What's the Best Way to Send Large Files Over the Internet?

Each of those that take the advantage of the blessings of the computer and the internet and does a vast amount of file management is prone to transferring large data files sooner or later. There are a few basic ways to do this. However, people still don't know the most perfect and most effective method. For this reason, I have taken this opportunity to share my knowledge and to help them get their tasks done easier.

The most common and well-known procedure is not always right. I'm sure you know I'm talking about: e-mail attachments that most of us make along with our e-mails to send such big files to our friends, family, and co-workers. However, people usually don't think about the problems they are creating for themselves and for the receiver by attaching files along with the outgoing emails.

First, attaching a file to an e-mail requires you to locate the file and copy it to the e-mail host's server, which depending on the size of the files, takes several minutes before the file is copied. These data packets then travel through a lot of different networks before it can come in contact with the receiver's server host. It is then that the receiver too spends huge amounts of time to download the file adding to the longevity of the procedure. This badly affects the host and your internet when millions of other users are using the same method for transferring data.

The other way of doing it is by trying to find a way to reduce the number of times the files may be copied or downloaded. You could do this by simply hosting your file on any of those free file hosts on the internet that you can locate using one simple search on Google. You could then e-mail the link, which may be less than a kilobyte, to the destination of that file. This method avoids intermediaries and eliminates any unnecessary travel.

This way you could send the file to hundreds of people at the same time, without making them wait for their email hosts to check for viruses and decrypt data before they get it. You also won't have to worry about your file being lost due to a computer crash, a virus, or the dreaded "this file is too big and we can't deliver your message" response that a lot of people receive when sending a file that is too big for conventional email.

Another very sophisticated, but time saving procedure for those who have better computing skills would be to send Remote Assistance offers to the recipient. This process, however, should only be applied if the receiving end is seen as credible. You wouldn't want them opening any other personal files that you may have on your computer. However, there is always an option to restrict your shared files if you know which ones would be useful. You could then easily follow the Windows Remote Assistance walkthrough procedure by sharing your IP address with the recipient. He then enters it into the Remote Assistance program and depending on your internet speed, you both could be connected in no time.