access to all your documents, photos, and even your browsing history. It may sound like something out of 1984, but the reality is that using Google’s products can be a nightmare for your privacy if you use Google Drive, YouTube, or Chrome.

Despite this, Google Drive has over 200 million active users choosing to store their files with Google. Although Google offers many features with Drive and a generous free storage plan, this convenience comes at a cost—your privacy.

As a result, we will look at Google Drive’s privacy policy across all its platforms, how to remove personal information from Google for free, and how you can delete your Google activity history for a more private online experience.

Why does Google monitor my Google activity?

According to Google’s privacy policy, Google collects your data to understand better

“The basic stuff like which language you speak, to more complex things like which ads you’ll find most useful, the people who matter most to you online, or which YouTube videos you might like. The information Google collects, and how that information is used, depends on how you use our services and how you manage your privacy controls.”

Even with such basic information, Google can still build a profile based on your location, habits, and interactions with others online. Once a profile is built, you may start seeing ads that privacy-conscious users may see as manipulative by influencing your spending decisions.

Google’s privacy policy doesn’t guarantee complete transparency about how that data is used; it can be complex, time-consuming, and subject to change at any moment.

What information does Google Drive collect?

When you store your files with Google Drive, you give them a broad range of information, as shown by their privacy policy.

“We also collect the content you create, upload, or receive from others when using our services. This includes things like email you write and receive, photos and videos you save, docs and spreadsheets you create, and comments you make on YouTube videos.”

By collecting this extensive data, Google paints a detailed picture of your digital habits and preferences. Although Google states this helps you better interact with its services, it can be used for various purposes beyond storing your files. So if you’re wondering how my Google activity is monitored, the next sections will certainly interest you.

Content Analysis

Uploading a document to the cloud is straightforward and one of the basics when you want a secure option for storing your files online. Google’s policy suggests that it potentially analyzes things like identifying keywords and document types. This information may include names, addresses, tax IDs, or more.

Activity Tracking

Google Drive logs your activity within the platform, as shown in this quote:

"Activity information from your use of Google Drive, such as the time, date, and duration of your activity, as well as search queries."

Activity tracking is a privacy concern because, over time, Google can monitor your habits and start building a profile based on these habits.

Imagine you need to access certain documents during tax season. By accessing them at the same time, Google can infer from your activity what you are working on. From there, you may start seeing target ads related to filing your taxes on your browser or YouTube.

Other activity Google tracks while using YouTube include:

Terms you search for
Videos you watch
Views and interactions with content and ads
Voice and audio information
Purchase activity
People with whom you communicate or share content
Activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services
Chrome browsing history you’ve synced with your Google Account

Device Fingerprinting

Google also collects an extensive data profile to create a unique fingerprint linked to your device. This includes:

“[...] browser type and settings, device type and settings, operating system, mobile network information including carrier name and phone number, and application version number. We also collect information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, including IP address, crash reports, system activity, and the date, time, and referrer URL of your request.”

Google can use this fingerprint to track your activity across different websites and platforms, even if you're not signed into your Google account, Google says

“we store the information that we collect with unique identifiers tied to the browser, application or device that you’re using.”

This can be particularly concerning if you're using a public network or work computer, where your browsing activity might not be private.

Google’s lack of transparency creates privacy concerns because it doesn't specify what interactions are tracked. For instance, is Google monitoring the content of your messages within a communication app, or just logging that you used the app to chat with someone?

File monitoring

At any time, Google may disclose your files under certain circumstances.

“We may also disclose information about you if we determine that for purposes of national security, law enforcement, or other issues of public importance, disclosure is necessary or appropriate."

Google’s privacy policy isn’t specific about what kind of evidence would trigger them to share content with law enforcement.

As a result, your files could be exposed to external parties without warning, which raises issues regarding freedom of speech or specific groups, such as political activists, being targeted to view their files.

Google will also take action to delete your files:

"We may restrict or terminate your access to our services if you materially or repeatedly violate our Terms of Service or Privacy Policy."

