Privacy Tips

TeraBox question

Started by purple_heart · Jul 31, 2025

#8987
Hi, I have a question: is it advisable to use TeraBox for storing multiple files over 100GB as a backup, especially since they offer up to a terabyte for free? I plan to fully encrypt the data before uploading, do you think this is a good approach?
#8988
↳ Replying to @purple_heart
NO.

You know ... I used this cloud storage before, according to their tos they not only don't give you privacy, but also on some mobile devices it doesn't store anything.

Just use google drive 100GB it's 0.5$ first 3 months.
#8989
↳ Replying to @purple_heart
Use privacy friendly service or your own disks.

Cloud storage is bad.

Encrypt your data with cryptomator.

peergos.org

cryptomator.org
#8990
↳ Replying to @purple_heart
If you're planning to fully encrypt your data before uploading (e.g., using Cryptomator, Veracrypt, or even 7-Zip with AES-256), then using TeraBox can be an option — but only with caution.

However, there are a few major concerns with TeraBox:

It’s a Chinese-owned service (formerly Dubox), with questionable privacy practices.

Their ToS grants them wide access to content, and metadata can still be collected even if the files are encrypted.

Stability is uncertain — services that offer 1TB for free often have unsustainable business models, and may shut down, throttle access, or introduce restrictions later.

🔐 So yes, strong local encryption makes it safer, but keep in mind:

Don’t store sensitive metadata (filenames, folder structure) in plain text.

Don't rely on it as your only backup — always keep a second encrypted backup on an external drive or another trusted cloud provider.

If you're serious about privacy, consider privacy-respecting alternatives like:

Proton Drive (end-to-end encrypted)

Tresorit

self-hosted options like Nextcloud or S3-compatible storage with your own keys

In short: Encrypted? Okay. Trusted? Not really. Redundant? Always.
#8991
↳ Replying to @purple_heart
It isn't actually a terabyte, they artificially limit file size and the number of files you can store. You are also the product, not a good idea to use it.
#8992
↳ Replying to @GhostScripter
I'm actually learning a lot from this. It makes me think more critically about how these services operate and what's really going on behind the scenes.. Thanks!
#8993
↳ Replying to @purple_heart
Glad it helped — the biggest win is staying aware of how the service works and not blindly trusting the marketing. Once you start thinking about who runs it, where it’s based, and what the business model is, you’re already ahead of most users.

If you ever move to another provider or set up self-hosting, the same principles apply: encrypt first, control your metadata, and keep redundant backups. That way you’re not tied to any single point of failure.