As a citizen of the digital world, you probably transfer large files daily. Sure you could use Google Drive, Dropbox or OpenText Core but Mozilla believes there is a better way (Mozilla Send). Mozilla Send is a web experiment that allows you to easily transfer large files up to 1GB in size.

Mozilla Send can be used with any modern browser.

How to use Send

1 - Go to https://send.firefox.com/

2 - Upload a file

3 - Decide how many downloads you want to allow in a 24-hour window. Determine if you want to enable a download password.

4 - send the link to the recipient of the file.

Mozilla Send Security

Mozilla send uses AES-128 (AES-GCM algorithm) to encrypt and authenticate the file. Encryption is performed on the client before the file is uploaded to the Mozilla Send servers. Mozilla Send also uses the Web Cryptography API. This Web Cryptography API is the magic that performs hashing, signature verification, encryption, etc). All the security is performed without requiring any user intervention.

It is important to highlight the fact that anyone that intercepts the URL can download the file. The encryption key is appended to the URL.

Sample URL : https://send.firefox.com/download/2f3eea2e0f/#6kUB9cj4gXgTZWgDXrPEZQ

Important security notes:

Once 24-hours has elapsed or the maximum number of downloads has been reached, Mozilla Send deletes the file from the server
You can manually delete the file using the Delete button. An important note is that the Delete button only shows up on that initial download page. If you think you might need the delete button, keep that original upload confirmation page open.

Web Experiment

Mozilla send is a Web Experiment and Mozilla is gathering usage statistics to determine if this is something they want to keep as a permanent offering. Right now it is a great example of solid design and engineering.

BitTorrent Sync is my favorite sync tool

August 30, 2013technologyEdward Kiledjian

If I told you I am using BitTorrent, you would probably assume I am downloading pirated illegal content but your would be wrong. I have been testing BitTorrent Sync as an alternative to Dropbox and am really liking it.

BitTorrent sync leverages all the power of its world renown bittorrent protocol to quickly sync files of any size between your devices without first uploading them to a central cloud service making this very attractive to security conscious IT users.

You install a small app for your device (Windows, Mac, Android or IOS) and then choose a folder you would like to sync. The app then gives you a secret key (2 actually: one for read/write and the other is read only).

You can also create a one time secret key (good for 24 hours).

You then install BitTorrent Sync on the second device (anywhere as long as it is internet connected), you enter the secret key, Choose the destination folder and the rest is automatic.

Synchronization is done device to device over a secure and protected channel. Because the transfer is done over the robust and tested BitTorrent protocol, it can handle insanely large files quickly and reliably.

"All the traffic between devices is encrypted with AES cypher and a 256-bit key created on the base of the secret—a random string (20 bytes or more) that is unique for every folder." - BitTorrent

The use of the BitTorrent protocol also means that it will work through most security devices automatically.

Mobile to Mobile Sync

I can also share files from a mobile device to another mobile device very easily. I open the mobile app, and go to the Send Files tab, Choose the files and it generates a QR code. You can the QR code with the other device and voila, the files transfer like magic. No bumping, shacking or emailing.

The limitations:

The one major limitation right now (keep in mind it is beta) is that it does not support corporate proxy servers but the company assures me this is coming
If you choose a 2 ways sync, any change on either side syncs to the other device. If both people change the same file at the same time, the last one to save takes precedent and overwrites the other devices file (not a collaboration tool where multiple people can work on the same file).It is important to note that BitTorrent sync supports versioning and keeps all file changes for 30 days in a hidden folder).

Is BitTorrent Sync worth it?

BitTorrent Sync is a product I would pay money for but is free. BitTorrent says they will launch a premium version later with additional value add options for companies (leaving the current version free for consumers).

So far it has successfully worked every time (even when I threw a 800GB folder at it with a 500MB file).

Comparing BitTorrent Sync to Dropbox

BitTorrent Sync is better and worse than Dropbox.

It is better than Dropbox because

your files are never stores on someone else's servers (more secure and no transfer limits)
files of any size can be synchronized
files are synchronized quickly and easily
it's free

It is worse than Dropbox because

every computer needs the BitTorrent client installed (Dropbox offers a web interface)

BitTorrent Sync

Why you shouldn't buy iCloud storage

March 5, 2013technologyEdward Kiledjian

Manufacturer specific cloud storage solutions are a bad idea. If you buy iCloud storage, it won’t work with your Windows PC or your wife’s Android device. This is the message Drew Houston , Dropbox’s CEO, shared with the audience at the Mobile World Congress. He highlighted the danger of getting locked into one manufacturer’s cloud storage solution (which won’t run on devices from any other brand).

Houston talked about a user being able to store a file in the cloud and share it with any user regardless of their consumption device (Blackberry phone, Windows desktop or phone, Android device, etc). His statements are clearly an attack on Apple’s icloud but they should resonate with most users as true.

Interestingly, he spoke about Samsung which had initially built its own cloud storage solution but then migrated its customers to Dropbox by offering free storage.

My primary phone is an iPhone (for now since I’m contemplating switching in October when my contract is up) but there is no way I would buy iCloud storage. My home PCs are all windows and many of my friends and family use Android devices. Plus iCloud has had a few too many reliability issues over the last year.