This suggests that Google can act against your account if they detect illegal activity like storing pirated files. Despite whatever ethical issues surrounding pirating files illegally, there have been cases of Google unfairly deleting files from Google Drive without warning, causing users to lose all of their memories.

Google Drive security

With Google Drive, your data is safe but not private. Although they use industry-standard encryption to secure your files, Google is not a zero-knowledge company. Google owns the encryption keys for your data, so they can access your files or provide them to governments or law enforcement if required.

More Google privacy concerns

It doesn’t stop there. Google’s privacy policy extends beyond Google Drive and has caused concerns across its range of products that put your data at risk.

Google incognito mode

Google privacy issues also occurred regarding how data was collected in incognito mode. Google agreed to settle a lawsuit that claimed it secretly tracked people who thought they were surfing privately in Chrome.

Users alleged that Google’s analytics, cookies, and apps improperly tracked those who set Google’s Chrome browser to “incognito” mode and other browsers to “private” browsing mode.

As a result, Google continued to learn about users’ browsing habits from incognito mode that they used to hide their more private and discreet browsing habits.

Because of the lawsuit, Google will update disclosures about what it collects in “private” browsing and let incognito users block third-party cookies for five years. For now, this is what Google writes in its privacy policy regarding incognito mode:

"Your activity might still be visible to websites you visit. For example, websites might still collect cookies or track your activity subject to their own privacy policies."

If you want to keep your browsing habits completely private, even in incognito mode, it is best to stay far away from Chrome and find the best private browser for you.

Third-party privacy access to data

Google was again targeted for privacy concerns regarding its relationships with third parties and what data they can access, according to Google:

“Google might share your data with third-party service providers who help them operate and maintain Google Drive. However, the policy states these providers are obligated to maintain confidentiality.”

This limited transparency limits your control over your data if you consent to these services. In addition, the specific details of these service providers' data security practices might not be readily available to you. The more your data is shared with external companies, the greater your risk of data breaches or hacks.

How to remove personal information from Google for free

Becoming familiar with Google’s privacy policy is the first step in knowing how to remove personal information from Google for free. Once you understand these policies, you can take actionable steps to control the privacy of your Google activity history.

Google Drive privacy settings

The first step you can take to ensure a more private experience in Google Drive is limiting who you share your files with and controlling access to just the necessary audience. To choose who you share files with and how they can use your file, follow these steps.

On your computer, go to Google Drive.
Select the file you want to share Share .
Enter the email address you want to share with. If you use a work or school account, you can share with suggested recipients.
Decide how people can use your file.
When you share your file, each email address gets an email.
Optional: Add a message to your notification email.
If you don't want to notify people, uncheck the box.
Click Send or Share.

Manage activity controls

You can manage your activity controls and Google results about you, including web and YouTube or ad tracking activity, from your account settings. Here’s how

Go to your Google account settings page.
In the left navigation bar, click on "Data & privacy."

To limit Google’s access to your data by selecting relevant options from the data and privacy page.

To pause activity tracking, select your option and click “Pause”
You can also add more privacy options from the subsections of each category for increased privacy.

Turn off personalized ads

To limit data tracking and personalized ads go to

Data and privacy settings
Personalized ads
My Ad Centre
Turn off

How can I delete my Google activity history?

You have two options: you can either download your data to understand how it is used and export it to a more secure provider or monitor it more closely. To delete your Google activity history, simply scroll down the data and privacy page from your Google account settings and click 'download' or 'delete a Google service '.

Another option you have to eliminate Google results about you is to switch to private alternatives to Google Drive, Chrome, and Gmail.

Alternatives to Google’s products

Luckily there are many options available to move away from Google once you have deleted or limited your Google activity history. Here are the most popular alternatives to some of Google’s products.

Cloud storage: Internxt Drive

For all the things that Google does badly for private cloud storage, Internxt excels. Internxt Drive is open-source to provide complete transparency regarding how your data is protected.

It also offers end-to-end encryption and is a zero-knowledge company, meaning nobody, not even Internxt, can view, access, or analyze any file you store in Internxt Drive.

Leading security experts have also audited Internxt to ensure your files are kept private and secure from data breaches. Unlike Google, Internxt follows stricter European laws to ensure your data is handled securely.

