Privacy : Is the Cloud Safe?

On the past couple of weeks privacy and security of the cloud have been questioned.  After the leaks of nude celebrity’s photos, everyone is concerned about the real security of these online storage sites. Companies and people are using more and more these storage sites to save valuable information, but no one has taken the time to really understand the risks of using it and do something to prevent any incidents.

Which are the real risks of using the cloud?

• ·       Shared Access: at a company level access to the cloud is not limited to one user only. When more people has access , risks increase . Hosts also have access to all the information stored.
• ·       Virtual Exploits: The cloud is susceptible to all the virtual exploits.
• ·       Ownership:  Many users don’t realize that there are clauses in the contracts they signed, that state  that the data stored is of  the provider not of the user (even if  the user uploaded it )

Even though these risks are evident, many experts and cloud owners have defended the safety of the cloud and have attributed the breaches on the miss use of people and companies.

 I completely disagree, it has been proven that this storage sites have had responsibility in the breaches. Lacks of safety protocols are common within the industry. There should be specific laws and regulations that demand them to guarantee the safety of the information stored in their sites.

As users, we should ask how they are protecting our information and demand clear answers and policies.