When people are discussing cloud storage, they will undoubtedly mention Mega Cloud. Privacy is essential in today’s times when data mining is a common phenomenon. So, is Mega Cloud safe to use? Read this article to know everything there is to know about the Mega cloud.
Background of the company
Kim Dotcom launched the cloud Mega in 2013 in New Zealand. Mr. Kim cut ties with Mega in 2015, but the cloud is still multiplying. Currently, the cloud has about 170 million users that have registered from all over the globe.
Features of Mega:
Mega is considered one of the safest clouds out there as it has end-to-end encryption. This means that when a user uploads any file, only the user can decrypt the data and not any server of Mega. It also has a two-factor authentication security feature, making it safer to use.
The user can also share files, folders, or links. A great feature is that to open the link, a key is required. They are making Mega a secure location. There is another great feature of adding an expiration date to the links shared. But that feature is available for paid clients only.
Mega can also be used for collaborations as it has a live chat option. But this feature has some serious glitches.
Security of Mega
Mega has built its application solely to focus on its safety, and they have surely succeeded. There are very few clouds in the market that offer end-to-end encryption. Mega guarantees it is zero-knowledge storage, which means that no data is sent to the Mega server. Another bonus that the encryption service is available for users to enjoy for free.
All the encryption is done on the user’s side, and the user is the only one with keys to encryption. Mega or any other server cannot get a peek at your data without your permission.
Mega uses a nifty 128-bit AES encryption protocol for all your files that are not being used and a TLS encryption protocol when you are transferring the data.
Several times your files are in danger while the files are being uploaded or downloaded. In that case, the Mega Downloader tool by 4Hub comes to your assistance. But these protocols ensure that no harm is caused to your records, no matter what the status of the document is.
As we mentioned, Mega has two-factor authentication systems that provide another layer of protection.
So, this ensures that no one can hack into your account and get access to your data.
Even if someone gets inside your data, they cannot access your files because of the end-to-end encryption available on the user’s side.
How is privacy?
This is the field where Mega has received some backlash. In the past, Mega was a part of some controversies as the relation of the cloud with Kim, also known as the pirate king, ruffled some feathers of some users.
The servers of Mega are present in New Zealand, Canada, and some European countries as well. This ensures that Mega is legally bound to meet the standards of GDPR, which is a law produced to keep the user’s data safe. Mega also went ahead and made GDPR necessary for users outside the EU as well.
So, to sum up, is MEGA safe?
The privacy policy of Mega makes it clear that Mega has limited access to the user’s data, but it isn’t using it in a way that will disrupt the GDPR. This ensures that Mega cannot sell or give away a client’s data to any third party. This may change if there is any subpoena by the court.
Although Mega has access to some data, it cannot access your files because of the end-to-end encryption model. If the law wants Mega to disclose a client’s data, it can only access the following data-
- How many times the user logged in
- The IP address of the device used to open Mega
- The operating system of the device and the browser used by the client
- Version order, the sizes of files
- The email addresses of the contacts of the client that they have shared data with
- The email addresses of client’s contacts used on the chat feature
- The settings of the client’s account, along with their avatar used.
The data isn’t a lot and doesn’t give out much about the client, but it is more than enough to understand whether the client is breaking any law or not and is not tampering with the copyright laws.
With 15 GB free data offered is pretty great to store your files. The paid version provides different storage options if you wish to store large amounts of files. It is not the fastest working software, but it gets the work done.
Overall, Mega is a great platform to store your files. The security is tight, and your privacy is respected. In the past, there were some skeptics, but the sheer number of users today proves that Mega is safe to use.