Dropbox is sharing users' files with OpenAI, here's how to opt out
Dropbox is sharing users' files with OpenAI, here's how to opt out
Dropbox is testing AI tools—an experiment that involves OpenAI getting access to users' documents and files if you start futzing around with the AI tools. You can opt out by…
Edit 1 :
If you’re fed up with companies fucking you over there’s an alternative.
There software called Nextcloud which you can run on a server which works in comparable ways as Onedrive/Google Drive/Dropbox/etc. works.
You could host it yourself on a server if you know how.
If you’re not familiar with forwarding ports or setting static IP adresses you can rent some server space from Hetzner where Nextcloud is included.
Edit 2 :
I’m totally in favor with your post, but not everyone is willing to self-host or is capable of doing it. So I recommendation would be and one that I’m currently using, is when uploading a file to these cloud services encrypt your files. I’m using #cryptomator, but I’m sure there are other alternatives, like #rclone. There is also #veracrypt, but to my understanding, is not great for cloud sync.
Cryptomator official website Quick youtube video in how to use cryptomator (3:51)
Cryptomator is open source and free, but only on desktop. To use the mobile version, you will have to pay. Here is a list of alternatives to cryptomator, if you are familiar with one, please share your knowledge.
Edit 3 :
Don’t forget Syncthing, I always suggest it first since it doesn’t require a server or advanced knowledge to work.
If you’re fed up with companies fucking you over there’s an alternative.
There software called Nextcloud which you can run on a server which works in comparable ways as Onedrive/Google Drive/Dropbox/etc. works.
You could host it yourself on a server if you know how.
If you’re not familiar with forwarding ports or setting static IP adresses you can rent some server space from Hetzner where Nextcloud is included.
i've recently figured out how dynamic DNSs work, i am unstoppable.
now i just need to figure out how to encrypt traffic...
LetsEncrypt offers free SSL certificates, if you're familiar with reverse proxies then it's not too difficult to implement. I have mine set up to automatically renew my wildcard cert, then send a special signal to the nginx docker container for it to reload the SSL certs
A more onedrive/google drive-like alternative to Nextcloud would be Syncthing, which is E2EE and doesn't need additional config of SSL certs and the like
Any chance you could explain the basics of how the Hetzner thing would work? I'm noob
You go to this website from Hetzner:
https://www.hetzner.com/storage/storage-share
You sign up for one of the plans, cheapest is 5.11 EUR a month. You’ll get 1 TB of storage for this.
Storage Share is essentially some space on a server from Hetzner where the Nextcloud software is already running.
I’ve been using Nextcloud hosted by Hetzner for more than a year and it’s been working great.
I love you so much right now
😊 ☺️
not bad too, i will not edit the body with that because i think it can be against the ToS of Google, and if not and that's become a popular solution, that will be for sure then.
You can loose your account so easily with them, so its better to be "reliable" ^^
I deleted my account.
😍✊
Same, it's kind of a symbolic gesture since I apparently haven't used DB since 2018, but still, I cited them sharing files with AI companies as the reason.
Yet another reminder that the cloud is just a fancy name for someone else's computer.
Of course it is. Just a reminder that IaaS > SaaS. Host your own stuff, it's not that hard, amd nobody will come snooping.
Not really that fancy. It's just a marketing euphemism. The giving of a cool name to something very mundane.
You're right, it's just a clouded way of saying 'someone else's computer '.
DropBox has been dead to me since 2014 when they put former US Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice on their board of directors.
Even less shocking, this can’t be disabled in mobile browsers.
Don't forget Syncthing, I always suggest it first since it doesn't require a server or advanced knowledge to work.
Syncthing is great!
Yeah true,
Holidays or not, I'm in 420 consumer mod, I don't think XD. I edit :p
I do not see that option under the Dropbox settings.
They are not testing this for every account. But you should check your settings every so often.
Or better yet just stop using dropbox.
This feature is a thing if your account:
- On Dropbox Professional, Essentials, Business, Business Plus, and some customers on Dropbox Standard and Advanced.
- In countries with the preferred language set to English. Excluding Canada, the UK (United Kingdom), and countries within the EEA (European Economic Area).
Would recommend going through that article in general, this is yet another great example how people start to go nuts without understanding something.
The only real way to opt out of this shit is to start using a better cloud and nuke Dropbox from every computer you own
If it's not open source and self hosted, I think it will probably turn out just the same as Dropbox. It's the power dynamic. Closed SaaS, on someone else's computers, is a very weak position. Not surprising when the relationship turns abusive.
There is pCloud which is based in Switzerland which has mostly the same regulation as the EU. They specifically state that they won't use your data for commercial purposes. Until the company merges or gets bought I guess.