I think these comments are very powerful and true. Whether you choose Dropbox, Bitcasa, Sugarsync or Box.net, they are all better alternatives than iCloud (notice I didn't include Skydrive in my list either). My only wish is that these companies drop their subscription prices. Storage prices are falling faster than the monthly fees for these services. The ideal solution is an unlimited plan from Dropbox or for Bitcasa for fix the really annoying service limitations of its unlimited storage offering.

Honest and updated bitcasa review

February 18, 2013technologyEdward Kiledjian

Related Articles

Bitcasa released

There is no shortage of “cloud storage providers”, each trying to outshine the other with a “must have” feature. Bitcasa has now officially jumped into the ring with a novel proposal, unlimited cloud storage for $10 a month (or 10GB for free). As a launch special, you can buy the full annual unlimited storage plan for $69 ($30 launch discount).

Use promo code "betathanks" (without quotation marks) to get an additional $20 discount. Normally I don't share private discount codes (destined for beta testers only) but this is everywhere on the internet already.

Bitcasa versus dropbox versus skydrive versus Google Drive

In addition to the unlimited storage offering, they also bring another original concept to the tablet called “Infinite drive”. The Bitcasa client maps a new virtual drive on your client OS where you can store files directly on Bitcasa without keeping a copy on your PC. This is a way you can free up lots of space on your primary drive and still keep the files accessible to every app on your PC. The local client has a smart caching algorithm that predicts what files you will need and pre-downloads those so it usually feels pretty fluid (as long as you have a decent internet connection and data cap).

They also support a dropbox-like sync mode called “mirroring” however this mode has a couple of important flaws (which the company says they will eventually address).

Bothersome limitations

You can mirror a folder from anywhere on your PC (which is great – no need to move the folder to a “magic” folder) and make it available on other devices however only changes made on the primary machine are synchronized back and forth. Changes made on other devices do not sync back yet.

The client doesn’t offer selective synchronization which means you can mirror an entire folder (with its sub-folders) but not a subset.

There is a feature that allows you to share large folders or files using a special share function. Unfortunately there is no way to see everything you have shared so you can easily un-share.

You can sync your photo folders and then share them with family and friends easily. The issue is that the sharing interface for pictures isn’t optimized as a real photo sharing service yet. Additionally they should improve the photo download options for the people receiving the share links (selective or entire album).

Bitcasa is a new startup and I am worried about their viability. Overall I love the concept of Bitcasa and hope they thrive and grow but what happens if they ever close up shop? What happens to my data? I want them to release a bill of customer rights committing via contract to allow customers adequate time to retrieve their stored info in the event of a sale or shutdown.

Although the founders have a strong background in technology, online storage and fraud detection, I haven't received the details of how they protect my files (the real technical details). I have asked their support but haven't received an answer yet.

Verdict

I have hundreds of gigs of pictures and videos that I want to store online (for safety and ease of sharing). I love their concept and really want them to success and drive the market to unlimited affordable storage.

I want their security features reviewed by independent analysts ASAP. I will continue using them for now but will be wary until the service improves (new features) and I get a more comfortable about their long term viability.

A review of SocialFolders

April 24, 2012SecurityEdward Kiledjian

With over 900 million registered Facebook users, social networking is now a now a household term. You are likely to hear a teen talking about it as a grandmother. These sites are an excellent way to keep in touch and share your life with others.

Whether you are dealing with the established 800 pound gorilla or a new technology company freshly out of their “garage”, you should start to think about locally backing up your social life. Think of locally backing up your social information as “social life insurance” in case your networks of choice get bought, shut-down or dramatically change their business model.

Enter SocialFolders

SocialFolders is a neat little fermium app that allows you to map your social network connections to your local computer, thus allowing you to keep a local backup of your digital data plus it makes it much easier to upload data to these services.

Getting started is easy, you head over to their website , create a free account and download their software. Once downloaded and installed, you right click on the system tray icon and choose Connect to my services which takes you to their online account page where you choose one of the supported services, provide your credentials and choose what it is you want synchronized.

The Pro features

The main reason you will need to upgrade to a pro account is the 3000 file or 3 connected services limit for free accounts. As soon as you hit one of these, you have to move to their affordable $9.99 annual subscription model.

The switch takes minutes and is as simple as configuring an additional service.

Verdict

I love the idea and think SocialFolders has a great model but there are some things I don’t like:

They only support one account per service. If you use multiple Google Docs accounts, you will only be able to sync with one of them. Support says this is on their roadmap with no ETA.
High traffic sites not yet available as connectors. As an example, I have a Dropbox account I would like to sync using this tool but Dropbox/Google+/Skydrive is not yet available. Support says this is on their roadmap with no ETA.
For photo sharing sites, I wish they offered more granular control (like those offered by the site). As an example with Picasa, SocialFolders allows me to set the default privacy of new folders to Public or Private but none of the sites sharing options are enabled through it (sharing through a link, etc).
I am an active Evernote user and was stocked about the ability to download my files as a local backup but… as an Evernote users with thousands of note and attachments, I was surprised to learn that it downloaded the attachments only and organized them based on the notebooks they were in. I wish it offered the ability to sub-categorize based on tags (my primary Evernote organization tool).

Overall I love the idea and think it can become a solid solution to the social networking data dilema. The only question is: will they be able to develop the product fast enough? With other entrants getting into or looking at entering this market (Gladinet, etc), they have a short window of opportunity to develop the product and gain marketshare or crash & burn.

I recommend testing out the free version and keeping my caveats in mind. If these are things you can live with, then go ahead and buy it.

Review of the free Mozilla Send service