There's this thing floating around the web these days. It's become quite the big deal since its first mention in the 1960’s. A man by the name of Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider or J.C.R. was at the time one of America’s leading computer scientists. He foresaw the future of computers and how we interact with it; he believed that one day we would create a world-wide computer network where people could access programs and data from anywhere. If only he were alive today to see his technology forecast come true, not only that, but I bet he would be shocked by how much technology has progressed and how it has changed our lives.
A little background on the cloud- just in case. A cloud, unlike its name holds data, not water. It doesn't pour rain around its surroundings, but actually feeds data to the source that is requesting it. In essence its an all accessible storage area that doesn't take up any space on your computer. A user can store pictures, documents, videos, anything on it so that they can access it from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. Another pro to the cloud is that a user does not need to worry about losing their data (unless their cloud provider crashes...) this means that you can rest assure that all your data will always be there. That's where the problems with the cloud starts. Think about it- all that data, when uploaded to your cloud storage provider means that it's now no longer in your possession. It's now out in the endless world of cyber space and whoever is smart enough can easily access it- from anywhere.
There are many providers of cloud service, popular ones include, Dropbox, Google Drive and SkyDrive. However, there are several issues with the cloud. One of the biggest fears for those who are thinking about transitioning to cloud storage is that other people can access their files online without their knowledge. This is a scary thought especially if the user has a tendency of uploading personal information such as business revenues, and bank statements. As a rule of thumb, be sure to check with your cloud provider whether there is another option for your business or sensitive information. Security issues for the cloud do not stop there. Just like logging into a social network site, the only thing needed to log in is an email/user id and a password. This shows that the cloud has an authentication and authorization problem-their first level of security isn't robust enough to keep unwanted people out.
The world of the cloud isn't as care free as some people make it out to be. A user should know what they are getting themselves into when they are uploading things to the cloud. They should be aware of what kind of encryption they need for their data, and should also be aware that by doing so they are allowing their information to be put outside and whoever has the credentials can easily access it. The cloud is a great service, but currently it needs some other options so that their security systems are stronger and can combat those that are trying to get into other people's information. Even family photos- that would be awkward and uncomfortable if others could see your personal pictures. Make sure to take care of your stuff, be secure, and be careful even if the name of the service sounds fluffy and nice.
