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Re: Photographs that are NOT mine in Dropbox - and NOT as a result of using a shared computer!

Photographs that are NOT mine in Dropbox - and NOT as a result of using a shared computer!

Natmonster
Helpful | Level 7

Hello,

I have discovered a folder in my Dropbox entitled 'Camera Uploads' which is full of hundreds of photos and videos that are not mine. The files are dated from August 2012-November 2013 (which by coincidence is likely to be around about the same time that I set up my Dropbox account). I have not had reason to look in the folder before as I thought it was simply a default folder that Dropbox created on signup.

At first I thought perhaps the folder had been shared with me accidentally but it turns out it is not a shared folder and Dropbox is telling me that the files were uploaded 'by you' (i.e. me!).

Having searched the Dropbox community threads and Google I found someone who had a similar issue and one of the possible reasons given in the thread was that perhaps the user had used a shared computer in the past and left themselves signed into Dropbox and then someone else's phone photos were auto-backed up when they connected. I do not believe this to be the case for me. The reason being is that I looked through all the photos and videos to try to decipher if I knew the owner. I did not. However, one of the photos displayed a gig ticket stub which displayed the surname of the person who bought it - and lo and behold it happens to match my surname. This all seems to point to a scenario where someone with the same name as me was somehow able to sign in to my account and use it to back up their files. Can anyone (at Dropbox or otherwise) explain how this could possibly have happened?

This is surely a security issue. The reason I was poking around in the folders is because I was preparing to start using Dropbox for my business needs but this issue has alarmed me and I now have strong doubts about the security of Dropbox, especially for sharing/storing confidential business files.

BTW I have now changed my password and I was tempted to delete the folder but I feel kind of bad that I now have someone's personal photos (pics and videos of their kids in the school play etc.). I have tried to get in touch with someone at Dropbox but I currently have the basic free account and my options are limited to a chatbot or this forum (another turnoff - I hate when companies make it impossible to contact them!).

Hoping you can help!
Thanks,

Nat

57 Replies 57

Hannah
Dropbox Staff

Hey @Natmonster, would you mind replying back to that ticket? If it's closed, this will create a new ticket number, so please send that along, once it shows up.

 

As for you @debmahtab, can you please send us a screenshot of where you see this "shared by Deb B. 'Desktop'"?

 

Even if two accounts have the same name, they're associated with different email addresses. 

 

That means they're completely different accounts, which cannot be mixed with one another, so this sounds very strange.

 

When was the last time unknown files were added to your account? Have you changed your password since?


Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Laquenta
Helpful | Level 5
@Hannah
Based on everyones stories including my own, any other option except a glitch, bug, systemerror etc by Dropbox is not very likely. Either Dropbox won't admit, or are not aware of the problem. Reading Natmonsters and my case carefully earlier in this thread proves the glitch.

Laquenta
Helpful | Level 5
@Hannah
Yes the accounts are connected to an email adress. The confusing part, another person with the same full name but with a completely different email, separated by distance and relations, this persons photos ends up in ones dropbox :thinking_face::grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

debmahtab
Helpful | Level 5

debmahtab_0-1668601843248.png

debmahtab_1-1668601863301.png

 

Hannah
Dropbox Staff

Thank you for your comments here, @Laquenta and @debmahtab, this seems quite strange indeed.

 

If neither of you have a ticket with our support team about this, can we reach out to your emails, so we can look into it?


Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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debmahtab
Helpful | Level 5

[email removed as per Community Guidelines] and my name is Deb Bourke, thanks

Megan
Dropbox Staff

Hey @debmahtab, I hope you're doing well!

 

I just reached out to you via email, I'll be happy to see you there.

 

Cheers!


Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Natmonster
Helpful | Level 7
My new ticket number is 19660429.

Natalie

Jay
Dropbox Staff

Hi @Natmonster, thanks for the ticket ID, I've gone ahead and forwarded it to the appropriate team to investigate it further.


Jay
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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angellsmith
New member | Level 2

I have the same problem. It's going to take hours to delete all these files!

Is it possible they're coming from web pages I've been on momentarily, or perhaps from a web design process? Many of the images look like design elements. 

I did have a really old password and just changed it, deleted old devices and apps. I'm not sure what else to check.

 

I did have my personal Dropbox account connected to a work Dropbox account, but considering I worked for a Fortune 100 global tech company, I'd hope their security policies would be stringent enough that they wouldn't be the source of the problem.  

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