BitTorrent releases secure Dropbox alternative

Peer-to-peer file-sharing service BitTorrent has released a file backup service that uses secure P2P transfer instead of the cloud.

Nowadays, you'd be hard pressed to find an internet-savvy person without some sort of cloud service backup and storage. Dropbox, Microsoft's SkyDrive and services such as Box, Google Drive and Evernote all allow you to access your files from the cloud wherever you may be.

Now, BitTorrent has released its own free product, Sync, onto the scene — but unlike the cloud services currently on the market, it's uses direct P2P file transfer between computers — meaning that no third party will ever host or have access to it.

In that regard, it's a bit like Cubby, only without Cubby's additional tier of paid cloud storage.

(Credit: BitTorrent)

Sync claims a number of advantages over the current crop of cloud services. All file transfers are encrypted, which means that only those with the private, randomly generated key can unlock the files; and additionally, you can select an option to let the key expire, so no new devices can be added after 24 hours.

It also claims to be faster than the cloud, and has no limits on storage or transfer sizes.

Users can also choose to exclude files and folders from sharing, as well as create a one-way option that allows you to share read-only files.

At the moment, the product is still in Alpha, so it may be a little buggy; however, users in the closed Alpha have sent over 200 terabytes of data with very few hitches, according to TorrentFreak.

You can download the free service and try it for yourself from the BitTorrent Labs website.