DeCentrafile, founded by Cody Krecicki, offers free decentralized file storage. The service allows users to upload up to 10 Gigs per session, but this limit is renewable in that, once the session is cleared, the user can continue to upload at this rate continuously. Sounds almost too good to be true, especially when you consider that similar services such as Storj, charge around $4/TB & limit their free plan to 150 Gigs.
DeCentrafile is a completely anonymous service. Users do not need to sign up for an account or identify themselves in any way to use the Online service. Once files are uploaded to the storage facility, users can retrieve their Content via a unique URL, which includes a key to unlock the file. The Cloud storage service is made possible due to blockchain technology & relies on peer-to-peer networks that provide storage on their systems.
Files are uploaded to the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), a decentralized Web service built by Filecoin creator Protocol Labs. The link provided by DeCentrafile is a subdomain whose DNS has an A Record pointed to the Official IPFS servers gateway node. All files uploaded to the Cloud are encrypted & broken up into pieces. These fragments are stored across thousands of computers & are only reconstructed into a “whole” entity when the user links to the URL of the file, which includes its unique key.
The advantages of the system employed by DeCentrafile are numerous since no provider has a complete copy of any stored file. This method not only ensures privacy, but it also makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to private information as they, too, will only “see” pieces of data.
The concept of decentralized storage is similar to bit torrents, which also stored data on participants’ machines, who were part of the torrent network. However, files stored on the blockchain actually earn revenue, called Filecoin, for participants who use their machines to structure the network. This incentive promotes participants to continue providing storage facilities for general users.
Another plus for decentralized storage is that the system has a far greater likelihood of remaining live due to the sheer numbers involved in providing the service, a single provider is far more vulnerable to losing their users’ data due to unpredictable events such as natural disasters or far reaching power outages.
Image credit: deCentrafile
