pCloud Crypto is a premium add-on for pCloud that significantly enhances the security of your cloud storage. By implementing client-side encryption, it ensures your files are encrypted before they leave your device, making them inaccessible to anyone without your password—including pCloud staff.
In this article, I’ll dive into the features of pCloud Crypto, explain how it works, and help you decide if it’s worth adding to your pCloud subscription.
What is pCloud Crypto?
Standard pCloud storage keeps your files on their servers in their original form. While pCloud has strong security measures in place, theoretically, someone with access to their servers could view your files. This is where pCloud Crypto comes in.
pCloud Crypto is an optional security upgrade that adds an extra layer of protection to your most sensitive files.
It provides client-side encryption and zero-knowledge privacy, ensuring your data remains private even from pCloud itself.
Using pCloud Crypto is straightforward. Simply move files or folders into your designated Crypto folder, and they’re automatically encrypted using your unique password. This encryption happens on your device before the data is uploaded to pCloud’s servers.
The beauty of this system is its simplicity combined with robust security. Even if someone gains unauthorized access to your computer or pCloud account, they can’t view the contents of your Crypto folder without your password.
After purchasing Crypto, you’ll notice a new folder called “Crypto” in your pCloud Drive. This folder appears both in the desktop app and web interface. Any attempt to open this folder requires your Crypto password, adding an extra barrier against unauthorized access.
The client-side encryption process is key to understanding Crypto’s security. When you upload a file to your Crypto folder, it’s encrypted on your device using your password before being sent to pCloud. This means the file arrives on pCloud’s servers already in an encrypted state.
As a result, no one – not pCloud employees, not hackers, not even government agencies – can access the contents of your Crypto folder without your password. Your files remain secure and private, readable only when decrypted with your unique key.
This level of security extends beyond just protecting your files from pCloud itself. Even in the unlikely event of a security breach at pCloud, your Crypto files remain safe. Hackers would only see encrypted data, useless without your password to decrypt it.
A common misconception is that pCloud could use your account password to decrypt your files. However, pCloud uses a zero-knowledge system for Crypto. Your encryption password is never stored on their servers or transmitted to them in any form.
All encryption and decryption happens locally on your device. pCloud’s servers only see and store the encrypted files, making it impossible for them to access your data, even if compelled by legal authorities.
pCloud Crypto is available for $49.99 per year, as of my last check in 2023. However, pricing may change, so it’s worth verifying the current cost on pCloud’s website.
For those committed to long-term use, pCloud offers a lifetime plan for a one-time payment of $150. Here’s how it looks:
Both plans offer identical features, but the lifetime plan can provide significant savings for long-term users. If you’re heavily invested in the pCloud ecosystem and anticipate using the service for several years, the lifetime plan is worth considering.
The math is simple: the lifetime plan costs the equivalent of three years of the annual plan. If you use pCloud Crypto for more than three years, you’ll start saving $50 annually compared to the yearly subscription.
If you’re new to pCloud and considering their cloud storage service, I recommend checking out my comprehensive review of pCloud’s cloud storage offerings. They also provide a lifetime subscription option for their main cloud storage service, which could be a great value if you’re looking for a long-term solution.
Ultimately, whether pCloud Crypto is right for you depends on your specific needs for data privacy and security. If you regularly work with sensitive information or simply value having an extra layer of protection for your most important files, it’s a solid investment in your digital peace of mind.
pCloud Crypto Features
Client-Side Encryption
Client-side encryption makes sure that your data never really leaves your device. Even though your file gets uploaded to pCloud’s server, there’s no way anyone can open it without your password.
And even when you are logged into your pCloud account, the files are only encrypted on your device and never on pCloud’s servers.
Because your files are encrypted on the client side before they get uploaded to pCloud, they are safe even if a hacker someone obtains access to pCloud’s servers.
Without the password, there’s literally no way to decrypt and open a password-encrypted file.
There are some ways you can set up your own file encryption for free, but they come with a steep learning curve and aren’t worth it if you are a software developer.
If you want to make sure your files are inaccessible to anyone who doesn’t know your password, you need this service.
No One Has Been Able To Break pCloud’s Encryption
pCloud put out a $100,000 challenge for software developers when they came out with this service. They challenged developers to try and break their encryption to win the prize money.
In the 180 days that the challenge was open, no one was able to break the encryption, not even participants from universities like MIT.
Works On All Your Devices
You can access your pCloud Crypto folder from any of your devices. To access it on your desktop computer, you can use the pCloud Drive app.
And on your phone, you can use their web interface to view your encrypted files. You don’t even need to have the pCloud Drive app installed to access your files. You can just log into the pCloud web application from any computer around the world and access your files.
If you don’t know what pCloud Drive is, you should read my article about pCloud Drive. It’s one of the best features pCloud has to offer. pCloud also offers free file sharing of files up to 5 GB.
Wrap Up
If you’re a daily pCloud user and prioritize top-notch security for your files, pCloud Crypto is an essential add-on. Having used it extensively, I can attest to its effectiveness in providing peace of mind for sensitive data storage. While many cloud storage platforms lack robust encryption options, pCloud Crypto stands out for its user-friendly approach to high-level security.
In my experience, pCloud Crypto offers an unbeatable combination of affordability and advanced encryption. The client-side encryption ensures that your files are protected before they even leave your device, a feature I’ve found particularly reassuring when handling confidential documents. The zero-knowledge privacy policy means that not even pCloud can access your encrypted files, adding an extra layer of protection that’s rare in the cloud storage market.
If you want a reliable, cost-effective solution for secure file storage and synchronization, pCloud Crypto is a top contender. Its straightforward integration with the main pCloud service makes it an attractive option for users who want to enhance their existing cloud storage setup without compromising on usability or breaking the bank.
