SpiderOak

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SpiderOak is a US-based collaboration tool, online backup and file hosting service that allows users to access, synchronize and share data using a cloud-based server, offered by a company of the same name. SpiderOak is accessible through an app for Windows, Mac and Linux computer platforms, and Android, N900 Maemo and iOS mobile platforms.

According to SpiderOak, the software uses encrypted cloud storage and client-side encryption key creation, so SpiderOak employees cannot access users' information. SpiderOak distinguishes itself from its competition in provision of encryption, in provision for syncing files and folders across multiple devices, and in automatic de-duplication of data.

Some components of SpiderOak are open-source, and as early as 2009 the company announced their intent for the client to be fully open-source in the future. As of 2016, SpiderOak ONE's source code is only available for mobile platforms, with no current plans to open source the desktop client. Encryptr and Semaphor, SpiderOak's password manager and group messaging applications, are open-source.

SpiderOak was rated "Awesome" by MacLife magazine in 2009 and also was made an Editor's Choice by Computer Shopper magazine in May 2009. In a July 2014 interview, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden recommended SpiderOak over Dropbox, citing its better protection against government surveillance.

Video SpiderOak

History

SpiderOak was founded in 2007 by Ethan Oberman and Alan Fairless as an encrypted private backup program. In 2013, SpiderOak began developing the Crypton framework, "a JavaScript framework for building applications where the server doesn't know the contents it's storing on behalf of users." Crypton is an open-source project allowing developers to easily add encryption security to mobile applications. By mid-2014, SpiderOak neared 1 million users.

SpiderOak is headquartered in Chicago and currently employs 42 staff, headed by CEO Alan Fairless. SpiderOak has offices in Chicago and Kansas City, and hires remote employees inside and outside of the US.

In February 2017, SpiderOak discontinued using the term "zero knowledge" to describe their service and renamed the feature "no knowledge".

Maps SpiderOak

Main features

All data accessible in one de-duplicated location
Configurable multi-platform synchronization
Preserve all historical versions and deleted files
Share folders in web ShareRooms with RSS notifications
Retrieve files from any internet-connected device
Claimed "zero-knowledge" data encryption if you only use the desktop client, that is, no sharing, web-access, or mobile access. This zero-knowledge claim, however, cannot be confirmed due to the client being closed source and has been described as "not technically accurate" on SpiderOak's blog in February 2017
Unlimited devices
A layered approach to encryption, using a combination of 2048-bit RSA and 256-bit AES