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Vault termination
It seems like Dropbox is about to do it again.
After removing the strong integration with Google Docs, causing many customers to all of a sudden have to work with links instead of documents, Dropbox is now planning for the termination of Vault (end of March '25).
Did you like the function that allowed you to keep some files extra safe in a fully encrypted and PIN-locked container on your dropbox ? Yes ? Well tough for you!
Remarkably, Dropbox now claims it will automatically move the files you have stored in your vault to a normal folder on your regular dropbox. Oh really? I guess that means Dropbox has full access to my vault then, and can just move files around as they see fit ? That is quite alarming for a functionality that is supposed to be fully encrypted.
Really Dropbox, this is NOT how you obtain customer satisfaction or loyalty. I've been using your service for about 20 years now, but I'm actively checking out alternatives.
Hey guys!
Thanks for showing your interest in Dropbox Vault.
To concentrate our efforts on further improving our existing security features and building new capabilities around advanced data protection, we’ve made the decision to discontinue Dropbox Vault.
From March 4th Dropbox Vault will no longer be available. If you’re currently using your Vault, that folder will automatically turn into a standard Dropbox folder, that doesn’t require a PIN to access. The files in your folder will remain the same.
However, Dropbox is steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding your data.
Our applications and infrastructure are regularly tested for security vulnerabilities, and hardened to enhance security and protect against attacks.
I hope this clarifies!
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Please recommend an alternative ! NOT HAPPY need a program that offers 1. Cloud based photo video storage 2. Hide/ Vault protect photos / videos 3. Edit organize search view by titles given & displayed without opening. Paid for a year in advance but will be gone when find a suitable replacement.
VERY PISSED ABOUT THIS !
- Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey Stijn B.! Vault’s security measures (PIN protection) are in addition to the security measures Dropbox takes with all of your files and folders. This means all Dropbox files at rest are encrypted using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). File encryption is not specific to those files stored in a user’s Vault.
As of March 4th, your existing Vault folder will convert to a regular Dropbox folder when the functionality ceases availability. You can download the contents of your Vault folder or move them to your main account before this date.
To move files from your Vault to your main account before this date:
- Log in to http://dropbox.com.
- Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the top-right corner.
- Click Settings.
- Click the General tab.
- Under Features, click the “…” (ellipsis) next to Vault.
- Select Move files.
To download your files:
- Log in to http://dropbox.com.
- Click Vault in your files and folders list.
- Enter your pin.
- Select the files you want to download using the checkbox on the left.
- Click Download.
Rest assured that your content will continue to be securely stored and protected by our robust security measures, including advanced encryption. Again, you can read more about how security works at Dropbox here.
Been looking into pcloud, koofr, icedrive. The time and money I have wasted thanks to this stupid shortsighted decision to get rid of Vault is enormous.
Seems like WE are more concerned and upset about this then the Company !! That speaks volumes !
AGREED !!!
LET'S GO DROPBOX !!!
I registered with the Dropbox Forum just to make this (first) comment....
I whole-heartily agree with the main post and all the comments. As a paying customer for 15+ years now, I am extremely upset and disappointed in this decision. It seems completely out of left field and without any consultation with paying customers as to what they think. It seems completely to be a purely cost-cutting measure at the expense of the security and better peace of mind of all their users, and especially their paying customers.
I hope Dropbox reconsiders this very ill-considered decision, or I (and likely others) may have to look for alternative solutions.
They have a lifetime option that is very inexpensive, but this causes me to question its viability. I went through this once with another company and only a few years later they discontinued their consumer offerings to focus on business offerings. That was a very short lifetime.
Hi Nancy,
This is getting stranger all the time. Yes I know that all content in Dropbox is AES encrypted at rest, and so also the content of Vault. But the point here is that Vault was “sold” as offering private encryption, that is to say encryption with a private key that only the user has access to and not Dropbox or anyone else. This is the only way to provide complete confidentiality. That is how Vault was supposed to work, but to everyone’s surprise, that is apparently NOT how it works. Instead, Dropbox does seem to have access to the encryption key and is able to just move whatever content users have in their vault to a normal Dropbox folder.
So apart from terminating Vault being a questionable business decision and definitely not user centric, there are huge questions here as to how Dropbox “interprets” the concept of private encryption.
