Dropbox and Mediafire are examples of file hosting services that utilize the cloud, allowing users to store, share, and download files. Both of these websites are enormously popular—the below screenshot lists Dropbox as the 50th most visited website in the U.S, with Mediafire further down in 404th place.
Given the business models of these two sites, it makes sense to question how safe they really are.
The below 'audience interest' screenshots show that each site attracts a slightly different customer. Dropbox has more users who are looking to upload important documents from the likes of Gmail, while visitors to Mediafire come from a wide variety of domains, indicating that it is used more for downloading than safe storage.
With millions of users storing terabytes of sensitive files ranging from personal pictures to financial information on their systems, any security flaw could result in a disaster for both the companies involved and the users themselves.
In fact, details of a Dropbox hack from a 2012 breach made headlines around the world earlier this year. As a result, an increasing number of people want to know the truth—is Dropbox safe?
Furthermore, especially with Mediafire, the download option could expose users to malware or other malicious software.
Despite the obvious convenience that platforms like Dropbox and Mediafire offer, there is always an element of risk inherent in using these sites. So are they worth the risk? Read on for a full safety analysis, featuring data that is driven mostly by user feedback.
Safety Analysis With MyWOT
We checked out the user reviews for both websites on MyWOT, which is a website reputation and review service. Here are the results.
Is Dropbox Safe?
Dropbox ranks well for both trustworthiness and child safety, which is encouraging, and user comments are overall quite positive, praising the fact that malware and viruses are practically non-existent on the platform.
Is Mediafire Safe?
Like Dropbox, Mediafire appears to be an overall safe website. Both MyWOT and Norton rank it as safe to use.
Safety Concerns: A More In-Depth Picture
Aggregate safety ratings like the above show that both websites are generally safe to use, but that doesn't mean they are without issues. Further investigation into reviews often reveals common safety concerns among users. Here's what we found out about Dropbox and Mediafire.
Dropbox Safety Issues
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As one user alludes to in the below screenshot, spam is a potential issue. If the Dropbox user database ever gets hacked again, your primary email would be available as a spamming address, so tread carefully and consider using an alternate email.
- Another common theme among user comments is that some are skeptical of Dropbox and how much information the company shares with surveillance units such as the NSA. There is no way of checking this of course, so it could be pure speculation.
Mediafire Safety Issues
- Some Mediafire users haven't been impressed with the suspicious pop-ups and redirects that are now prevalent on the site.
- Another user warned about potential infections from viruses as a result of downloading programs from Mediafire.
So are these websites safe?
The data shows that both websites are overall quite safe. Further investigation into user reviews paints an even more positive picture for Dropbox—the majority of comments on MyWOT are overwhelmingly positive and any safety concerns mentioned are speculative.
Mediafire is less reputable, and some precautions need to be taken on this site. Various users warn about potential viruses, so you should ensure that you scan all downloaded files with an anti-virus program. Furthermore, the prevalence of pop-up ads suggests you'll have an improved browsing experience on Mediafire if you use ad blocking software.