Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

blackhole.run

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 37 posts

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#21

Post by Fnoord »

DanHulton wrote: post #19
Fnoord wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say the primary use case is data which you want to keep public forever. Such as your legacy before you pass away (it is pay once, host forever, right?). Such as an encrypted insurance file for Mr. Assange. I can also imagine this would be interesting for copyright infringement (eventually with spliced files; e.g. with RAR .rar .r01 r02 etc), or for an activism, or whistle-blower. I suppose though that once that '…

In that case, that should be part of the selling point of the service. If it were pitched like that, I wouldn't have even considered "can't delete it" as an objection as I did, more as a strength.

Agreed. Without that selling point then I'd say for all non-sensitive content, the cross-platform (Python) magic-wormhole [1] should suffice.

[1] https://github.com/warner/magic-wormhole

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#22

Post by rtkwe »

Fnoord wrote: post #13
DanHulton wrote: post #3

Why blockchain? Because there's one FAQ that you're obviously missing: "How do I delete a compromised/accidentally-uploaded file?" and I suspect it's because the answer is "You can't." This would be the last place I'd upload anything important. Once that URL/password get out, whatever "secure" file I've uploaded is exposed forever.

I'd say the primary use case is data which you want to keep public forever. Such as your legacy before you pass away (it is pay once, host forever, right?). Such as an encrypted insurance file for Mr. Assange. I can also imagine this would be interesting for copyright infringement (eventually with spliced files; e.g. with RAR .rar .r01 r02 etc), or for an activism, or whistle-blower. I suppose though that once that '…

Speaking of did anything happen with all those insurance files he posted during his exile/asylum in the embassy? Were the conditions extradition or did nothing ever come of them.

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#23

Post by maimeowmeow »

RobLach wrote: post #12

Ugh. What a dismal experience trying to try this on my Darwin machine. I felt like I'm running into constant bait and switch moments. > App added an icon to my menu bar and has no clickable menu to close it. > The app opens up asking for a Blockstack login... no mention of this on the website. I have one but are typically people supposed to sign up for something seemingly unrelated? > The 'x' button on the app minimi…

Do you normally just install whatever you find on the internet, or are modern os secure enough?

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#24

Post by maimeowmeow »

wishinghand wrote: post #10
velcrovan wrote: post #7

You can have your own private web-based file transfer server in maybe around 100 lines of PHP where you have total control over file expiry and no need to trust any third parties except perhaps your VPS provider. If you need more secure than that, courier an encrypted thumb drive or something.

I can't tell if this is a reference to the infamous Dropbox reply or not.

Probably not, this might to push blockstack's possible ico.

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#25

Post by wishinghand »

velcrovan wrote: post #14
wishinghand wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't tell if this is a reference to the infamous Dropbox reply or not.

What is the infamous Dropbox reply? Are you talking about the Steve Jobs thing?

Specifically this part from the linked profile:

"For a Linux user, you can already build such a system yourself quite trivially by getting an FTP account, mounting it locally with curlftpfs, and then using SVN or CVS on the mounted filesystem. From Windows or Mac, this FTP account could be accessed through built-in software."

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#26

Post by RobLach »

maimeowmeow wrote: post #23
RobLach wrote: post #12

Ugh. What a dismal experience trying to try this on my Darwin machine. I felt like I'm running into constant bait and switch moments. > App added an icon to my menu bar and has no clickable menu to close it. > The app opens up asking for a Blockstack login... no mention of this on the website. I have one but are typically people supposed to sign up for something seemingly unrelated? > The 'x' button on the app minimi…

Do you normally just install whatever you find on the internet, or are modern os secure enough?

It's no big deal if you sling around vms.

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#27

Post by Walterion »

DanHulton wrote: post #3

Why blockchain? Because there's one FAQ that you're obviously missing: "How do I delete a compromised/accidentally-uploaded file?" and I suspect it's because the answer is "You can't." This would be the last place I'd upload anything important. Once that URL/password get out, whatever "secure" file I've uploaded is exposed forever.

All the files will be split and encrypted, then uploaded to a random hub on your provider of choice. Of course, we provide a free provider. No matter what provider, all files will be encrypted before leaving your machine. About delete, as the name suggests, we don't have control on your file, we will encrypt it, give you the key, and then send it, like a very secure post.

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#28

Post by Walterion »

Fnoord wrote: post #13
DanHulton wrote: post #3

Why blockchain? Because there's one FAQ that you're obviously missing: "How do I delete a compromised/accidentally-uploaded file?" and I suspect it's because the answer is "You can't." This would be the last place I'd upload anything important. Once that URL/password get out, whatever "secure" file I've uploaded is exposed forever.

I'd say the primary use case is data which you want to keep public forever. Such as your legacy before you pass away (it is pay once, host forever, right?). Such as an encrypted insurance file for Mr. Assange. I can also imagine this would be interesting for copyright infringement (eventually with spliced files; e.g. with RAR .rar .r01 r02 etc), or for an activism, or whistle-blower. I suppose though that once that '…

Yes Fnoord, this is one potential use case but not the primary one. Our focus is on giving people an EASY and SECURE way to send their file to each other. Most other services out there are easy to use but not secure or private, or very secure, but you need to be a semi developer to use them. If anyone shares their file publicly, it will be their responsibility.

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#29

Post by Walterion »

Fnoord wrote: post #21
DanHulton wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case, that should be part of the selling point of the service. If it were pitched like that, I wouldn't have even considered "can't delete it" as an objection as I did, more as a strength.

Agreed. Without that selling point then I'd say for all non-sensitive content, the cross-platform (Python) magic-wormhole [1] should suffice. [1] https://github.com/warner/magic-wormhole

It seems a nice project, but BlackHole point is to give nontechnical people a hassle-free way to send file without sacrificing privacy.

Re: Show HN: BlackHole – Fast, free and encrypted file transfer for Windows and Mac

#30

Post by Walterion »

RobLach wrote: post #12

Ugh. What a dismal experience trying to try this on my Darwin machine. I felt like I'm running into constant bait and switch moments. > App added an icon to my menu bar and has no clickable menu to close it. > The app opens up asking for a Blockstack login... no mention of this on the website. I have one but are typically people supposed to sign up for something seemingly unrelated? > The 'x' button on the app minimi…

Sorry for hearing that. You mentioned really good points here. Please contact us from our website so we can work on problems you faced, and get you early access to new versions. We appreciate your help.
Post reply on HN