Internxt secures your files across multiple European servers in smaller, encrypted files, so no hacker can access a complete file if the worst-case scenario occurs.

You can subscribe to Internxt anonymously and get up to 10GB of free storage or enjoy flexible and affordable monthly, annual, or lifetime plans. Internxt Drive is the best, most secure cloud storage you can trust for your files and your data protection.

Alternative to Chrome: Tor

Tor browser is an open-source platform known for its complete anonymity, so you don't need to worry about Google results about you making its way on the platform. Tor is well known for its privacy because it wraps your information in multiple layers of encryption, like an onion.

The Tor Browser protects you against tracking, surveillance, and censorship. Your requests are sent via multiple servers (owned by unknown volunteers) when you connect to the Tor network, which is again encrypted and sent via multiple secure channels before reaching its final destination.

Although this privacy may compromise your internet speed, Tor is the true privacy browser if you want complete privacy, which is why it is so popular for dark web users.

Alternative to Gmail: StartMail

While you can also check how to make your Gmail more private with privacy settings, several encrypted email services are available.

StartMail offers an alternative to Gmail for users who prioritize email privacy. Unlike Gmail, StartMail uses end-to-end encryption, scrambling your emails from sending to receiving. This means only you and the recipient can read the contents.

Thanks to their zero-knowledge architecture, StartMail cannot access your emails, meaning they don't store your decryption keys. StartMail offers more control over your privacy too, with features like expiring emails and anonymous sending.

Another option is to use a temporary email. While not a permanent solution, it is a useful anonymous email where you can send emails to sign up for online accounts without bombarding your own account with spam.

Other alternatives

If you want to completely eliminate Google from your life to limit Google results about you and your Google activity history, you may be interested in DeGoogling.

To DeGoogle Your Life is to find alternative services and platforms that offer similar functionality with stronger respect for user privacy. For example, some alternatives to YouTube can be

Vimeo,
Dailymotion,
Twitch.
For Google Maps, you have
OsmAnd
Sygic maps
Here WeGo

Bear in mind that Degoogling and controlling your Google activity history may be a more time-consuming process that can’t be done overnight.

But slowly moving your data and switching to privacy-focused solutions will certainly help you delete your Google activity history and Google results about you.
Fighting back against Google privacy issues
Now that you know how to remove personal information from Google for free via Google’s data and privacy settings or by switching to private services, you can start enjoying a more secure online lifestyle.

Keep in mind that a new Google privacy policy can be updated at any time, so it's important to regularly monitor your account settings and stay up to date in the privacy community so you can keep your data protected against these unclear and potentially dangerous policies Google implements.

The 7 Best VPN Extensions For Chrome in 2024

Internxt — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:56:11 +0000

7 Best VPN Extensions For Chrome

Now we know what a VPN is and how you can use it for your internet browsing needs, let’s take a look at the 7 best VPN extensions you can download for Chrome today.
NordVPN

The NordVPN Chrome extension is a simple but effective service for bypassing geo-restricted website blocks and increasing online privacy. Whatever you do online stays for your eyes, as all your browser traffic will be encrypted with the Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.2) protocol.

If you install the supporting app, you'll get access to NordVPN tools such as CyberSec, which will block ads and malware-filled sites.

Pros:

It is one of the few VPNs that can unblock Netflix, as well as BBC iPlayer and other streaming services. It works with 17 international regions, including the UK, Japan, and Mexico.
It is one of the fastest VPN services. It allows users to stream video in 4K resolution and HD.
Its Chrome extension blocks WebRTC communication protocols that rely on JavaScript, which are dangerous because they may leak your IP address and, therefore, your location.
Its Chrome extension has a Threat Protection Lite toggle feature, which lets you filter out the websites before they're even loaded and automatically blocks malicious and phishing sites.
Its features also include split tunneling, allowing users to add specific websites to a list, and the VPN will exclude them when browsing. This is great for online banking, which sometimes returns errors when connecting via VPN.

