I'm not sure that's the entire story. It also uses "entropy" from your mouse to set the encryption key, and when you share a file there's a unique key for each file. I guess a copy of the encryption key must be kept on the server, and that key is encrypted using your password?

If you created your account today, then try it again tomorrow. I think it's not updating as quickly as it might.

From the description it seemed to me they were using some sort of key pair system - they generate an encryption key which they know and a decryption key which is somehow based on your password which they don't know. They can use the encryption key to encrypt your files when you upload them but you need the password which they don't store to decrypt them. Exactly how they generate those keys, well I wouldn't expect them to say.

I haven't tried to share any files, so I'm kind of wondering how that part works. Of course to do that I'd have to be able to get into the damn system.

The upshot is the same though - they can't decrypt your files without your password, which they don't store. This is kind of their big selling point - even if the feds were to somehow nick the data, they can't read it and DotCom & Co can't help them read it, even if they get hit with a wrench (obligatory XKCD reference). So if you don't know what the password is, they can't decrypt your files to then re-encrypt them with a new key generated from a new password. So, no password reset option.


I had a suspicion there was something like that going on. Their error messages could be a lot more useful.

As long as it works then I don't need to understand the cogs involved. The main points being:

• I just need to remember my password (which is working today)
• I don't need to save my enormous great encryption key and transfer it to any other computer I might want to use, like you do with some systems.
• They can't decrypt the data even if they want to.
• It's free for 100GB

Of course, being paranoid I shan't be uploading anything too top secret. No bank details for example.

Note, their terms and conditions say you can't upload copyright material such as music. In that sense, the conditions are more restrictive than dropbox. However, they give you 20x as much space which is the only main selling point really!

Had the first tests today... They took blood and then I spent 3 hours sitting in a room with 6 other patients, blowing into a tube every 15 minutes... I had to drink a lactose solution, then spend 3 hours sitting around and registering the results.

I started at 2ppm before I took the solution, went down to 1ppm after 15 minutes, 30 minutes was also 1ppm, thereafter it was 0ppm. One woman had 2 readings over 50ppm, which meant that she could leave the experiment early and won an all expenses paid trip to further prodding and poking with sharp needles.

Back again tomorrow for the fructose test, drink a fructose solution and spend 3 hours blowing into the same tube that I was blowing into today...

At least the trip there and back was interesting. The snow ploughs hadn't been out, so the it was thick snow all the way to Osnabrück. Due to the rush hour traffic, I decided to see if I could take the shortcut over the hill by the Uni, very steep, it hadn't been treated, but it was passable, saved me about 20 minutes on the journey compared with driving around the ring road.

Could do with one of them right now actually

that would be a smart idea

Chrysler Crossfire monster truck

It might actually be more useful than a Chelsea tractor.

Wondered what that was all about for a bit until the message popped up.

Shared it and had 'what the **** is this?' from my colleague in Munich lol

Just think that she can save a fortune on internet porn. Well her husband clearly realises that already.

Just in case you forgot I'm off to Silver Spring, Disco HQ in Washington on Saturday for a week. Hard life this engineering lark

/endbrag