File Sharing After Megaupload: 8 Alternatives

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Megaupload is gone, so what will you do to find illegal Mp3s? Just kidding, we know you don't do that. But you do share files. Should you use Megaupload competitors, or cloud-based services?

Moving Beyond Anonymity to the Cloud

Five to ten years ago, upload sites like Megaupload and RapidShare were all we had if we wanted to move big files across the internet. They quickly became the de facto choice simply because there weren’t any other options. Well, since the advent of cloud storage services, we now have other options, and as long as you’re not uploading questionable content, they’re by far the best choices.

True cloud storage services like Google Docs, SkyDrive, and Dropbox trump upload sites in just about every single category. They’re faster, more reliable, more secure, and more flexible. Plus they do all of that without charging you extra for it. Sure, you have to register to upload your files, but that beats waiting half an hour just to start a download, doesn’t it?

If you want to share huge 5+GB files, Google Docs and $5 per year is your best bet. If you have a lot of sub-100MB files, SkyDrive is the way to go. Amazon’s Cloud Drive is great for music and private file storage. For everything in between, Dropbox has you covered.

The only thing upload sites are good for anymore is anonymity, and even that is getting hard to achieve sometimes, with sites like RapidShare requiring you to register before uploading. Besides, illegal file sharing is the only reason anonymity is such a big deal.

For those of us on the up-and-up, it’s time to transcend to cloud storage. There air so much nicer up here anyway.

Paul Escallier
28 Comments Comment from the forums
  • azathoth
    I love mediafire especially with ad-block enabled, just goes straight to the click to download, no popups or ads.
    Reply
  • "Besides, illegal file sharing is the only reason anonymity is such a big deal."

    Well, of course. There's absolutely no other reason for anonymity.

    Wait, whistleblowers? What are those?
    Reply
  • quantumrand
    Paul Granis"Besides, illegal file sharing is the only reason anonymity is such a big deal."Well, of course. There's absolutely no other reason for anonymity.Wait, whistleblowers? What are those?
    Whistleblowers don't have much need for anonymous filesharing services. Whistle blowing generally involves an anonymous phone call or e-mail. Very rarely does it involve the need to share large files. And even if it did, it's not hard to sign up for something like DropBox with a fake name and dummy e-mail address at some internet cafe and upload your files there.
    Reply
  • Although the author is correct on Megaupload using pop-up ads, I disagree on the "misleading download buttons". How is 2 big buttons, one for premium, one for non-premium after 25-45 second wait misleading? Or did he just confuse one of the most simple to use file sharing sites (also had some of the fewest limits) in the past decade? RIP Megaupload.
    Reply
  • gwolfman
    Just use JDownloader and stop worrying about the waiting. Tired of captchas? Try captcha trader.
    Reply
  • NuclearShadow
    Besides, illegal file sharing is the only reason anonymity is such a big deal.

    I disagree with this totally. Privacy issues remain and with ties with accounts and how companies love to track consumers in every way possible now. If I were to upload something that isn't infringing on copyright laws but simply do not want that upload to be associated with me personally I can no longer do such. Privacy does not mean you are doing something illegal behind the curtains.

    If anything I think anonymity needs to once again return to the norm on the internet. The reason for this is because the internet is the best way for the common man to find a way to express themselves and have other hear. If I lived in a nation that had a government that just isn't really that into human rights, I could use a anonymous service that is hosted outside of my country to get my voice our or perhaps a video of what they are doing to
    people to help global attention to the issue. If you tie me into a account this becomes more risky. Even worse with how corporations today have happily shown they are willing to cave into the demands of these governments. I'll side with law breaking websites that at-least believe in the freedom of speech before a corporation that would point at me and send me to the gallows any-day.
    Reply
  • quantumrand
    noisoundAlthough the author is correct on Megaupload using pop-up ads, I disagree on the "misleading download buttons". How is 2 big buttons, one for premium, one for non-premium after 25-45 second wait misleading? Or did he just confuse one of the most simple to use file sharing sites (also had some of the fewest limits) in the past decade? RIP Megaupload.
    It's not necessarily the upload sites themselves, but the advertisers they deal with that create ads that have big buttons that say "Download" and lead to adware programs and the like.

    NuclearShadowI disagree with this totally. Privacy issues remain and with ties with accounts and how companies love to track consumers in every way possible now. If I were to upload something that isn't infringing on copyright laws but simply do not want that upload to be associated with me personally I can no longer do such. Privacy does not mean you are doing something illegal behind the curtains. If anything I think anonymity needs to once again return to the norm on the internet. The reason for this is because the internet is the best way for the common man to find a way to express themselves and have other hear. If I lived in a nation that had a government that just isn't really that into human rights, I could use a anonymous service that is hosted outside of my country to get my voice our or perhaps a video of what they are doing to people to help global attention to the issue. If you tie me into a account this becomes more risky. Even worse with how corporations today have happily shown they are willing to cave into the demands of these governments. I'll side with law breaking websites that at-least believe in the freedom of speech before a corporation that would point at me and send me to the gallows any-day.
    There are different levels of anonymity on the internet. Some upload sites don't even log your IP when you upload a file, and that's about as anonymous as you can get.

    Most upload sites do track your IP though, and that's pretty close to the same level of anonymity you'd get from a lot of the cloud storage sites. The majority of the cloud sites don't make any of your information available to the public. It's the authorities that have potential access to that kind of info.
    Reply
  • lacisnesnon
    put.io became my new favourite download site after filesonic closed down.
    Reply
  • lost_in
    We won’t shed many tears for the loss of a site that preyed on its users with pop-up ads and misleading “download” buttons;

    thei's a thing called adblock and am I the only one who has heard of thing called jDownloader or Mipony? I think not. just copy link and poof...
    also "entertainment industry" says it costed like 500 mil. in lost revenues..MU had like 150 mil. users. lets for the sake of argument say 10 mil. users had monthly subscription of 15$/month. that's 150 mil./month and 150 mil. * 12 is lot of money...maybe "entertainment industry" should have bought MU..taken control over it...but why would they? they are just stubborn......and its gonna cost them
    Reply
  • lost_in
    sorry for double post but here's a screenshot of MF on chrome with adblock installed....
    Reply