Cloud Storage

Encrypt Your Cloud Files

Cloud storage providers (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) have access to your files unless you encrypt them first. Even providers who claim “end-to-end encryption” may hold keys.

Solution: Encrypt files locally before uploading.

Cryptomator

Cryptomator — free, open source, client-side encryption for cloud storage.

How It Works

Cryptomator creates an encrypted vault in your cloud folder. Files are encrypted individually before upload. The vault appears as a virtual drive on your computer.

Install

# Ubuntu/Debian
add-apt-repository ppa:sebastian-stenzel/cryptomator
apt update
apt install cryptomator

# AppImage (universal Linux)
wget https://github.com/cryptomator/cryptomator/releases/latest/download/cryptomator-*.AppImage
chmod +x cryptomator-*.AppImage
./cryptomator-*.AppImage

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android: download from cryptomator.org/downloads/

Usage

1. Create a new vault inside your Dropbox/Google Drive/OneDrive folder
2. Set a strong passphrase (use BitWarden to store it)
3. Unlock the vault — it appears as a drive letter/mount point
4. Copy files into the virtual drive
5. Lock the vault when done

Cloud provider sees only encrypted data. Without your passphrase, files are unreadable.

Boxcryptor

Boxcryptor — similar to Cryptomator, commercial (free tier available).

Works with: Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and others.

Note: Boxcryptor was acquired by Dropbox in 2022. Some users have moved to Cryptomator as a result.

Self-Hosted Alternatives

If you prefer to control your own cloud:

Nextcloud with end-to-end encryption enabled gives full control over your data.