MEGA is one of the few cloud storage service providers with native Linux client, Initially, it was launched by the founder of controversial file sharing website Megaupload, Kim Dotcom. It is not associated with Kim Dotcom anymore.
MEGA claims to provide end to end encryption and thus keeping your data private. The encryption key is held by the user instead of the cloud service provider, claims MEGA.
Features of MEGA cloud service
Following are some of the key features of MEGA cloud service:
- 50 GB free cloud storage
- Further cloud storage starting from Euro 8.99 per month for 500 GB
- End to end encryption
- Available on all platforms be it Linux, Windows, Mac OS X or mobile platforms like Android and iOS
- Selective sync
- Available in web browser (unlike SpiderOak)
Installing MEGA in Linux
Unlike Google Drive, MEGA not only offers a generous 50 GB of free storage, it also offers a native desktop client for Linux. Binaries are available to easily install MEGASync (desktop sync client for MEGA) in all major Linux desktop. You can get the binary package for MEGASync form the link below. Just choose your Linux distribution (or the distribution on which your Linux OS is based on).
Using MEGASync in Linux
If you have used Dropbox, you’ll find MEGASync client very similar in functioning to Dropbox client. I presume that you know how to install use the executable in your respective Linux distributions. Ubuntu based distributions can use gdebi to install .deb files. On the first use, you will be taken through a number of steps, which are quite easy to follow.
MEGASync client also installs a indicator so that you can easily access it. I did not see any notifications for the single file I uploaded so far. I presume that it should have desktop notifications as well.
Nautilus extensions
When you go to the download page to download the MEGASync client, you’ll also find the option to download Nautilus extension there. You can install it in your respective Linux distribution (of you are using Nautilus file manager).
Worth a try?
Well. It depends on your need. If the 2 GB of free Dropbox storage is not enough for you or you want better privacy, and do not want to go through the trouble of installing OwnCloud, MEGA could be a good alternative. But remember, your password is the encryption key here. You forget the password, forget about the data stored in cloud as well because MEGA doesn’t know about your password/key. Also, keeping the history of Mega products in mind, one can never be sure if this cloud service is here to stay (I hope it does).
For me, Dropbox is my primary cloud storage and I have utilized almost all of the free 20 GB I have got with it. Do I need more? Well, if it’s free, it won’t hurt to get some more free space to put some rather less important stuff in it. I suggest, you give MEGA a try. What do you say?
Hi! I’m having trouble since last update of megasync in Manjaro Linux, now it won’t open and I get the following error:
Setting QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS= “HDMI-A-1=1”
Error unsetting QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME vble
Segmentation fault.
Do you know how to pass around this issue?
It offers only 15gb of free space.
I keep the files, etc that I would not want in the Cloud on a Nextcloud Server on my local network. This way I can sync between my Linux/Windows computers.