F-Secure Pulls the Plug on Younited, Its Cloud Hosting Service
Security company F-Secure recently announced that it decided to pull the plug on younited. On October 1, 2015, F-Secure’s cloud hosting service will be discontinued. You have until then to get your stuff to another storage solution because after October 1st, F-Secure will delete all customer content from its servers.
“We are sorry to inform you that we are shutting down our personal cloud storage service on October 1, 2015. We are refocusing our product portfolio, and younited by F-Secure will not be developed further. Younited by F-Secure and younited events by F-Secure will no longer be available after October 1, 2015,” says a message on Younited.com.
2013 – A new cloud service is born
Back in 2013, security company F-Secure introduced younited, a cloud hosting service that offers a secure means of storing and sharing photos, videos, documents and other digital content. F-Secure presented it as Finland’s red-hot alternative to US-based cloud services and described it as a bold new personal content cloud service that offers a fun, engaging experience with rock-solid privacy and security.
“We consider existing personal cloud services to be mostly boring, 90's look-and-feel file utilities that are used only occasionally. We want to change that,” said Timo Laaksonen, F-Secure Vice Presiden, back in October, 2013. “What you see in younited today is already compelling but it’s only the beginning. A number of new service capabilities are in the works that will add further excitement to the user experience. For instance, we will soon launch a completely new, dead-easy and fun way to share pictures and videos from events with friends and family."
2014 – younited hits general availability
In February 2014, F-Secure was finally done testing younited. The personal content cloud service was finally ready to for the general public. Everyone could get on board and test its “all clouds become one” approach to cloud storage. As my colleague Frederick Barton pointed out when he reviewed younited, the thing that makes this cloud service stand out is that it can be linked to other cloud services. Younited users can access all their Facebook, Dropbox and Picasa content from a central location – younited by F-secure.
“People are tired of not knowing who to trust,” said Laaksonen back in February, 2014. “People have been very drawn to younited – our message of privacy, and control over your own content is really resonating. Our users appreciate that younited comes from a company with 25 years of expertise in security. We know how to keep your content safe and protect your privacy.”
2015 – younited is sold and then discontinued
Back in February, 2015, F-Secure announced that it decided to sell younited to Synchronoss (a leader in cloud services and software-based activation serving communications service providers across the globe) for $60 million in cash. The sale was part of F-Secure plan to refocus its efforts on its core business of cloud-based security and privacy.
"Our personal cloud service has been successful and is a fascinating area. But as the world experiences more and more sophisticated cyberattacks, and as we become more connected through the Internet of Things, we see a real need to redouble our efforts in security," said back in February Christian Fredrikson, President and CEO of F-Secure. "Freedome, our one-button security and privacy app, is our fastest-growing consumer product and we're excited about launching more such innovations to secure people's lives and businesses with cutting-edge cloud-based technology."
And then in June 2015, F-Secure announced that it decided to discontinue younited. Now you know the whole story.
“We are sorry to inform you that we are shutting down our personal cloud storage service on October 1, 2015. We are refocusing our product portfolio, and younited by F-Secure will not be developed further. Younited by F-Secure and younited events by F-Secure will no longer be available after October 1, 2015,” says a message on Younited.com.
2013 – A new cloud service is born
Back in 2013, security company F-Secure introduced younited, a cloud hosting service that offers a secure means of storing and sharing photos, videos, documents and other digital content. F-Secure presented it as Finland’s red-hot alternative to US-based cloud services and described it as a bold new personal content cloud service that offers a fun, engaging experience with rock-solid privacy and security.
“We consider existing personal cloud services to be mostly boring, 90's look-and-feel file utilities that are used only occasionally. We want to change that,” said Timo Laaksonen, F-Secure Vice Presiden, back in October, 2013. “What you see in younited today is already compelling but it’s only the beginning. A number of new service capabilities are in the works that will add further excitement to the user experience. For instance, we will soon launch a completely new, dead-easy and fun way to share pictures and videos from events with friends and family."
2014 – younited hits general availability
In February 2014, F-Secure was finally done testing younited. The personal content cloud service was finally ready to for the general public. Everyone could get on board and test its “all clouds become one” approach to cloud storage. As my colleague Frederick Barton pointed out when he reviewed younited, the thing that makes this cloud service stand out is that it can be linked to other cloud services. Younited users can access all their Facebook, Dropbox and Picasa content from a central location – younited by F-secure.
“People are tired of not knowing who to trust,” said Laaksonen back in February, 2014. “People have been very drawn to younited – our message of privacy, and control over your own content is really resonating. Our users appreciate that younited comes from a company with 25 years of expertise in security. We know how to keep your content safe and protect your privacy.”
2015 – younited is sold and then discontinued
Back in February, 2015, F-Secure announced that it decided to sell younited to Synchronoss (a leader in cloud services and software-based activation serving communications service providers across the globe) for $60 million in cash. The sale was part of F-Secure plan to refocus its efforts on its core business of cloud-based security and privacy.
"Our personal cloud service has been successful and is a fascinating area. But as the world experiences more and more sophisticated cyberattacks, and as we become more connected through the Internet of Things, we see a real need to redouble our efforts in security," said back in February Christian Fredrikson, President and CEO of F-Secure. "Freedome, our one-button security and privacy app, is our fastest-growing consumer product and we're excited about launching more such innovations to secure people's lives and businesses with cutting-edge cloud-based technology."
And then in June 2015, F-Secure announced that it decided to discontinue younited. Now you know the whole story.
