How PCMag, ZDNet, & Mashable Profit From 'Lifetime' Cloud Storage Scams

It’s one of the most tempting offers in tech: pay once, get cloud storage for life. No monthly fees, just a single payment for terabytes of data, forever.

But what happens when “lifetime” means the lifetime of a company that was built to disappear?

For years, shady operators have launched “lifetime” cloud storage services, taken customers’ money, and then vanished, taking terabytes of personal data with them. Companies like:

• ThunderDrive (now apparently rebranded to PrismDrive)
• FileJump
• Degoo
• Ganso (already shut down)

But this isn’t just about fly-by-night scammers. It’s about the trusted tech media giants that legitimize them. Publications like PCMag, ZDNet, and Mashable—all owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis—have been promoting these risky deals for years, earning lucrative affiliate commissions in the process.

So, what’s worse? The scammers who take your money and run, or the multi-billion dollar media empire that gives them a veneer of credibility, all for a cut of the profits?

In my opinion, it’s the latter. And it’s a conflict of interest I’ve written about before in the VPN space.

• PCMag promotes FileJump: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pcmag.com/deals/cloud-storage-without-a-subscription-filejumps-2tb-lifetime-plan
• ZDNet promotes PrismDrive: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.zdnet.com/article/store-up-to-10tb-of-files-in-the-cloud-with-a-90-lifetime-prism-drive-plan/
• Mashable promotes ThunderDrive: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://shop.mashable.com/sales/thunderdrive-cloud-storage-lifetime-subscription?

The Scam Pattern: How “Lifetime” Cloud Storage Becomes “Company Lifetime”

Here’s how the scam works:

1. New cloud storage company launches with “lifetime” storage deals ($99 for 2TB forever!)
2. Tech media promotes it (PCMag, ZDNet, Mashable, all owned by Ziff Davis)
3. Customers pay upfront for “lifetime” access
4. Company shuts down 12-24 months later
5. Customers lose everything, files AND money

This isn’t theoretical. This happened with:

ThunderDrive & PrismDrive (The Rebrand Scam)

In my opinion, this is a classic example of a predatory pattern. First, ThunderDrive launched with cheap lifetime deals, was heavily promoted, and then reportedly collapsed, leaving users with lost data and no support, as documented across Trustpilot reviews and independent analysis that called its business model non-viable.

Then came PrismDrive, which users widely allege is just a rebrand of ThunderDrive. While I could not find formal corporate confirmation of a rebrand, the connection is alleged based on user reports and compelling pattern similarities:

• User Reports: Threads on r/cloudstorage and Trustpilot explicitly connect the two, with users of both services reporting identical problems.
• Identical Failures: PrismDrive is plagued by the same issues that killed ThunderDrive: unusable upload speeds, non-existent customer support, and lost files. ReviewJunkies called it “a cautionary tale,” and its Trustpilot score is a dismal 1.3/5 with 89% 1-star reviews.

And yet, ZDNet was still promoting it. In a deals article, they pushed a “10TB of cloud storage for life for just $90” deal. It’s crucial to note this was in their affiliate “Deals” section, not an editorial review—a distinction that’s often lost on readers looking for trusted advice.

Degoo (Accounts Terminated)

Degoo represents a different, but equally damaging, outcome. While the service hasn’t shut down entirely, there are numerous reports from users who purchased lifetime plans only to have their accounts terminated for vague “policy violations,” effectively losing their storage and their money.

One Reddit user reported: “My account was working fine, I had a life time 2 TB plan but just one year after I purchased the plan Degoo Bot strikes and said that I am violating the policy.”

This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s a pattern reported by many who bought into the “lifetime” promise.

Did PCMag warn readers about the risks? No. They promoted the deal.

And where was PCMag? Not warning users of these risks, but publishing articles like “Grab a Lifetime Degoo Premium 10TB Cloud Backup Plan for $60”, driving sales without acknowledging the widespread complaints.

FileJump (The Next Wave?)

This pattern continues with newer players like FileJump. While it hasn’t imploded yet, it follows the exact same playbook: a new company, a too-good-to-be-true lifetime offer, and promotions from Ziff Davis outlets.

Mashable, another Ziff Davis property, has been a key promoter, with articles like “Want to stop low storage warnings? 2TB of cloud storage is just $70”. The promotional language is nearly identical to the others, signaling that the cycle is still very much alive.

