With companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple, all providing their own cloud storage services, as well Box and Dropbox, it’s easy to think cloud storage is the answer for all your backup needs when it comes to your files. But don’t throw out your external hard drives just yet, there are some potential drawbacks when it comes to the cloud of data floating somewhere in cyberspace.
For more information, and a good place to start learning more about cloud services, visit Lifelock.com's newswire page. Here are some of the dangers of relying too heavily on cloud data storage.
Other Hands
There’s no arguing with the convenience of having your files anywhere anytime, all synced by one simple service like iCloud. With companies you know and trust providing such robust security, it’s easy to throw all your eggs in one basket.
One of the downsides of this is that using a third-party cloud storage service puts your data directly into the hands of someone else. It might feel like a risk worth taking, but it’s important to remember that other people, including companies, might not take care of your data like you will. Updates to systems rarely cause problems, but it is not unheard of, and a potential override of the system could be incompatible with your computer or mobile devices. To limit this risk, make sure your hardware and operating systems are current and up to date.
Sharing Access
One of the most prevalent dangers of cloud storage is shared access. What this means is that sometimes data stored in the cloud has leaked into other users' storage space. Some researchers have even recovered user data from storage space s that were supposedly new and clean.
Obviously this is a serious concern. Nobody wants to have data suddenly appearing to other users. Furthermore, other experiments have yielded the result of researchers being able to peak at other users' memory and IP address space. To protect yourself, limit your use of the cloud. Don’t put anything on the cloud that you wouldn’t want to show to your neighbors or your family.
Hackers
Hackers have been around from the beginning and, like cockroaches, will be around until the very end. Cloud services are only provided by large, established companies, like Google Drive or Dropbox, for example. Because of their size, they are more thorough in their security, but it also means more hackers are out to break that security because the payout of private information will be much grander.
Yes, it’s easy and convenient to have all your data at the touch a button, but since so many people are housing their own data in the same cloud, hackers are much more likely to target these services. A good way of protecting yourself from such an invasion is to never store passwords, full card numbers or full account numbers on a cloud. Instead use partial numbers to jog your memory or hints to remember passwords. Also, be sure you have strong passwords. Microsoft suggests these tips for creating good passwords for your cloud storage platforms.
This can all sound pretty scary to a non-cloud user. In fact it would be easy to decide using a cloud service is just too risky. However, it's important to remember that the companies providing these services are working just as tirelessly against cyber attacks as hackers are committing them.