Meet Fran
I’m Fran Segarra and I am the Founder and CEO at Internxt. With our service, you can safeguard your privacy with the encrypted and open source suite of safe services.
He accepted SaaSPirate request to an interview on cloud storage and his role in Internxt company. We were privileged to have the chance to got the sort of in-depth discussion you will not find on the internet.
Without any further ado, let’s hear what he has to say!
Please Note: For all SaaS Pirate audience, you can now get 75% off on all Internxt lifetime plans using coupon code “Saaspirate” upon checkout
Welcome Fran, tell us about yourself & how did you ever get started with cloud services?
You could say it all started when I broke my leg playing rugby. I was left in the house with nothing to do, so I picked up my computer and started learning how to code. A few years later I started working for a well-known internet hosting provider, where I learned a lot, including how data could be misused if left in the wrong hands.
Although this wasn’t the case with the company I worked for, it definitely opened my eyes to how other cloud services out there misuse and profit from user data. So I started to learn more about new technologies and how a more private and secure online experience could be possible. This gave me the idea to start Internxt and gain support from different investors that has allowed this idea to grow and get to where we are today.
Can you give us an overview of what Internxt offers and how it differs from other cloud storage platforms?
Internxt offers a secure suite of services that helps people protect their privacy online. Our flagship product, Internxt Drive, is an open-source alternative to Google Drive.
Internxt differs from other services because we sell our services, not user data. Big Tech companies can offer their product for free because you are the product.
Security is a big concern with cloud storage. How does Internxt ensure the security and privacy of user data?
We differ from Big Tech companies such as Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox because we are open-source, and your files are stored in complete privacy. We can never monitor the content you store in the cloud. All accounts are created anonymously, and we use the best industry encryption technology available (AES-256) to protect user data from unauthorized access.
Another benefit for user security is the zero-knowledge policy we implement throughout our product suite. This means that neither Internxt nor anyone else knows the actual decryption key, so we can store and manage your data without ever being able to access its contents. So even in the worst possible scenario, hackers could not access user data.
To back up our security values, Internxt was audited by an independent company to test the security of our products, which we passed. This gives users further peace of mind that their data is secure with our cloud service.
What are some of the key features of Internxt that users find most valuable?
We recently released the Internxt CLI for WebDav support, a feature that our users have requested for a while, so this has been a valuable addition to Internxt Drive. On top of that, users can also control who can edit or view files, and you can password-protect shared links for added security.
We also have several free tools available, which users love, such as a temporary email, virus scanner, and a new file converter. Overall though, I think users choose Internxt for the security and privacy features we use across all our products.
How does Internxt address scalability as users’ storage needs grow?
We have many flexible storage plans available, starting at up to 10GB of free storage, which people can enjoy forever. If users need more storage, they can upgrade or downgrade their plan whenever they want. We also have the option of lifetime plans, so users don’t have to worry about switching or changing their subscriptions.
What are some common misconceptions people have about cloud storage, and how does Internxt address them?
The biggest misconception is that all cloud storage providers are the same or that choosing one means sacrificing and handing over your data to these companies. Many people choose these providers because they include other services with their cloud storage, video calling, email, or office suite.
Internxt addresses the misconception by raising awareness about privacy concerns in Big Tech companies through our blogs, newsletters, and website. We allow users to explore their options for privacy-focused alternatives so they can switch to cloud storage, email, or any other products that don’t profit from user data.
How does Internxt stay competitive in a market dominated by big players like Google Drive and Dropbox?
We stay competitive because people believe in what we do. As more people get fed up with Big Tech companies profiting from their data, they will start to look for more privacy-focused solutions, like Internxt.
Although we are smaller than these companies, we have big plans, and soon we will release new products that will help us become even more competitive with the big industry players.
What advice would you give to individuals or businesses looking to migrate to cloud storage solutions like Internxt?
Make sure you enable the necessary security measures to protect your accounts. This includes enabling 2FA, creating strong passwords, and having good access management controls. Businesses should also try to raise knowledge within the company to train employees on the basics of cybersecurity and how to recognize phishing, spam messages, etc., that could compromise their accounts and put the business’s security at risk.
If you take the necessary measures to protect your account, cloud services such as Internxt should allow you to keep your data private and secure.
We are already preparing for breakthrough technology by preparing Internxt’s products with post-quantum technology. Post-quantum computers can theoretically break the industry standard encryption of our current systems, threatening all our data and confidential information.
Post-quantum cryptography is a future technology we are developing in our products to future-proof our current security protocols so we can continue to provide the best security as future technologies advance.
I did! Thank you for having me! If people want to keep up-to-date with Internxt, you can follow us on X @Internxt
