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Silver Griffon's avatar
Silver Griffon
New member | Level 2
2 years ago

How did somebody I don't really know, put a file in my shared folder?

I joined a kickstarter with the same email that I use for Dropbox. Later in the day I found a file in my shared folder that said it was from the project creator. The title was the same as the sample they had set up on the front page of the kickstarter. When I clicked on the 3 dots to get more info, it said I needed permission from a group with the same name as the kickstarter. I know better than to open a file from the internet, unless I am sure it's safe.

The thing is that I thought I had set my shared files up to only get stuff by invitation only. I assume they got my email address from kickstarter, since I did back their product. But I didn't ask for the download & I didn't give them an invitation. I don't think there is any malice involver. But, I do want to know how they got it in my shared folder & what do I need to do to make sure it doesn't happen again.

  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

    Hi Silver Griffon 

    If its saying you need permission to join the share etc. it means it isn't actually your share - it is there's, and you have joined it. I assume when you've clicked on links from KickStarter you've agreed to it

    • Silver Griffon's avatar
      Silver Griffon
      New member | Level 2

      @Mark

      Thanks for the answer. Not to say that you are wrong, but wouldn't it have said join the shared folder at some point? It's not like I clicked a link in an email without reading it. I opened dropbox to do something else & the home screen said I had something in my shared folder. Confused I clicked on the shared folder to see what was going on, &  it showed a PDF in the shared folder. It wasn't until I clicked the 3 dots that I saw the file was from the the kickstarter creator.  To be clear it said I needed permission to open the file (which I didn't ask for). Wouldn't dropbox have used the word join or share at some point, if I was asking to access someone else's shared folder or the folder have had their name on it?

      I think you are right & they just used the email they got from Kickstarter to automatically send the info out. But, thinking about it as closely as I can, I can't see any point at which dropbox gave a hint that I was either asking to or agreeing to join a shared folder. I was paying attention when this happened. Even looking at it now, I don't see any sign that it isn't mine, other than I don't have the option to delete it.

      Assuming you are right, how do I exit the group? I'm not seeing anything in my subscriptions or the shared folder that indicates a way out.

      • Silver Griffon's avatar
        Silver Griffon
        New member | Level 2

        Just to clarify, it is a shared file, not a shard folder. When I click on the 3 dots now the options are to comment on it or download it. So I'm guessing I have been given permission.

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