About a decade ago, the cable was the only alternative to transfer files between our mobile phone and the computer, and vice versa.If we wanted to pass the photographs (from then "high quality") from our mobile to the PC, it was necessary to use a USB cable. Related
And the same thing happened if we wanted to have some music on the phone.Today we have a large number of alternatives to transfer files between several devices without cables .Although there are some specific depending of the operating system that you incorporate, here we will talk about those that are valid for the majority.
Online storage on a private server (Google Drive, Dropbox, Mega...)
As the cost of storing a MB of memory plummeted, more operators and service companies set out to offer cloud storage at affordable prices , and even for free.the case of Google Drive, Dropbox or Mega.We teach you to transfer files between them, even some very heavy ones, such as a music collection, with few clicks .
It is not necessary to install Google Drive to be able to dump files on your server.Just log in with a Google account to www.drive.google.com and click on the "New" button in the browser or on the "+" sign »On mobile devices to upload one or more files to the cloud.Depending on the type of connection this may take more or less.
Once the file is on the server, we can select it and choose between the options "Share...", through which we add a Google account to access the content; or "Get link to share", which will give us a link similar to the one below.We can copy that link and pass it by mail, WhatsApp, social networks, place it under a text...
Example: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3GqUmit4KxqdXQzVlYxc1M1dGs/view?usp=sharing
With Dropbox the mechanics are similar.Although there is application for both iOS, Windows, Android and others, just go to www.dropbox.com with our access codes and search the "Upload files" option bar.Once the file has been uploaded, and clicking on it, we can choose "Share", obtaining the options of sending someone an email or generating a link:
Example: https://www.dropbox.com/s/aj1r8oferla8ozq/googledrive.jpg?dl=0
Entering the MEGA service through www.mega.nz, and once a file has been uploaded by clicking on «Upload file», we can copy its URL by clicking on the file and selecting «Get link»:
Example: https://mega.nz/#!hlRARZza!dcch2BqqMGR1iNjRfewZSDHIUYhZLCy1wGTjWZSxcg8
There are other similar options such as ownCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, box...but all are based on the same idea: a file is sent to a server in the cloud owned by a third party and a link is generated to share with the device to which we want to send the data package (or packages).
An alternative is to install the different applications on both devices using the same account on both, so that the content is synchronized at the moment.This increases usability and makes access easier, but also more vulnerable information.
Create your own server at home
In the event that we do not want our information to have a company (Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon...) we can always make use of our current computer, or an old computer that we have at home, and turn it into a server.It's not a complex process, but if something convoluted.
Having a home server connected to the WiFi has the advantages that nobody has to see our private photographs, but the disadvantage that if we want to access it we must always have it on.Both the device and the router through which "data" comes out.
There are several programs that can help us with this, such as Apache Directory Server, Syncplify Server, FileZilla Server..., all with abundant tutorials in both English and Spanish, however, if this alternative is too much for our digital knowledge ( it usually is), we always have the possibility to buy a specific server in a computer store.They are not especially expensive, and they exist from Plug&Play.
End-to-end data delivery, without server
Both the use of private company servers and home servers that we set up at our home depend on a third vulnerable node, that is, the information we want to transfer between DEVICE A and DEVICE B will pass through DEVICE C (server) , making it more likely that someone intercepts the shipment or can access the information that if we transfer the information directly from A to B .
For a long time, P2P networks (peer to peer) have facilitated the sending of information between one or more computers to another set of them directly.Kazaa Lite, eMule-Project or BitTorrent These are some of the best known programs that make use of this technology.
These types of programs help a lot, but they are complex for the average user.A few years ago Sync emerged, now Resilio Sync (www.resilio.com), precisely to facilitate the use of networks P2P to non-advanced users.Just install this program on a PC, MAC, Android or iOS system, among others, to be able to generate a folder to share with any other operating system .
Let's imagine that we have an Android smartphone in which we want to have the same music folder that we have on a home PC.It will be enough to install the application on both devices and tell the PC program that the "Music" folder we want to share it with another device.And send it to the mobile.Once synchronized, the two folders of both devices will behave as if they were the same .
As an alternative, Syncthing (www.syncthing.net) is somewhat less visually pleasing but equally valid for a large number of operating systems, with the advantage of being free software.The previous application has the advantage that they are much safer than the servers in the face of the compromised information, even if it is due to the fact that it is found in fewer devices.
File transfer using Bluetooth, prioritizing security
If we are to send compromised information, the Bluetooth technology is one of the safest that exist for several reasons:
- They don't depend on a server to be able to access.
- The devices must be in a range of 0 to 10 meters to intercept the signal.
- It is easy to detect an intrusion, since the transfer is cut.
The Bluetooth technology with which we control the speakers, and which sowed the basis of wireless communications between devices, now serves to transfer files closely , with the associated security that has something like that.However, this same advantage makes its use very limited.In addition to being a slow technology, especially if we compare it with 4G networks or future 5G networks, it usually consumes a lot of battery.
We have left the era of cables , and today we play the Playstation with wireless controls and exchange Pokemons via WiFi.Each method for transferring files mentioned here has its advantages and disadvantages, especially in security matter, and we are the users those who have to opt for one or the other based on our need and risk.
Images | iStock/Waxwaxwax, iStock/R_Type
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