Cons:

It only gives users 60 server locations, which is less than some of its competitors.
Some navigation elements on the NordVPN app can be tricky on smaller screens like mobiles.
Prices and plans: NordVPN has a monthly plan, a one-year plan, and a two-year plan. You can buy a Standard, Plus, or Ultimate plan to access different features. Prices range from $4 to $17 a month.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's Chrome extension is straightforward to use and set up, even if you're new to VPNs. You're fully protected with this extension because it cyphers data using AES-256 encryption and works with WebRTC blocking.

In addition, to stop you from visiting malicious sites, the ExpressVPN Chrome extension will redirect you to more secure HTTPS versions of the sites you're trying to access.

Pros:

ExpressVPN customers get a 30-day money-back guarantee on its services.
There are ExpressVPN servers in 94 countries, making it incredibly easy to access popular streaming platforms wherever you are.
The service undergoes regular audits and adheres to a strict no-logs policy.
It has a location spoofing feature, ensuring that geolocation data matches the server IP address location.
It supports different languages, making it more accessible.
Its Threat Manager feature blocks all trackers and other online threats from targeting your data.

Cons:

It is more expensive than its closest competitors.
Unlike some of its competitors, it doesn't have built-in antivirus capabilities.
Prices and plans: ExpressVPN has a one-month plan, a six-month plan, or a 12-month plan. Prices range from $8.30 to $12.95 a month.

To find out more about the best VPN extensions, read the full article on the Internxt Blog.

6 Best Cloud Storage for Photos in 2024

Internxt — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 13:10:23 +0000

To read the full article, visit the Internxt Blog.

If you want to change from having stacks and stacks of physical photo albums and USBs filled with photos, consider switching to the many options available for free cloud storage for photos.

The answer for storing photos online lies in choosing the best cloud storage for photos so you can enjoy peace of mind that your photos are backed up and accessible from anywhere. With that in mind, we offer you 6 of the best cloud-based photo storage options in the marketplace in 2024.

Factors to consider when choosing online storage for photos

Storage space Do you just need to save a few photos? Or a library of professional snapshots for your business?

Free cloud storage for photos is available, but each service offers different free storage or subscription-based models. Consider your needs and choose a plan that offers enough space to back up your photos or the storage you need at a price that fits your budget.

Price
Cloud storage providers offer various pricing structures, ranging from free tiers with limited storage to monthly, annual, or lifetime plans. Evaluate your budget and choose an option that aligns with your needs and financial comfort. The benefits of cloud storage are that many plans are flexible, and you can upgrade or downgrade your subscription plan based on your needs.
Security and privacy
Protecting your memories is crucial. Look for providers with robust security features like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and clear data privacy policies. Knowing that your photos are secured helps prevent your data from being leaked or sold to third parties.

Best cloud storage for photos

With these factors in mind, the following list of the best cloud storage for photos will help you decide which is the best cloud storage solution to create a safe platform so your files are kept secure in the cloud.

Internxt

Internxt is an open-source platform that secures your photos with end-to-end encryption. This ensures that no one, not even Internxt, can gain unauthorized access to your photos because only you possess the keys to decrypt and view them.

Internxt Drive, therefore, is the best cloud photo storage if you want to store your photos in complete privacy. Internxt is available on all devices, including Linux, so you sync and access your photos on your preferred operating system from anywhere.

Additional features of Internxt include:

1. Password-protected file sharing: control who can access and download shared photos.
2. GDPR compliant: Internxt follows strict European laws to protect your sensitive information.
3. Military-grade encryption: Your files are protected with the best encryption to protect your photos.
4. Customer support: to help you with any questions regarding storing your photos online.

When subscribing to a free account, Internxt offers up to 10GB of free storage. You can then upgrade to 200GB, 2TB, 5TB, or 10TB for monthly or annual plans or choose lifetime storage for your photos.

With Internxt, you get the best cloud storage for photos and have access to all of Internxt’s services included in your subscription, such as Internxt Send, to encrypt and share photos securely.

Switching to Internxt guarantees a secure platform for your photos, so you can enjoy seamless photo storage and syncing, with their privacy guaranteed.

