Sia-UI

Let's face it, we've all questioned the legitimacy of cloud storage services regarding our privacy rights, at least once.

If, say, you're a very privacy-savvy and inclined type of users, and you want to do everything in your power to keep your cloud-stored data as private as possible, then there's a good chance that you will find Sia to be kind of interesting.

Quite simply, Sia is an alternative decentralized storage network. This means that the network itself is formed out of many hosts (Sia users) from all over the world and your files are spread around multiple hosts.  If this does not sound all that safe, know this: no single host holds a significant part of your data, and everything is encrypted using a key that only you know.

The link between the network with all its blockchain and encryption technologies is managed by Sia-UI, an Electron-based and very user-friendly application. It does not require installation nor does it require comprehensive computer experience to learn how to get around its functions.

All it has to offer in terms of features is neatly organized in a series of self-explanatory tabs, namely Files, Hosting, and Wallet. There's a Terminal feature that might help advanced users speed things up a bit.

Quite straightforwardly, you should start off by putting some of your disk space "for rent." (35 GB is the minimum limit). Once you gain the necessary SiaCoins, you can then upload files and folders of your own, and, as expected, all your transactions can be managed from the Wallet section.

That said, Sia offers you a very interesting alternative to traditional cloud storage solutions. It might not be as straightforward as traditional methods since it does require a fair bit of cryptocurrency and encryption knowledge, but other than that, at least in theory, it should be better in terms of privacy.

It's simple: your files are encrypted and stored within decentralized hosts, and you can rent your free hard drive space and gain SiaCoins, which you can then use for online trading or for buying more storage.