End-to-end encryption on Dropbox content. How does it work?

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a method of secure communication that prevents third parties from accessing data while it's transferred from one end system or device to another. In E2EE, the data is encrypted on the sender's system or device, and only the intended recipient can decrypt it.

Hi HealthFreak,

You question is somewhat meaningless. Probably you want to ask if connection between your device (Mac or iPhone) from one side and Dropbox servers from other side is encrypted. If so, TLS1.2 is in use - might be not the best, but it's reliable enough. As ROKYRAJ noted, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is something different and doesn't fit in your question - it's more secure presumably (depends on how is realized). If you mean, is E2EE provided somehow from Dropbox? - No, it doesn't not.

Of course, you are not limited in any way to encrypt your content using third party software (syncing encrypted containers for instance - something very secure and widely used).

I didn't ask for a definition of End-to-end encryption - I asked "are files sent from Mac or iPhone to Dropbox Cloud end-to-end encrypted?"

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HealthFreak wrote:

I didn't ask for a definition of End-to-end encryption - ...

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😯 Yes, you didn't ask, but seems have no idea what this means! 😁

Yes - does it encrypt your data on your device before syncing it to the cloud?

ROKYRAJ wrote - End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a method of secure communication that prevents third parties from accessing data while it's transferred from one end system or device to another. In E2EE, the data is encrypted on the sender's system or device, and only the intended recipient can decrypt it.

 - So I don’t understand why you’re saying I don’t understand what it means and how this definition is different from my question - if files sent from Mac or iPhone to Dropbox Cloud end-to-end encrypted? - 

 - ie if there is "End-to-end encryption secure communication that prevents third parties from accessing data while it's transferred from one end system or device (in my question - Mac or iPhone) to another (in my question - Dropbox)".

 - "the data is encrypted on the sender's system or device (in my question - Mac or iPhone), and only the intended recipient (in my question - Dropbox cloud) can decrypt it" - or vice versa.

OMG!!! There are many ways to protect some data.

One such a way is to encrypt data and store somewhere. If that's what you are asking for - No - Dropbox doesn't do it.

Another way is to protect data transmission between 2 points (usually a device and server). In such a way entire communication (including transferred data) are encrypted during transportation and protected. If that's what you mean - Yes - TLS1.2 is in use.

The 2 ways, mentioned, are completely different and independent from each other! Could be used only one, only other or in combination. In case of Dropbox one of the question's answer is Yes, another is No. 🙂 What is the correct one??? 🧐 Do you understand that you have put 2 different questions in single place (as a single sentence) and expect one answer?

Hope it's a bit more clear now.

As far as I can understand your last clarification - Yes - in this context Dropbox protects your data. You mean connection protection and as I already said before - it's protected. Just don't put end to end encryption in your question, which is something completely different!!! That's what you are asking for is NOT end to end encryption!

Hi HealthFreak, how are you doing today? 

Have you taken a look into this Help Center article by any chance? If not, feel free to read it and let me know if you have any questions. 

Let me know more! 

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HealthFreak wrote:

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Anyway I really just wanted to understand whether this "Boxcryptor for Individuals" would provide better protection for the connection and transfer of files from my Mac/iPhone to Dropbox cloud.. and to iCloud for that matter.

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Здравко  wrote:

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As ROKYRAJ noted, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is something different and doesn't fit in your question - it's more secure presumably (depends on how is realized). If you mean, is E2EE provided somehow from Dropbox? - No, it doesn't not.
Of course, you are not limited in any way to encrypt your content using third party software (syncing encrypted containers for instance - something very secure and widely used).

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I can add here that "Zero knowledge" is form of E2EE. 😉

Hope this helps.