How do these websites make money?

As we all know that we HAVE to pay a handsome amount when we buy space from hosting companies. But I was wondering that how those websites make money who offers FREE file sharing, they allow us to upload upto 500mb per file and they store it on their server for LIFETIME and many of them don't ask for money.

for example www.mediafire.com is the site i recently found. This website doesn't have any google ads or any other banner ad that can generate some revenue for it. So how they are making money?

Or they are not making any money and just running their website for fun?

Any idea?

 

Mediafire does have advertising revenue from popups, so far that is what I can see, however haven't had an in-depth look at it. Sam

 

Its advertising supported.

 

Also must new websites tend to be free until they build up a user base. Then after a year or so they slap on charges or advertising etc...

 

I agree with you.

Do you think these kind of website sell our email addresses to third parties?

Because selling email addresses is also a very expensive business and these kinda sites can easily get into that business.

 

File uploading industry is a very big industry. Look @ megaupload, its very big, now. From megaupload, to megaerotic, to now megavideos taking on youtube. phew

 

well premium accounts do sell all they have to do is get users uploading on thier site once uploaders are collected they can start premium acc n stufff

 

I would check the terms of service when signing up as I would imagine at least some have terms opting users in.

 

please do post here if you find anything..

 

Very True .
Most recent one I can recall is for PS tool

 

Yes,you do not have to worry about that,if it is totally free they can not go far...(