Sync to Proton Drive (or other cloud services)
This discussion is public.
Why does MD limit sync’ing between computers and mobile devices to Dropbox or iCloud? Does Infinite receive a commission, or other compensation, for only allowing sync’ing with these 2 cloud providers? I am not referring to backups, but sync’ing with mobile devices (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Tablets, etc.). Both of these cloud services are U.S. based, and even through the files are encrypted, the cloud provider holds the encryption key(s), and can (if directed by Court Order), release the MD files to government agencies.
In contrast, Proton Drive (and other cloud providers), are non-U.S. based which makes U.S. court orders much harder to enforce, and use end-to-end encryption with the cloud provider not having access to the encryption key(s).
Even with Apple’s newly released Advanced Data Protection (which is only available if all the devices are newer models), there is no clear indication that MD files are included in the advanced data protection.
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1
Stuart Beesley (Mr Toolbox)
on 20 Mar, 2023 03:32 PM
It doesn't.... If your cloud provider can create a shared sync folder on your computer then you can sync using shared folders method..
2
derekkent23
on 20 Mar, 2023 06:37 PM
I am not support staff, just a user.
Hi gnphiker
Just to add to Stuarts post Shared folder work for syncing between computers but not to mobile devices (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Tablets, etc.).
However when you sync using Moneydance’s internal sync engine the data that passes through the cloud server say Dropbox, Box.com and pCloud OneDrive, etc is end to end encrypted using your sync key (“Encryption Passphrase”) only held on your devices, not in the cloud. So if any of these provider unencrypted their encrypted file they would find another encrypted file to which they do not have a key.
Hope this helps.
3
gnphiker
on 20 Mar, 2023 08:33 PM
Stewart, thanks you. I am actually looking to change my current sync method from the desktop version to my mobile devices. MD only will only sync to mobile devices using Dropbox or iCloud. I currently use the Dropbox method, but would prefer to use a more secure based cloud service. Syncing through shared folders only works between desktop versions, not mobile devices, to my understanding.
Dear DerekKent23, thank you. Your comments are exactly the same as my understanding. Syncing from the desktop version to mobile devices only works through Dropbox or iCloud. I know shared folders work between desktop versions, but do not work with mobile devices (per Infinite instructions), which is exactly what I would like to see changed.
4
derekkent23
on 20 Mar, 2023 08:53 PM
Hi gnphiker
Apple provide a means whereby Moneydance can be synced between device, mobile and computers.
Dropbox is very flexible supporting Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile/iOS/Android devices.
Also Dropbox provide an API that the Moneydance developer can integrate into it mobile app. I don’t think other cloud server provide this feature hence why Dropbox is a viable solution across all platforms.
As I stated Dropbox is secure by virtue of the fact that the data passed by the Moneydance sync engine is end to end encrypted using your sync key (“Encryption Passphrase”) only held on your devices, not in the cloud. So if Dropbox was to unencrypted their encrypted file they would find another encrypted file to which they do not have a key.
Hope this helps.
5
dwg
on 20 Mar, 2023 09:45 PM
The Moneydance Apps for the mobile devices use an API to interact with the cloud severs, Android has the Dropbox API build and while Apple devices used to just have Dropbox they now also have the iCloud API.
Mobile devices historically only had a small amount of storage and using shared folders doubles Moneydance's requirements (roughly).
Support Staff 6
Ethan
on 20 Mar, 2023 10:15 PM
All of the above posts give good information. To clarify a few things:
No, we do not receive compensation in any way for using Dropbox or iCloud.
Your data is encrypted by Moneydance before syncing to a cloud service. So even if that cloud service were compromised or subject to a court order, they would still just get more encrypted data, which they wouldn't be able to access without your decryption password.
In general, mobile operating systems are much more limiting in how data can be shared, especially with file structures as complex as a Moneydance data file, and if one is as concerned about security as we are. There's a lot more flexibility on desktop systems, where one can save files pretty much wherever one wants, which is what makes it relatively easy to use other syncing services: they just have to be able to access a shared folder. But with mobile systems, we basically have to go through another service with reliable syncing to get the data to the Moneydance app. Because we are a small company, we have to pick and choose where to devote programming capacity. We've used Dropbox for years because it has consistently run on pretty much any desktop or mobile operating system. We're starting to add iCloud, recognizing we have many customers using Apple products. But we're not going to be able to immediately release more options whenever a new syncing service appears, and I'm not sure that would be a good use of our resources. (And while Proton looks appealing in many ways, their Drive is still in relatively early stages, still not able to do more than manually initiated file transfers via a web browser, and pretty limited mobile apps.)
Ethan
Infinite Kind Support
System closed this discussion on 19 Jun, 2023 10:20 PM.