Wuala - peer to peer file storage

[GReaper]

Link here: http://wua.la/

It's basically an online file storage system which uses peer to peer! You get 1GB for free, but what you can do is trade some of your local storage to get more storage on Wuala. Eventually they'll probably allow you to buy storage as well.

It gives you storage space according to how long you're online and how much you're giving, so if you're online 80% of the time and giving 10GB of your local storage - you'll get 8GB on Wuala in return. The speed at which you download also varies according to the speed you upload.

The only thing is that it's still in alpha, but it might be useful. For those of us who really can't be bothered backing up data because of the cost of blank media or the cost of some other online service - this seems like an ideal situation. Dump your backups onto a (secure) peer to peer system!

If anyone wants an invite for it, PM me your email address and I'll send an invite code.

 

[MYstIC G]

Interesting, would need to see how it goes speed wise though. Also "stores a copy of every file" is an interesting claim?

 

[Insane]

Its probably because of what I have been handling at work the past 5 months has made me very wary of this sort of service even in a personal light.

if you cant be bothered backing up your data, or dont want to fork out £10 for a 100 spindle of CDs (or 50 dvds depending on how much storage you need) then you are really really dumb

Think of it this way, its like taking a photocopy of your passport and medical records and stuffing them inside a box with "do not open" plastered across the side of it, then mailing said box to a complete stranger on the other side of the world.
yeah its a valid "backup" but whats to stop them or someone else from opening your box and looking at your information? or if the person decides to move and doesn't tell you.. you've lost your backup.

p.s. a 120gb external USB drive now retails for as little as £50 at some retailers and that will provide you with a very suitable backup medium to store important stuff on, without endangering the security of your own data.

p.p.s. HRMC! (thats all i'm going to say)

In this current climate, do you trust 3rd party companies to handle your data correctly and securely?

 

[MYstIC G]

HMRC even, maybe, perhaps?

 

[GReaper]

All files are encrypted, but if you really don't someone to read the file then encrypt it with some other tool for extra security before uploading it as well.

I'm not suggesting you should put super private information on there, but there are other uses! It's pretty fast and you can even stream videos stored on Wuala straight away, instead of having to wait for the entire file to download.

Try it before dismissing it.

 

[Insane]

HMRC even, maybe, perhaps?

Shush I like mine better, it stands for...

He Really Made a Cock-up

 

[MYstIC G]

He Regularly Makes Cock-up's even, maybe, perhaps?

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

why not just encrypt the data you store on the web host

i use axcrypt, its on sourceforge

 

[Jonty]

Hi guys

If you're not bothered about P2P, then there are plenty of free online storage services available. Skydrive, for example, offers 5GB of free storage and many nice ways to share (or not) with people. It's all on Microsoft's data centres, so the speed shouldn't be too shabby.

As for security, of course it's always a concern. If push comes to shove, I'd sooner trust a long-standing company than a startup, though.

Kind regards