How do companies that offer FREE cloud storage make money???

[TenOC]

I know that there is probably not "real true" answer to this question. While trying to find a place to store for FREE files on the cloud I was surprise at the number of companies that offer free cloud storage.

Windows 10 and MS Office are designed (?) to store most (?) of your information on the cloud. Have you noticed the advertisement that MS is running that says how fast they can now decode the human DNA because all the information is on the cloud. I know that hard drives are getting cheap, but a cloud storage facility has got to cost $$$$$$.

What is the catch? . . :h . . What is their business plan to make money? Is the data safe or are they mining the data for information to sell to advertisers? . . , :h

[rk911]

rwbradley wrote:

AsheGuy wrote:

rk911 wrote:
yup. no one can or will ensure the safety and security of my data as well as me.

I seriously doubt that statement, but if it gives you peace of mind go for it.

When you consider all that can happen to your data (hardware failure, forgetfulness, fire, flood, storms, theft, etc., etc.) and with cloud storage companies whose reputation depends on their secure data, I would bet on cloud storage every day. For a company like Google (now the most valuable company in the world), you can bet they are focused on their cloud's reliability. Other major companies like MS and Apple also have a lot to lose.

And similar motivations give incentive to companies not to mess with your data.

I use cloud storage for my documents and photos and sleep very well at night. And it is NOT expensive.

Two WD Passport drives for < $100 each will give you the peace of mind and similar security without using the cloud. Keep two backup copies with one offsite. However this method is only as good as the physical security and safety of the locations you choose to store the drives.

doubt away but our data is backed up six ways from sunday with our disaster backup' secure in our safe deposit box. I don't trust cloud storage providers to ensure that data is properly secured from hacking and cracking or to even stay in business. but if it gives you peace of mind go for it.

[strollin]

I have free accounts on quite a few different cloud storage sites. I've never even come close to using all the free storage they give me. However, I only store things on there that I need to be able to access from anywhere. For instance, I can put a document on Dropox then access it from any of my computers or my phone or my tablet. Great way to share things.

[rwbradley]

AsheGuy wrote:

rk911 wrote:
yup. no one can or will ensure the safety and security of my data as well as me.

I seriously doubt that statement, but if it gives you peace of mind go for it.

When you consider all that can happen to your data (hardware failure, forgetfulness, fire, flood, storms, theft, etc., etc.) and with cloud storage companies whose reputation depends on their secure data, I would bet on cloud storage every day. For a company like Google (now the most valuable company in the world), you can bet they are focused on their cloud's reliability. Other major companies like MS and Apple also have a lot to lose.

And similar motivations give incentive to companies not to mess with your data.

I use cloud storage for my documents and photos and sleep very well at night. And it is NOT expensive.

Two WD Passport drives for < $100 each will give you the peace of mind and similar security without using the cloud. Keep two backup copies with one offsite. However this method is only as good as the physical security and safety of the locations you choose to store the drives.

[AsheGuy]

rk911 wrote:
yup. no one can or will ensure the safety and security of my data as well as me.

I seriously doubt that statement, but if it gives you peace of mind go for it.

When you consider all that can happen to your data (hardware failure, forgetfulness, fire, flood, storms, theft, etc., etc.) and with cloud storage companies whose reputation depends on their secure data, I would bet on cloud storage every day. For a company like Google (now the most valuable company in the world), you can bet they are focused on their cloud's reliability. Other major companies like MS and Apple also have a lot to lose.

And similar motivations give incentive to companies not to mess with your data.

I use cloud storage for my documents and photos and sleep very well at night. And it is NOT expensive.

[rk911]

tvman44 wrote:
Maybe I am just getting old, but I don't trust cloud storage. I prefer a couple external HDD's. 🙂

yup. no one can or will ensure the safety and security of my data as well as me.

[hershey]

NorfolkCounty wrote:

hershey wrote:
I use drop box. not quiet he same as cloud' but it saves my important files on all my smart phones' tablets and computers by sync.

Just for clarification - dropbox is a "cloud" storage service. A cloud storage service is any service that stores your bytes on hard disks over the internet.

OK. so its the same thing, only different.

[NorfolkCounty]

hershey wrote:
I use drop box. not quiet he same as cloud' but it saves my important files on all my smart phones' tablets and computers by sync.

Just for clarification - dropbox is a "cloud" storage service. A cloud storage service is any service that stores your bytes on hard disks over the internet.

[tvman44]

Maybe I am just getting old, but I don't trust cloud storage. I prefer a couple external HDD's. 🙂

[hershey]

I use drop box. not quiet he same as cloud' but it saves my important files on all my smart phones' tablets and computers by sync.

[1492]

icanon wrote:
By selling your personal information.

Could be the case, or otherwise, use the info for marketing purposes?

You should always read the terms of service for free services. For instance, Dropbox may collect account, ip address, browser, and other info, but states that "We may share information as discussed below, but we won't sell it to advertisers or other third-parties."

Dropbox uses Amazon AWS for cloud storage, and users can allow third party apps which can access your account. So may share personal info to do so? In any case, stated in their TOS.

[pigman1]

TANSTAAFL. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. You just have to be smart enough to figure out what you ARE paying, and they are trying to hide what you ARE paying.

[Johno02]

Read the contract you sign before you can use it. Read closely, and you will get an education.

[rwbradley]

Free cloud storage is the free sample of cocaine that gets you hooked. MS, Google and Apple want you to buy ONLY their hardware or their music, movie and app downloads, use their paid products like Office365, upgrade from their free to paid solutions and harass your IT department to buy their corporate offerings for work. But most of all they don't want you to use the competitor, they want you addicted to their whole ecosystem. It is harder to switch from an Android phone to an iPhone when you also have all your music purchased thru the Play Store, all your files in Google drive and all your email in Gmail.

[jorbill2or]

Lest we get too paranoid , Keep in mind your "personal information" isn't your specific Data. its info about you and your habits demographic info so that ads can be targeted to people most likely to respond ( and thus they can charge a higher rate ) Storage is normally cheap so it a good way to get you hooked on their products , Apple . And especially Google comes to mind as providing services that keep you close to them.