Adobe Creative Cloud

If you need access to Adobe platforms for your work or business, you can integrate Adobe as your platform for online storage for photos. Although photo storage isn’t Adobe’s main focus point, you can integrate photo storage options with platforms such as Photoshop or Lightroom to combine photo editing and online storage.

However, these platforms do come at a cost, as Adobe’s pricing can cost you up to $67 per month to access all of Adobe’s services. Other platforms may cost less if you only want to use Photoshop, for example. However, Adobe offers discounts for students and a free 30-day trial.

Use Adobe as your cloud-based photo storage. You will get:

1TB of storage (not the biggest storage option)
Integration with photo editing platforms
Version history and cloud syncing

While Adobe does offer photo storage, it is not their primary focus, so if you need dedicated features available from the best cloud storage for photos, like advanced organization and secure sharing, try dedicated, private cloud storage providers.

Read the full article to learn more about the best cloud storage for photos here.

10 Best Cloud Storage Providers of 2024

Internxt — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 11:35:48 +0000

To read the full article, visit the Internxt Blog

1. Internxt

Internxt Drive is the best cloud storage for personal use to secure your files with unmatched privacy. Internxt proves that while some companies may be the most popular cloud storage providers, signing up with companies such as Google gives them access to your personal data. In doing so, Google can track your location, sell your data for ads, and more.

Internxt, therefore, is a private alternative to Google, offering a secure, private platform for your storage needs. Above all else, Internxt protects your data and files with:

End-to-end encryption ensures your data is scrambled from the moment it leaves your device, protecting it from data leaks and hacks.
Zero-knowledge philosophies mean Internxt cannot access your data at any point, demonstrating its commitment to user privacy.
GDPR compliant Compliance with GDPR means Internxt has strong safeguards to protect your data, including access control and data breach notification procedures.

Aside from that, an Internxt subscription gives you access to secure cloud storage, and Internxt Send, a secure file-sending service to transfer encrypted files of up to 5GB. Additional features of Internxt that make it the best cloud storage for personal use include

Password-protected file sharing for secure collaboration.
Streaming of music and video files up to 100MB.
Account protection protocols: download a backup key to protect your Internxt account from hacks.
Free tools, such as a password generator and temporary email.

You can sign up to Internxt for free to access all these features and up to 10GB. Internxt offers flexible storage plans of

200GB
2TB
5TB
10TB

Lifetime plans are also available. For the best cloud storage for personal use, privacy, and security protocols, subscribe to Internxt for complete peace of mind that your files are safe and your data is protected.

For up to 10GB of free storage, subscribe to Internxt for free.

Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud services out there, there’s no denying it. But there’s also no denying that signing up to Google Drive requires giving them access to:

Personal information: Your name, phone number, gender, date of birth
Where you live
Where you work
Your interests
Things you search for
Websites you visit
And much, much more.

If you choose Google Drive, you should be aware that Google is not a zero-knowledge company, meaning Google manages encryption and decryption on its servers, allowing them to access your files if needed under certain circumstances.

However, Google does have powerful security protocols in place, so your files are encrypted at rest and in transit. Still, other methods to how Google treats your data are left to be desired, which is why so many people are choosing more privacy-focused solutions and eliminating Google from their lives.

However, Google is popular for its collaboration features and live editing of documents, a valuable tool for people looking to work together on documents with live editing capabilities. Other services, such as Gmail and Google Meet, are included with a free account.

Google Drive also offers a generous 15GB of free storage, so if you want to store files that don’t hold confidential or sensitive data, Google Drive is a viable option, but may not be the best cloud storage for your privacy.

OneDrive

OneDrive is a popular alternative to Google Drive, especially for Windows users, due to its easy integration into the Windows ecosystem. With a free OneDrive account, you get 5GB of storage and access to

Microsoft Teams: For video calls or conferences
Sharepoint: Document management and storage system
Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Outlook: a popular email alternative to Gmail

OneDrive is available on all devices except Linux, but with your chosen device, you can access your files without downloading them. You can also download and make files available online to contribute to team projects without an internet connection.

