Jennifer Lawrence Photos Leaked - What All Cloud Storage Consumers Should Know

Technological innovations in the field of information technology have undoubtedly made a great impact on our lives. With the rapid advancements in the field of

technology, majority of our digital devices are now interconnected with each other. Back in the day, there was no such concept of online file sharing, but now digital devices like laptops, smart phones, tablets and PCs are all networked together through cellular or wireless mobile connections.

In the wake of these advancements, there is a relatively new and highly innovative form of data storage, known as cloud storage, is quite prevalent nowadays. Online cloud is marvelous boon to convenience and has changed the way we store our personal and professional data. Long gone are the days when external hard drives or floppy disks were used for data storage and backup. It is a matter of no surprise that the cloud is the most popular form of backup in this day and it is because of the fact that it offers cost effectiveness, enhanced security, convenience and accessibility. Cloud computing is a booming industry and many giant cloud storage providers including Mozy, Carbonite and Dropbox are generating millions in revenue for the past couple of years.

However, despite of its immense popularity and advantages, it can be termed as a strength that is also a weakness. The recent celebrity photo leak incident, which engulfed over 100 Hollywood actresses including Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, Ariana Grande and many more, is a bitter testament of the reality that cloud storage is plagued by several security concerns. A trove of nude images of these celebrities which were hacked from there iCloud circulated the web late on 31st August 2014. This catastrophic data breach has left a trail of wreckage in its path and has raised many serious concerns about the reliability and authenticity of this tool.

The greatest downside of the cloud is that it can be hacked. The very convenience of online accessibility that makes it a phenomenal backup tool, also poses a serious threat and its biggest demerit. The data backed up with cloud storage is basically stored in server farms or cyberspace and the possibility of your personal information being hacked and exploited by cyber attackers is extraordinary. It is also a blatant reality that most iPhone and android users are blithely unaware of the fact that photos taken with iPhones are automatically stored in the cloud through auto-synchronization.

This brings us to the question that should we stop storing our data in cloud storage? Are cloud storage companies not providing enough security? It is for the fact that on the internet our identities are intact and secure with a mere password. Our dependency on technology has made our information prone to a myriad of menaces. However, it would be impractical to say that cloud storage usage shall be shunned. Although, this incident has left a question mark about its safety, there are certain precautions that can be deployed to protect digital assets. Choosing the right cloud storage provider is the key. Storage providers that provide encrypted cloud storage should be opted for as file encryption tool makes it impossible for hackers to break into your system. Deploying secure online storage minimizes your chances of becoming a victim to a great extent. Always keep more than one backup for your data for you never know when due to unforeseen circumstances, your files can be lost. Never pay any heed to those suspicious and bogus emails posing as genuine companies because they are phishing scams in majority of circumstances.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Elizebeth_Kelly/1815664