I’m looking for a more secure file storage solution after some privacy issues with my Dropbox account. I need something that keeps my files encrypted and private, even from the service provider. Any recommendations for the best secure cloud storage options?
Let’s Talk: How Does CloudMounter Actually Handle Dropbox Logins Securely?
Personal experience, and a dash of tech-geek caution—if you’re as into paranoid browsing as me, stick around.
On Trusting Apps With Your Stuff (Featuring That Usual Voice in My Head)
Here’s a fun one: you ever get that cold sweat when an app asks for your Dropbox info? Yeah, me too. So, I dug a little into how CloudMounter pulls off all its “secure” magic behind the curtain.
Credentials — Where Do They Actually Go?
Okay, let’s cut through the marketing babble for a sec. CloudMounter doesn’t just drop your usernames and passwords into some random .txt file chilling on your desktop (thankfully). Instead, on Mac, it takes your stuff straight into the macOS Keychain—imagine a digital vault guarded by a slightly grumpy, but highly-skilled security guard. On Windows? Same deal, different name: Windows Credential Manager.
So, if you log into Dropbox via CloudMounter, your info goes right into these vaults, where only top-tier, vetted apps (and, well, the OS) get a peek if they obey the rules.
No, Seriously, Is It Actually Safe in Transit?
I get suspicious of everything (“Trust, but verify,” as my dad says about both apps and used car dealers). So, what happens between you typing in your login and it hitting Dropbox’s servers? CloudMounter uses encrypted channels—which, in normal human speak, means if anyone tries to snoop in while your info’s zipping through the internet, all they’ll see is a gigantic wall of gibberish.
Think of it like sending a secret message inside a sealed, armored truck instead of just taping it to your window for everyone to read.
TL;DR — Or, Why I Didn’t Chuck My Laptop Out the Window
- App asks for Dropbox login
- Shuttles it directly to your system’s “vault” (Keychain or Credential Manager)
- Communicates with Dropbox using locked-down, encrypted pipes so eavesdroppers are left munching on scrambled nonsense
Real Talk: Should You Worry?
If you’re living with a healthy amount of digital worry (as you should!), CloudMounter’s use of Keychain/Credential Manager and encrypted channels is about as good as consumer-grade security gets. Unless you’re a secret agent or a supervillain, that’s probably enough peace of mind for a normal Tuesday. If you want to dig deeper or double-check the technical claims, head over to their App Store page.
Short version: The app does its homework on security and your login isn’t floating around in cyberspace unprotected. Wish every service handled things like this, honestly.
5 Likes
Sure, Dropbox’s privacy issues are legendary at this point, so you’re def not alone questioning where to stash your important stuff elsewhere. I see @mikeappsreviewer did a nice deep dive on how CloudMounter interacts securely with Dropbox itself—major props for breaking down the geekery there. But honestly, I don’t actually trust anything where files sit unencrypted on somebody else’s servers, no matter how many keychains, credential managers, or SAS70 Type II certifications they brag about.
If you want true privacy—even from the cloud provider—you want zero-knowledge encryption. Think: your files are kryptonite to the people running the servers because they just see a pile of encrypted gobbledygook.
A few legit alternatives worth a look:
- Sync.com – Canadian (yay, better privacy laws), end-to-end encrypted, so even Sync employees can’t access your files. Simple interface, generous free tier.
- Tresorit – Swiss-based, famously paranoid about privacy. Strong E2E encryption and business features if you’re sharing with teams.
- Proton Drive – Also Swiss; you get ProtonMail, are used to their zero-access approach. Still new, but promising for privacy buffs.
- If you want to “own the cloud,” Cryptomator is sweet—it encrypts your files locally before uploading to any cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, whatever). That way, you keep your setup but nobody can peek inside without your password—even if Dropbox itself gets owned.
I mean, CloudMounter (like @mikeappsreviewer explained) keeps your login safe, but it doesn’t always handle the “nobody can see your stuff, not even us” E2E encryption unless paired with something like Cryptomator. So if you’re super serious about privacy, stack the tools: encrypt before you upload.
Honestly, half these companies hide behind privacy buzzwords. Don’t trust, verify—or just jam your laptop in a safe at home and call it a day 
Look, I vibe with the paranoia here. Once you get burned by Dropbox’s ‘oopsie, your files might’ve been seen by folks with the wrong credentials’ approach, it’s hard to trust any big-name cloud. Interesting choices by @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles—Cryptomator’s solid, but sometimes I don’t want to wedge YET ANOTHER app in my workflow just to zip and unzip folders before tossing them in the cloud.
Now, CloudMounter’s mentioned a bit above and, for people sticking to regular services but wanting to keep their logins tight, it’s nifty—stuffs your creds in system vaults and all the transport is encrypted (I’ve double-checked that with Wireshark because yes, I’m that neurotic). But let’s be real: if you want drop-dead privacy, the files need to be scrambled before they even hit the ‘cloud’. Otherwise, you’re always rolling the dice with whatever the provider claims behind the scenes.
TBH: if you don’t mind a small monthly splurge and don’t need the Google-drive-everywhere ecosystem, Tresorit and Proton Drive are the only two I’d call truly private — and Proton Drive’s newness is both a plus and a minus (less legacy crap, more beta bugs). If you’re the DIY type, stacking CloudMounter + Cryptomator actually works slick on Mac; connect any web drive with CloudMounter and toggle a Cryptomator vault on top. Yeah, nerdy, but beats the pants off trusting dropbox with your… let’s not kid ourselves, half-finished NaNoWriMo drafts and awkward tax docs.
Bottom line: if you want dead-simple sync that’s as plug-and-play as Dropbox but actually respects privacy, you’re never getting both unless you jump through a hoop or two. Or, y’know, print everything out and use a safe deposit box. Your call.
Let’s pull no punches: if your main beef with Dropbox is that your files might be viewable by ~literally anyone~ with backend access, you’re wise to look elsewhere. Several folks have mentioned Cryptomator (encrypts locally, then you shove the garbled mess into any cloud you want) and the usual suspects like Tresorit (Swiss, pricey, end-to-end) or Proton Drive (fast-evolving, maybe still a cheese sandwich short of a full picnic).
Here’s the bit that gets missed, though: unless you’re encrypting before upload, all these “encrypted in transit/storage” claims boil down to “trust us, we’re serious about security!” CloudMounter sits at a weird intersection. You don’t get built-in end-to-end file encryption, but you plug nearly any cloud into your Finder/Explorer like it’s an external drive—fast and handy. Security-wise, credentials are tucked into the Keychain (on Mac) or Windows Credential Manager and your files move through tasty encrypted tunnels (TLS/SSL, so unless you owe Mr. Musk some favors, you’re fine in transit).
Pro: stupidly easy to mount anything, nice interface, doesn’t hoover up your CPU, credentials stored right.
Con: no automatic file scrambling—if you want true privacy, combine with something like Cryptomator or VeraCrypt, as others said. Also, can’t dodge cloud provider T&Cs—if they get breached, “encrypted at rest” isn’t the same as “encrypted so only YOU can read it.”
My take: if simplicity beats paranoia for your workflow, CloudMounter is slick (and better than Dropbox alone for login safety). But for total peace of mind? It needs a sidekick—layer on another app for pre-upload encryption, or go for Tresorit/Proton if you’re comfortable with outside ecosystems. You’ll trade a bit of convenience for control; your threat model, your rules.