# How can you securely share large files over the internet with someone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2024, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664 "2024-12-15T05:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/1 "2024-12-15T05:57:40Z")
If you have someone who takes a lot of high quality family photos and as a result they have hundreds of GBs worth of photos and family videos, is there a way to transfer that securely to another person? Attachments in emails will not work obviously. Services like google drive only allow 15GB of storage if you use the free version. I don’t know if its worth it for intermittent usage to buy more storage. Any other options other than transferring everything to a flash drive and mailing it? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/2 "2024-12-15T06:20:09Z")
There are lots of services (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, etc ) but you aren’t going to find a free and secure one for that much data. Be wary of free ones: they need to make money somehow. That might mean scanning the documents for targeted advertising, selling your contact info, or something else that compromises the security of your data. Of the three I listed above, Google is probably the easiest because basically everyone already uses it in some form, but I’d also consider it the least secure/private because their primary revenue model is advertising. Both Microsoft and Dropbox do a better job of security and privacy. If this is a one-time need, then yes, mailing a thumb drove is probably best. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/3 "2024-12-15T06:52:01Z")
Another question is what is the maximum upload speed allowed by the person’s ISP? Lots of them have much lower limits than the download speed limit. For example I have a 16 Mbps upload limit–and it would take over 14 hours just to upload 100 GB–if everything went perfectly. [it is also limited by the processing speed of the hosting site–and if it is a free site it is probably slow]. A relevant article: > **[How to Send Large Files Over the Internet](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-send-large-files-over-the-internet)** > > Trying to figure out how to send a large file to someone else? Gmail and Yahoo have a 25MB limit, but don't worry; there are other ways to transfer a big file. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/4 "2024-12-15T07:50:12Z")
There are Syncthing/Resilio (and more) if you want to sync or share a folder. That might be the easiest solution for you. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/5 "2024-12-15T09:06:36Z")
My office uses a large file transfer service, but I found out that it doesn’t transfer a large number of files. It only transfers a single large file at a time. That wouldn’t work for what the OP is asking. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/6 "2024-12-15T14:50:41Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I found out that it doesn’t transfer a large number of files. It only transfers a single large file at a time. If that were the only issue, couldn’t you just combine the files into a single ZIP file? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/7 "2024-12-15T14:51:20Z")
I’d give serious consideration to DropBox. We use it for business purposes and it has been secure, reliable, and fast. I think you can get 2TB of storage for about $10/month and, IMHO, it is worth it. The collaborative tool set is very good. Maybe family members can chip in $10 or $20 each at Christmas time? In our business, it is not at all unusual to share single files that exceed 150GB in size. DropBox handles this easily. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/8 "2024-12-15T15:08:44Z")
No message. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/9 "2024-12-15T15:13:23Z")
My previous post re DropBox was based on the assumption (possibly erroneous) that the OP wanted to share a large set of photos dynamically (i.e., continuously as updated, with possible contributions by more than one user). I was taking this from the idea of “sharing” rather than “transmitting.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/10 "2024-12-15T15:17:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > If that were the only issue, couldn’t you just combine the files into a single ZIP file? I tried that and it didn’t work for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/11 "2024-12-15T15:21:25Z")
NM…beaten to the question. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/12 "2024-12-15T15:26:50Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I tried that and it didn’t work for some reason. Weird. The limits of something like a 7-Zip file are almost certainly waaaay beyond anything a person using a laptop/home PC would bump into: - [Max file size limitations for 7Z RAR TAR ZIP archive formats](https://peazip.github.io/rar-zip-file-format-size-limitations.html) I’d certainly turn off any screen savers and sleep settings for the computer while it was trying to process a large 7-Zip file as well as stop any other programs running including ones in the background (and if a laptop leave it plugged in and worry about overheating if a huge file). Also, make sure you have enough disk space for the final file. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/13 "2024-12-15T15:31:31Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Attachments in emails will not work obviously. Actually, email attachments can work but you’ll both need a program which splits the videos into email-sized pieces on one end then recombines them on the other end. Likely not worth the hassle unless you can’t find a better way. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/14 "2024-12-15T15:33:29Z")
It might be easiest to share the files via FTP. Lots of free FTP programs out there (I am partial to FileZilla but use whatever you want). FileZilla also allows for encryption of the connection if that is important. The other person connects to you via FTP and downloads the files. A little fuss to set up but not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/15 "2024-12-15T15:35:44Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Any other options other than transferring everything to a flash drive and mailing it? “Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.” – Andrew S. Tanenbaum, _Computer Networks_, 3rd ed. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/16 "2024-12-15T16:10:54Z")
If you are using a Mac, Android or iPhone/iPad, [you can try Blip.](https://blip.net/) It’s free and easy. No cloud storage. Seems pretty secure. If you are using Windows, you are SOL. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/17 "2024-12-15T16:13:50Z")
I have used dropbox, google, ftp, and thumb drives for this kind of thing, and they all work. I’ve typically had tens of gigabytes, not hundreds, and have gotten away with free services. My guess is that dropbox, Google or a thumb drive will be easier than ftp, especially if you are interacting with several other people. But ftp can be free for very large amounts of data. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/18 "2024-12-15T16:16:45Z")
There’s an XKCD for everything. > **[File Transfer](https://xkcd.com/949/)** > > Every time you email a file to yourself so you can pull it up on your friend's laptop, Tim Berners-Lee sheds a single tear. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/19 "2024-12-15T16:26:45Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > If you are using Windows, you are SOL. That’s just not true. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664/20 "2024-12-15T16:28:39Z")
I do this kind of thing often enough that I now pay about $20/month for a service. I began by trying the free versions of wetransfer and transfernow, which worked quite well and were adequate for infrequent use. But I found that Dropbox and wetransfer were nagging beasts and had a difficult interface, while transfernow seemed much easier and intuitive, so I subscribed to their first-tier level of service. At 40Mb/s upload speed from my USP, and TBs of transfer capability per month, this works well for my numerous audio, art, and video files. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-securely-share-large-files-over-the-internet-with-someone/1011664.md?page=2)