If you’re like me, you’ve come across a lifetime deal for cloud backup that’s too good to pass up. In my case, I purchased the Degoo Premium: Lifetime 3TB Backup Plan from StackSocial in September of 2017. I was looking to backup files on my PC, and they offered an automated solution. Simply install their Degoo.exe client, open the GUI to set what files and folders to backup, and it monitors your system for new/updated files to automatically add to the cloud.

Or so, that’s how it was when I purchased it.

  • Degoo removed their PC/Windows APP without warning
  • Degoo deletes “lifetime” accounts without cause
  • Your backed up data is being looked at by Degoo
  • Your account login isn’t secure
  • Degoo doesn’t have an online support system, and fails to respond to emails

Degoo removed their PC/Windows APP

Degoo pulled an illegal bait-and-switch by removing the PC App and went solely mobile. Sure, you can log into their website and upload files manually on a PC through a web browser, but that’s not what I purchased. I don’t have time to waste by going through all my folders to figure out what’s new and then have to open a browser to upload everything one at a time. The saddest part is I found this out the hard way when the app/software wouldn’t open on my file server. A Degoo 1.0.3057 (32 bit) process would run, but it didn’t do anything and the GUI client controls were gone. There was no communication or warning to customers that this service was going away. It just stopped working.

As a former IT Administrator, I first thought the app became corrupted and needed to be uninstalled and reinstalled. But when I went to https://degoo.com/download, I found the Windows version was completely removed. (NOTE: there is an unofficial third-party website that has an older copy of it (1.0.1537), but that is NOT provided by Degoo. It is no longer supported by them and so you use it at your own risk.)

Degoo ignores support questions

It gets better. I contacted Degoo asking about the Windows app, and they never responded. What happened instead? They sent me several confusing automated messages. The first:

Notice how it says “. . . you’re using 1.1 TB of your 100 GB!” And then tells me to upgrade my account. If you remember from above, I paid for a 3TB lifetime plan. Why does it say I only have 100GB? I wrote them a support ticket about this, but never heard back.

Four days later, I received another automated message, which said, “Detected copyright infringement.”

I have quite a bit to say about this:

1) Notice how it says “Reminder” at the top. Yet, this is my first time getting the message. They never sent me anything about this before now. (And yes, I went back and thoroughly checked my SPAM/Junk folder just to make sure there wasn’t anything from Degoo caught in there previously. There wasn’t.)

2) The files they claim are copyrighted are not. They are in fact, legal ISO backups of software I own (and ones I am legally allowed to back up). There is no cracked content and I purchased and own all the serial numbers that activates the software.

3) OMG — Degoo is digging through and looking at my files!! This is my private, personal data that I’m backing up to a supposedly secure and safe environment. Degoo has no right to go looking at it, even if it’s as they claim, done so by a “bot.”

4) They claim you can submit an appeal by clicking the button in the email.

When I click the button, I found they changed my password so I couldn’t log in. I know 100% I had the correct password. Not only was it saved in my Google Passwords, but it’s one I’ve committed to memory and manually typed many times before.

But whatever, just more hassle I was able to get around. Clicking on the “Forgot Password?” link I was able reset it to get in. Unfortunately, what welcomed me was this message, “Deadline for submitting appeal has passed.”

How could the deadline be passed when this was my first time getting the notification? This is clearly a fraudulent business practice.

Is Degoo Safe and secure?

Degoo claims there is 256-bit AES encryption for your files. But, what they don’t tell you is that your files aren’t safe from THEM! As said above, they are digging and looking through your data.

But that’s not the only concern when it comes to safety and security.

With the introduction of their web app at https://app.degoo.com where you can browse, view, and download files through a web browser, there is less security. All it takes is someone hacking into your account by guessing your password, or getting into Degoo’s database. Degoo does not offer Two-step verification or twostep authentication, which means you can’t use your mobile device or other secondary method to approve logins. They don’t even send you an email notification when your account is logged into from a new browser or location. This is piss poor protection of your sensitive information and data. Come on Degoo, welcome to the year 2020.

So what is the Degoo Scam?

  1. The bait-and-switch by removal of integral services.
  2. The failure to notify customers of the removal of integral services.
  3. The failure to answer support questions.
  4. The false accusations claiming you have copyrighted files.
  5. The closing of your account due to the false accusations.
  6. The inability to appeal the false accusations.
  7. The intrusion on your privacy and personal files / data.
  8. The failure to secure your files with proper login protection.

Is it a coincidence that exactly 3 years after purchasing this supposed “Lifetime” plan that these issues occurred? I don’t think so. I purchased this account on September, and then this started happening on September. Must have triggered their [time to terminate this lifetime account] protocol. Degoo is clearly using unethical practices to get out of lifetime plans.

How did StackSocial help?

After all, StackSocial / StackCommerce is the one who took my money. But after contacting them, it’s clear they don’t hold their vendors accountable for the offers they make on their website.



When I pushed back, they didn’t offer anything helpful. Just sent a message to Degoo on my behalf. What good does that do? I already sent messages to Degoo which were ignored. This one from StackSocial was ignored, too. Don’t trust StackSocial. If you buy a bad product from them, they simply push you off to the vendor rather than offer a refund or some other type of compensation. I won’t be purchasing from StackSocial again, and I recommend you proceed with caution as well.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at what other people have said about Degoo.

Degoo is currently rated 1.2 Stars on Trustpilot out of 182 reviews.

You might as well light your cash on fire. I had 36 terabytes of lifetime storage, paid for on stacksocial. Degoo, who states your files are secure and inviolate, shut me down because of alleged copyright violation… On files they said they or nobody else would ever see! I wasted hundreds of dollars and a quick look around tells me I’m definitely not alone. It would be smarter to jump out of an aircraft without a parachute than to ever give these blatant thieves your money. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!

Brent Wall

Here’s a review on Better Business Bureau®:

This company has sold lifetime subscriptions to people and to get out of their contract, they falsely flag your files for copyright infringement, and close your account. They are stealing peoples money and lying in the process. Stay away from this company, and their claims of fully safe and encrypted files is a joke… How would they even be able to flag my flies if they are supposed to be encrypted? This means that they are crawling through all of your flies, so I hope no one put sensitive files in their cloud… Your data is not safe…

Jay O

And yet another from Reddit:

Stay away from Degoo. I got a lifetime 10TB (excellent deal at the time). Now they are terminating my membership in the slightest infraction. I literally had 3 videos uploaded that they claimed had copy write issues, and they terminated my account. No discussion, no second chance. nothing.

Posted by innov8iveguy

And if that isn’t enough, check out Tom’s Guide.

… this company is basically doing a bait and switch. We’ll take all your money for a lifetime, but we won’t do lifetime because our bot does a “gotcha” on copyright. Who doesn’t want to backup their memories? Well, if you have a video of you dancing to your fav tune, guess what, the bot finds you guilty of copyright. And who the heck shares stuff out of a storage solution? This is just wrong. This company is run by a bunch of LIARS. Don’t buy this storage backup. They are just interested in your money and not giving you a storage backup.

djmimi

Still insist on using Degoo?

Then I highly suggest you encrypt all your files using your own methods BEFORE uploading them to Degoo’s server. And don’t be surprised if Degoo pulls a false claim against you to delete your account, which you have no power to overturn. Or removes an integral feature or service or ability that is the reason you paid for an account to begin with. Degoo doesn’t want you to have a lifetime account. They want a chunk of your money, then to shut the account down after a time.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

How about you? Did Degoo screw you over? Post in the comments below. Hopefully we’ll be part of lawsuit settlement against Degoo in the near future. Be sure to keep your lifetime plan receipts!