The Ziff Davis Empire: Who’s Really Behind These “Reviews”

Let’s talk about who owns these publications promoting lifetime cloud storage scams:

Ziff Davis owns:

• PCMag
• ZDNet
• Mashable
• IGN
• Speedtest.net
• And dozens of other “independent” tech media properties

According to Ziff Davis’s own corporate website, they operate a portfolio of digital media brands that reach over 100 million users monthly. Their business model? Affiliate revenue and advertising.

Here’s the conflict: These publications make money when you click their affiliate links and buy products. The more they promote, the more they earn. And “lifetime” cloud storage deals are incredibly lucrative for affiliates because:

1. High upfront prices ($99-$299 for lifetime access)
2. High commission rates (often 20-40% of sale price)
3. Impulse purchases (“Limited time offer! Lifetime access!”)

So when PCMag or ZDNet promotes a $99 lifetime storage deal at 30% commission, they make ~$30 per sale. Multiply that by thousands of readers, and you’re looking at serious money.

The problem? They have no incentive to vet whether these companies will actually be around in 2 years. They get paid upfront. You lose your files later.

The Trust Betrayal: Why This Is Worse Than the Scammers Themselves

Look, in my opinion, companies like Ganso and ThunderDrive did shady things. Users report they took money and then disappeared. To me, that’s scammy behavior.

But at least they’re honest about being garbage (in hindsight).

Ziff Davis is worse because:

1. They Have Editorial Credibility

PCMag has been around since 1982. They built 40+ years of trust as “independent” tech reviewers. When they recommend something, readers believe them.

2. They Have Resources to Vet Products

Unlike me (one angry dev with a laptop), Ziff Davis has:

• Teams of editors
• Legal departments
• Research resources
• Industry connections

They could have checked:

• How long has this company existed?
• What’s their financial backing?
• What happens if they shut down?
• What are customer reviews saying?

They didn’t. Or they did and promoted them anyway.

3. They’re Supposed to Be the Watchdogs

PCMag and ZDNet position themselves as consumer advocates. Their job is to protect readers from scams, not profit from them.

When they promote garbage for affiliate money, they’re not just failing at their job, they’re actively betraying it.

4. They Pretend to Be Unbiased

Most Ziff Davis publications bury their affiliate disclosures in tiny text at the bottom of articles. They don’t tell you:

• How much they make per sale
• Which products pay higher commissions
• That their rankings might be influenced by money

And yet, they do it anyway.

5. They Weaponize Their Google Rankings

Because of their decades-old domains, publications like PCMag, ZDNet, and Mashable command massive authority on Google. When they promote these scams, they rank at the top of search results, effectively using their SEO power to funnel unsuspecting readers directly into these traps. Google’s algorithm, which rewards authority, becomes an unwilling accomplice.

The Current Scam Ecosystem: It’s Still Happening

Here’s what pisses me off: This is still happening right now.

As of 2025, Ziff Davis publications are still promoting “lifetime” cloud storage deals from relatively unknown companies without meaningful risk disclosures.

Red Flags to Watch For:

1. “Lifetime” from companies founded in the last 5 years

• If the company is newer than your last phone, their “lifetime” is probably shorter than your next one
• Check when the company was founded (not when they launched the “lifetime” deal)

2. Promoted heavily by affiliate sites with no critical analysis

• If every “review” is glowing and ends with “Buy now!” links, it’s not a review, it’s an ad
• Real reviews include criticism, alternatives, and risk assessment

3. No clear definition of “lifetime”

• Does “lifetime” mean your lifetime or the company’s lifetime?
• pCloud at least defines it as 99 years, most don’t define it at all

4. Prices that seem too good to be true

• $99 for 10TB lifetime storage when Dropbox charges $120/year for 2TB?
• The math doesn’t work unless they’re planning to shut down or severely limit usage

5. No information about company funding or sustainability

• Who owns the company?
• How are they funded?
• What’s their business model if they’re selling “lifetime” access at unsustainable prices?

How to Spot When “Reviews” Are Just Affiliate Plays

Here’s how to tell if a “review” is actually just an affiliate promotion:

Check the disclosure:

• Is it buried at the bottom in tiny text?
• Does it explain how much they make?
• Do they disclose which products pay higher commissions?

Look for critical analysis:

• Does the review mention any downsides?
• Do they compare to alternatives (including free options)?
• Do they discuss risks?

Check the recommendation pattern:

• Do they recommend the same products across multiple articles?
• Are those products always the ones with affiliate programs?
• Do they ever recommend products that don’t pay them?

Search for the company’s history:

• How long has the company existed?
• What do actual user reviews say (on Reddit, Trustpilot, etc.)?
• Have they changed their terms or pricing recently?

My Confession: I Did This Too (And Why I Stopped)

I need to be honest: I used to rank products by commission rates, not quality.