For file sharing, you can protect your shared files with a unique PIN, and for additional protection of your files, you can store confidential files with a unique encryption key protected by a set of master keys in the Azure Key Vault.

However, the best cloud backup services do not hold the encryption keys to your data; this is where OneDrive falls short. Microsoft encrypts your files and holds the master keys to decrypt them. As a result, this may put your data at risk of being decrypted and viewed by Microsoft. However, policies are in place to prevent Microsoft employees from accessing data.

If you’re a dedicated Microsoft user, therefore, OneDrive may be the best cloud storage for personal use or your business. Although there are no reports of a data breach from Microsoft, you should consider methods to protect your data from major corporations such as Microsoft.

iCloud

iCloud is the next addition, and for Apple users, it integrates perfectly with iOS devices and Apple gadgets. Apple comes with 5GB of free storage included with your account, which includes access to:

iCloud Drive: cloud storage
iCloud Mail: email alternative to Outlook and Gmail
Passwords and Keychain: password management tool
Hide My Mail: keep your email private
Sheets, Keynotes, and Pages: for document collaboration

For privacy-concerned users who want an alternative from big tech companies, iCloud may not be the best cloud backup solution, as they’re another company that holds the keys to decrypt your data.

Nevertheless, if you are an avid Apple user and need document collaboration tools, a password manager, and an extensive suite of document collaboration products, Apple pricing starts at $0.99 for 50GB of storage. If you’re looking for privacy-focused cloud storage however, there are several other options available outside the Apple product suite.

Nextcloud

If you have the tech know-how and resources, Nextcloud offers a self-hosting cloud solution and is the best cloud backup for users interested in storing their data from your home or office. Nextcloud offers self-hosting file storage, file syncing, and collaboration tools, which are:

Nextcloud Talk: private audio, video conferencing, and text chat
Nextcloud Groupware: Calendar, Contacts, and Mail
Nextcloud Office: a LibreOffice-based online suite

With Nextcloud, you have three options to store your files which are broken down into three options:

Simple sign-up: This option gives you a dedicated server managed by others, but with limited features and reliance on a third party.

Host your server: This path grants complete control, but demands technical expertise to set up and maintain your server.
Run from home router: If you prefer a plug-and-play solution, compatible routers offer basic Nextcloud functionality.

Nextcloud also offers the recommended accessories to help you set up your server at home, starting from €99 for a basic Raspberry Pi, and up to €399 for a HomeDrive N7 with Nextcloud pre-installed.

Therefore, choosing Nextcloud may become a more expensive option for users looking for more cost-effective cloud storage, with pricing starting at Basic: 37.49€/user/year for a minimum of 100 users.

Security-wise, Nextcloud implements end-to-end encryption, advanced software to check if your password has been compromised, and machine learning-based login detection. However, companies will require a cybersecurity expert to ensure security on self-hosted servers is efficient enough to prevent security attacks.

So, while Nextcloud offers some interesting features and has made its mark in the self-hosting cloud market, it may be the best cloud backup for tech enthusiasts, but not so much for people looking for a quick solution to sign up for an account and start storing their files.

Box

Box is widely regarded as the best cloud storage for business because of its unlimited storage options. Although not necessarily the best cloud storage for personal use, Box is another alternative to Google for businesses because it offers its own content cloud and collaboration platform: Box Notes.

Box also has Box Canvas, a tool for creatives to conduct online workshops, collaborate on ideas, leave live comments and suggestions, etc. Another feature to consider if you’re looking for the best cloud storage for business is Box, which integrates with over 1000 tools, like Zoom or Slack, to integrate collaboration tools in your workflow easily.

If cybersecurity for business is your priority, Box implements:

Transport Layer Security: Box uses TLS, a secure protocol that protects data transmitted between a web server and a browser.
Multifactor authentication: Additional security for your account in addition to your password.
File access controls: Set permissions on who can edit, view, or download files.
Trusted devices: Prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information and work well with companies implementing cybersecurity practices in the workplace.

Finally, Box takes the pain away from signing and waiting for physical documents to be signed with an e-signature feature to secure important contracts and documents within teams or departments.

