Kim Dotcom Re-Emerges with “Mega” Encrypted Cloud Storage Site, Offers 50GB Free
Almost exactly a year ago, feds shut down cloud storage site MegaUpload over alleged widespread digital piracy and instantly turned site owner Kim Dotcom into a controversial figure. The case raised a number of questions concerning digital piracy, file ownership, and even the wisdom of using cloud storage at all.
Today, Kim Dotcom has officially resurfaced with a new New Zealand-based cloud storage site called simply “Mega”, and upon first impression, it’s a compelling offering. First, you can sign up for a free account that offers a whopping 50GB of free storage; second, privacy and security controls are a primary focus of the site’s creators.
Kim Dotcom returns (he's the larger silhouette on the left)
For example, Mega uses a 2048-bit public/private key pair, and the company offers what it calls “UCE”, or User Controller Encryption. The idea is that all your files are encrypted, but the user controls the encryption instead of the site. (This method also probably removes any liability from the site if users are pirating things, which was the central issue in shutting down Kim Dotcom’s MegaUpload site.)
Mega offers a clean and simple interface, and creating folders and adding files is simple--you can even drag and drop files or folders from a desktop folder into the browser. There’s also a Contacts area; presumably, Contacts will allow for easy sharing and perhaps a social networking component to the cloud storage service.
All users can have a free Basic account, but there are also paid tiers, including Pro I (500GB of storage and 1TB of bandwidth for €9.99 [about $13.31] per month), Pro II (2TB of storage and 4TB of bandwidth for €19.99 [about $26.63] per month), and Pro III (4TB of storage and 8TB of bandwidth for €29.99 [about $39.95] per month).
The site is still technically in beta, and Mega apparently has many more features planned, but you can sign up for an account and start uploading files and folders today.
Today, Kim Dotcom has officially resurfaced with a new New Zealand-based cloud storage site called simply “Mega”, and upon first impression, it’s a compelling offering. First, you can sign up for a free account that offers a whopping 50GB of free storage; second, privacy and security controls are a primary focus of the site’s creators.
Kim Dotcom returns (he's the larger silhouette on the left)
For example, Mega uses a 2048-bit public/private key pair, and the company offers what it calls “UCE”, or User Controller Encryption. The idea is that all your files are encrypted, but the user controls the encryption instead of the site. (This method also probably removes any liability from the site if users are pirating things, which was the central issue in shutting down Kim Dotcom’s MegaUpload site.)
Mega offers a clean and simple interface, and creating folders and adding files is simple--you can even drag and drop files or folders from a desktop folder into the browser. There’s also a Contacts area; presumably, Contacts will allow for easy sharing and perhaps a social networking component to the cloud storage service.
All users can have a free Basic account, but there are also paid tiers, including Pro I (500GB of storage and 1TB of bandwidth for €9.99 [about $13.31] per month), Pro II (2TB of storage and 4TB of bandwidth for €19.99 [about $26.63] per month), and Pro III (4TB of storage and 8TB of bandwidth for €29.99 [about $39.95] per month).
The site is still technically in beta, and Mega apparently has many more features planned, but you can sign up for an account and start uploading files and folders today.