ExpressVPN paid ~$95/sale? #1 recommendation.
Bluehost paid ~$100/sale? Top-rated host.
Cloud storage with sketchy privacy but high commissions? Featured prominently.

I was part of the scam I was supposed to be warning you about.

Here’s what changed: I realized I was potentially screwing real people, developers, small business owners, people who trusted my “reviews”, so I could make an extra $50-100 per sale.

I couldn’t be part of the cesspool anymore.

Now I rank by quality, even when it pays less:

• Mullvad is my #1 VPN (pays me $0)
• Hetzner is my #1 host (pays me $0)
• pCloud is my #1 lifetime storage (pays me 35%, but they’ve been around since 2013 and define “lifetime” as 99 years)

I still use affiliate links. I need to eat. But I reject higher-paying garbage and rank honestly.

My integrity score? Maybe a 6/10. I’m not perfect, but I’m not pretending to be. That’s a hell of a lot better than the sites claiming 10/10 while selling you out.

Why Ziff Davis Is Worse Than Me

Here’s the difference:

Me:

• Random affiliate site operator
• Limited resources
• Admitted I was part of the problem
• Changed my approach
• Show exact commission rates
• Rank non-paying options #1 when they deserve it

Ziff Davis (PCMag, ZDNet, Mashable):

• 40+ years of editorial credibility
• Massive resources and research teams
• Still promoting, in my view, questionable products for affiliate money
• Typically don’t disclose commission rates or conflicts
• Pretend to be unbiased watchdogs
• Continue promoting “lifetime” deals from companies that users report as unreliable

In my opinion, when you have the resources and credibility of PCMag and you still promote scams for affiliate money, that’s a betrayal of reader trust on a scale I could never achieve.

I’m a sellout with standards. They’re supposed to be journalists.

What You Should Do

For “Lifetime” Cloud Storage:

First, let’s be clear: not all lifetime deals are scams. Some, from established providers, can be a good value if you understand the risks. The key is to differentiate between a calculated gamble on a reputable company and a clear trap set by a fly-by-night operator.

As I’ve covered in my guide to the best lifetime cloud storage, providers like pCloud and Icedrive have a longer track record, making them a more calculated risk. But even then, caution is required.

1. Stick with established companies

• pCloud (founded 2013) and Icedrive (founded 2019) are more established players, but even they come with risks (which I detail in the guide).
• Be extremely wary of companies founded in the last 3-5 years offering deals that seem too good to be true.

2. Read the fine print

• What does “lifetime” actually mean?
• What are the usage limits?
• What happens if the company shuts down?

3. Don’t put all your data in one place

• Use the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite
• “Lifetime” cloud storage should be ONE backup, not your only backup

4. Check actual user reviews

• Reddit’s r/DataHoarder and r/CloudStorage
• Trustpilot (filter for verified reviews)
• Look for patterns of complaints

For Trusting Tech Media:

1. Check who owns the publication

• Ziff Davis owns PCMag, ZDNet, Mashable, and dozens more
• Look for conflicts of interest

2. Look for affiliate disclosures

• Are they transparent about making money?
• Do they show commission rates?
• Do they rank non-paying options?

3. Verify claims independently

• Don’t trust any single source (including me)
• Cross-reference with user reviews
• Check company history and funding

4. Be skeptical of “limited time” deals

• Urgency is a sales tactic
• If it’s a good deal today, it’ll be a good deal next week
• Don’t impulse-buy “lifetime” anything

The Bottom Line

There are, in my opinion, scammers in the lifetime cloud storage space. Users report they take money for a “lifetime” service and then disappear, leaving customers with nothing.

But Ziff Davis (PCMag, ZDNet, Mashable) promoted them for affiliate commissions, using their editorial credibility to drive sales while providing no meaningful risk assessment or consumer protection.

In my opinion, that makes Ziff Davis worse. They’re supposed to be the watchdogs, not the accomplices.

So don’t trust me. Don’t trust PCMag. Trust the evidence.

Verify everything. Read the user reviews. Check the company histories. And for God’s sake, don’t buy “lifetime” anything from a company that’s been around for less time than your last relationship.

Legal Note: This review discusses documented facts about companies’ ownership, audits, and technical features. Where I express opinions about trustworthiness or make recommendations, these are clearly marked as my personal opinions based on publicly available information and my own testing.

Affiliate Disclaimer: I make money from pCloud and IceDrive (affiliate links). I make $0 from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, MEGA (no affiliate programs or I rejected them). I’ll rank by actual value and privacy cost, not by commission.