If you want a single box account, you can expect to pay €12 per month for 100GB of storage, which is very expensive, so you may need a more affordable cloud alternative. Business plans are on a per-user/month basis, starting at €13.50, including all of Box’s features and unlimited storage.

Tresorit

If you need an alternative to Box but still need to provide the best cloud storage for business in your company, Tresorit offers features similar to Box. While Tresorit also offer individual plans, what makes it one of the best cloud storage for businesses is its product suite that emphasizes privacy, which is

Tresorit eSign: Digital e-signatures for business or personal documents.
Tresorit EmailEncryption: Send encrypted, private emails.
Tresorit FileSharing: Encrypt sensitive documents and manage permissions.

On top of that, you have Tresorit Cloud, offering cloud storage and syncing with end-to.end encryption. Tresorit is also a zero-knowledge provider, meaning unlike previous entries in this list, such as Google, Tresorit can never decrypt or access your files.

Finally, Tresorit follows Swiss privacy laws. These privacy laws and the EU privacy laws that Internxt adheres to are regarded as the most secure and private laws companies must follow to protect your data.

Tresorit plans start at €11,99 for 1TB for individual plans, which is quite an expensive option as Internxt offers double the storage for less. Business plans for Tresorit start at €15 per user/month for 1TB.

So, if you need the best cloud storage for business, Box or Tresorit are your best options. If you want to more apps into your workflow, Box is a suitable option; if you want a zero-knowledge provider, then Tresorit can fit your business needs.

pCloud

Since 2013, pCloud has offered cloud storage with an emphasis on secure sharing features to share photos, documents, and media files securely. Like Internxt, it is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux.

pCloud is popular for its media streaming capabilities, which makes it one of the best cloud storage platforms thanks to pCloud’s integrated music player to create personalized playlists of your favorite tracks. Kodi users can also stream videos from the platform by downloading an unofficial add-on.

One thing to note with pCloud is that while it offers security features such as client-side encryption and two-factor authentication, zero-knowledge encryption comes as at an additional cost of $49 a year or a one-time payment of $150. Monthly plans start at $4.99 for 500GB.

If you want a cloud platform to integrate your media downloads and host your playlists, pCloud is one solution to consider. Still, zero-knowledge is not included, so you may want to consider other options where zero-knowledge is a part of your subscription.

Icedrive

Icedrive is a UK-based cloud company offering, you guessed it, cloud storage with data encryption for its mobile, web, and desktop apps. You can interact with your cloud storage on Windows with Virtual Drive.

Icedrive’s virtual drive feature allows you to store, upload, and sync your documents like a physical hard drive in the cloud. However, users trying to integrate files from Windows to MacOS with Icedrive have experienced data loss and problems recognizing certain files, which users will later have to re-upload, so consider this if you are a Mac user.

Icedrive is also one of the few cloud storage providers that use Twofish encryption rather than the industry standard AES-256 encryption. However, Twofish is equally as secure as AES, but as Twofish can support longer encryption keys for your files, it may result in slower upload speeds.

Icedrive offers up to 10GB of free storage, but this does not include encryption for your files and is not open source. If you want the best cloud storage for personal use that encrypts files for free, consider other alternatives to Icedrive. Otherwise, pricing starts at €6 a month for 1TB of storage.

PROTON

Proton Drive is a part of Proton’s product suite. Although they focus more on encrypted email, you can still store up to 5GB of your files for free with a Proton account, which gives you access to:

Proton Mail: encrypted, private email
Proton VPN: Secure your Wi-Fi and keep your location private
Proton Pass: A secure password manager

Proton Drive follows Swiss privacy laws and implements end-to-end encryption, so not even Proton can access your files. Proton Drive also includes file-sharing features to password-protect your files and set expiration dates for shared documents for increased file management control.

Proton Drive is part of a larger product suite, but for €3.99, you get 200GB of storage, and if you want access to Proton’s full range of products, this will cost €9.99 with 500GB of storage included.

However, Proton may be a more expensive option if you only need cloud storage, so you should decide on your cloud storage needs before committing to a subscription.