How www.dropbox.com works: Cloud synchronization explained

Www.dropbox.com is a cloud storage service that both individuals and companies can use to store their own data online, protecting it from data loss or making it available on multiple devices. Www.dropbox.com works as follows:

• With the free www.dropbox.com account, you get 2 GB of online storage space in your very own private www.dropbox.com. Here you can upload files via a browser, which are then stored on the servers. If you need one of the files, you can open your www.dropbox.com account from any computer or mobile device worldwide and find the file there.
• Client software from the manufacturer creates a www.dropbox.com folder on your hard drive that is automatically monitored on a regular basis. If a file in this folder is changed, added or deleted, the installed client matches this change with the online folder and synchronizes the file to your online storage. This has the advantage that you don't have to upload the files yourself in the browser, but still have them available on all devices.
• If you have placed a file in your www.dropbox.com folder, you also have the option to share it via link. Then other people can access your file and even edit it. This way you can also distribute files that are too big for an email.
• Since www.dropbox.com works cross-platform, you can open www.dropbox.com on the go on your smartphone (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone), on your tablet and on your own computer conveniently in the folder or via browser anywhere in the world.

Storing data online: whether you can trust www.dropbox.com

Whether you access your Dropbox via browser and upload files or your installed client does it automatically, the connection is secured via SSL and AES 256-bit encryption. So at least the transfer of your data is secured.

• But it has happened before that Dropbox links appeared in Google search or user data was stolen.
• You can find out how secure Dropbox really manages your data and how to make it even more secure in our separate practical tip on Dropbox security.

If you want to use Dropbox extensively, you can get free storage for your www.dropbox.com with the right tricks.