Ofc if it's not end-to-end encrypted and all open source and self hosted, you can't really be sure.
They specifically state that they won’t use your data for commercial purposes. Until the company merges or gets bought I guess.
Which you won't hear about until after all the existing data has been scraped off the servers. The company, if bought, will be bought for the value of their data stores and whatever corporation purchases them will specifically want to keep the news quiet until after they've gotten their value out of the data store. Therefore this is a non-starter as you may as well just hand the info to Dropbox today.
We need to move away from proprietary "cloud" solutions.
I'm totally in favor with your post, but not everyone is willing to self-host or is capable of doing it. So I recommendation would be and one that I'm currently using, is when uploading a file to these cloud services encrypt your files. I'm using #cryptomator, but I'm sure there are other alternatives, like #rclone. There is also #veracrypt, but to my understanding, is not great for cloud sync.
Cryptomator official website
Quick youtube video in how to use cryptomator (3:51)Cryptomator is open source and free, but only on desktop. To use the mobile version, you will have to pay. Here is a list of alternatives to cryptomator, if you are familiar with one, please share your knowledge.
Body of the post edited :),
Thanks for your input,
If you have to use cloud storage, encrypt the files before you upload them
There's always Cryptomator too. VeraCrypt also works and syncs quickly.
Yep, I have a decently large free dropbox account and just use Cryptomator to continue using it
Time to fill dropbox with gos of eroticas.
Finally, someone will read John/John, my series of erotic John Oliver / Elton John fanfictions.
Awesome photo choice!
"What's in the box?"
"Third-party AI services are only used when customers actively engage with Dropbox AI features which themselves are clearly labeled,"
Should be fine since I never ever use DB then.
I never opted in, no DropBox, OneDrive nor GDrive.
The problem with cryptomater in my mind is eventually with quantum computing the encryption will be cracked. Even if you delete the file its stored somwhere else in their backups. There will be a treasure of good information even if its 10 yearas from now to be harvested.
encryption will be cracked
We don't know that yet.
Use your own NAS
Why not just encrypt your data before uploading to the cloud?
why return the problem on the user ?
Because if not this it will always be something else.
Users are responsible for their own privacy.
Having Open Source projects providing the tools for that is extremely important. But ultimately the responsibility lies in the users hands. End to End encryption is the way. My files should 100% be encrypted on my side, with private keys that I own and nobody else. :)
I would recommend proton drive as a great replacement if you want something that doesn't need a server
As is usual in these cases, this is not legal in the EU and they cannot "legally" do this. However they might still choose to take the risk or factor in the cost of litigation.
Self hosting isn't a solution to replace off site storage.
you can have a nextcloud without self hosting.
But you will pay with money and not with your private contentYeah, I forget that sometImes.
You can selfhost Syncthing without having a server, using your daily devices.
Which is great, but still does nothing for off-site storage.
You always have at least one off site backup of anything important. For most people, that's going to be some kind of cloud service. What you use to access that can vary a good bit (as someone reminded me, nextcloud services you can use rather than have it all be on site exist), but syncthing would require that you have someone else willing to have a device at their house, always connected, for it to be a viable pick this that aspect.
Don't get me wrong, syncthing is awesome, but it isn't a total solution by itself. Hell, my redundant off site backup is less hassle, tbh. I just swap out external drives when I visit my best friend. I take the most updated one, leave it and bring home the previous one from his place. It's always a little behind, but it isn't reliant on connectivity lol.
That's what I was getting at. If all of your backups are at the same place, physically, you don't actually have backups, you just have redundant copies. A backup that can be destroyed at the same time as other backups or the original isn't really a backup at all. It's good enough for a drive dying, but not for bigger events.
That's what I was getting at, I just forgot that nexcloud services exist.
Good thing I got rid of my Dropbox years ago.
I use cryptomator with my cloud storage to encrypt all my files.
How is this legal? Isn't this a violation of copyright law at the very least, plus any other licenses that might apply to the files?
i think its a scenario well accepted within the terms of uses...
Recently those of OpenAi changed btw, and that's very interesting.. to read.
They sent the mail the night of Christmas if i'm not wrong lmaoooooIf laws were made for citizens, we would know for now 😆
It's almost 2024 and we still don't have any significant open source project for cloud storage privacy.
rsync was created in 1996
Nextcloud,
Protondrive,
Bare os self hosted ? Termux + rsync or scp + bash,Its just an "niche" business the privacy for now, except VPN 😑😑🙄
It really depends what you are using it for and how safe you want to be.
You could just use syncthing to keep a directory on your laptop synced with your home desktop. Still goes down if your home burns though.
You could do it with your friends house if you don't mind him being able to see your stuff. You could even have backups saved somewhere else.
It's a lot of work and cognitive load for the average person though.
Nextcloud?