I discovered some unknown files in my account. Are my files compromised?

[WAS48]

Help, please.

I checked my account as had received an email saying storage full. Only have a basic understanding of Dropbox so didn't even know I had this! When I looked at the photos section, I discovered several photos of personal docs, eg passport, which belong to people unknown to me. Does this mean that the security and privacy of my own photos have been compromised? 

Thanks,

[Mark]

Hi @WAS48 

If you've never used Dropbox or knew what it was chances are that somebody else has accidentally set an account up in your email. When you've then followed the links and logged in you'll have their data. Sadly there is no way to know who it was supposed to be with. 

[WAS48]

Thanks, Mark.

I have been using Dropbox for sharing large files between colleagues (almost always in response to a request to do so) but wasn't aware of the other 'services' offered , hence no idea about storage. The pics 'stored' in my account are from more than one person. Whilst I can delete those and have no intent to mis-use them, I am far more concerned about whether or not pics stored on my laptop are stored in Dropbox's storage. More logically, it would only be pictures shared via Dropbox? Less of a problem if the latter but certainly is if the former. How can someone else 'accidentally' use my email address? Doesn't the system say 'already in use'?  Thanks. 

[Hannah · Accepted solution]

Hey @WAS48, how are you today?

Regarding someone else using your email, since a Dropbox account (yours) already exists, no one would have been able to sign up to Dropbox using your email.

About the photos though, do you know their exact location in your account? 

Which folder are they in, is it perhaps a folder you're sharing with some of the people in them?

[WAS48]

Dear Hannah,

Thanks for your reply which has enabled me to work out why these pics are in my Home - Photos  - folder. You are right - they were shared with me through someone else (although they shouldn't have been!). Anyway, I am now reassured that my own pics have not been shared in this way and am thankful for your reassurance about access to my email address. I'm not over-IT literate so it takes me a while to work things out and even understand answers to queries but am content now.

Thanks again,

WAS48