SecretSync Client-Side Encryption for Dropbox Files

SecretSync is a client-side encryption software that works together with the Dropbox service to securely sync your files. SecretSync encrypts your files on your computer they are added to Dropbox.

Dropbox is an online file storage upto 2GB, file sharing, online backup and file synchronizing service across your computers.

Dropbox installs a special folder on your computer. Anything you put in that folder gets synchronized to all your other computers. Before your files are synchronized by Dropbox to your other computers, SecretSync encrypts them with 256-bit AES encryption, using a key to which only you have access. The files are only decrypted on the other end — that is, on your other computers.

SecretSync also installs a special folder, separate from Dropbox, for confidential or sensitive documents. After installing SecretSync, you will have two folders on your computer, the SecretSync folder and the Dropbox folder.

[advt]If you have sensitive or confidential documents, put them in the SecretSync folder. SecretSync detects the new file, encrypts it, and adds it to Dropbox, in a special “tunnel” folder. Dropbox then synchronizes the encrypted file to your other computers. If SecretSync is also installed on your other computers, it will detect that Dropbox has updated files in the SecretSync “tunnel” folder, decrypt them, and add them to the SecretSync folder on those computers.

All you need is to download the client software, create your user account, link your computer to your account and move your files to the dropbox folder in your computer. Dropbox will automatically upload the files to their server.

To get started syncing your encrypted files you will need the following software:

1. You have an account with Dropbox, but if you don’t go to their site and request a free account and install the software.
2. You will also need Java installed on your computer because SecretSync uses Java to encrypt your files.
3. Install SecretSync :  If you have Dropbox and Java installed and then install SecretSync. On the first computer you will need to create a new SecretSync account. This is required because SecretSync will store your encryption keys while Dropbox will store your files. This separation allows both your keys and your files to be secure. Create an account on the first computer and on subsequent installations you will provide your credentials. To further protect your files you can provide a passphrase that will be used in addition to the encryption key SecretSync provides. This passphrase is not recoverable so if you lose this you may not be able to retrieve your files.
4. Sync Encrypted Files :  For any computers that you need your files, all you have to do is install Dropbox, Java, and SecretSync. This time when you install SecretSync just provide your account credentials and passphrase. The files will automatically be decrypted in your SecretSync folder. Any files you want encrypted and synced just drag and drop them into the SecretSync folder just like you would with the Dropbox folder.