Dropbox
Dropbox is a free file hosting service that allows users to store documents, photos and videos. Dropbox Inc. was founded in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi, two MIT students tired of emailing files to themselves when they need to work on multiple computers. Today, more than 50 million people use Dropbox to always for ease of access, sharing, and work on team projects.[1].
How Dropbox Works
Once a user has installed Dropbox, they can upload documents, photos, and other files. Users have the ability to create folders, which they can invite others to share. When a user edits, or adds a file, the change is reflected for everyone who has access to the folder.
Files are saved on Dropbox's servers, and the more capacity your account has, the more you can upload.
Google Drive Versus Dropbox
Google Drive is another web service that allows users to upload and share files. Drive allots users 5 gigabytes compared to the 2 gigabytes allotted to Dropbox users.
However, while both services allow for file storage, Drive also allows users to collaborate in real time, making it the better choice for those seeking a service for collaboration, whereas Dropbox is better suited to users looking to store and share files.
Additionally, Google Drive allows easier sharing with their invite feature - document owners simply need to enter the email addresses of those they would like to share the document with. Dropbox's, "share link", on the other hand, is a little less intuitive.
Ethical Concerns
Privacy
With cloud storage increasing in popularity, privacy concerns are also increasing. Those concerned with the privacy of files uploaded to Dropbox should consider the following points:[2] (1) Ensuring that the online data storage provider has an enforceable obligation to preserve confidentiality and security (2) Investigating the online data storage provider’s security measures, policies, recoverability methods, and other procedures to determine if they are adequate (3) Employing available technology to guard against reasonably foreseeable attempts to infiltrate the data that is stored (4) Investigating the storage provider’s ability to purge and wipe any copies of the data, and to move the data to a different host
