Cloud storage offers an easy way to back up your files, allowing access from any device at any time. Nonetheless, there’s a risk that your cloud storage could be breached. In such a case, you’ll be glad that you haven’t stored certain sensitive items in the cloud.
Is Storing Files in the Cloud Secure?
The level of security for files stored in the cloud largely depends on the service you use. If you choose well-known services like Google Drive or Icedrive, your data is generally quite safe. However, the term “mostly” is key, as trusting a third-party service exposes your files to potential vulnerabilities.
Cloud services often become targets for hackers. Most of the time, these services have strong security measures in place, but breaches can occur, as happened with Dropbox when customer emails and passwords were compromised.
Additionally, not all cloud providers have stringent privacy policies. Some may allow access to your files by their employees, which raises further concerns about privacy.
Users can also unintentionally weaken their accounts by using poor passwords or falling for phishing scams. Thus, while cloud technology offers overall safety, its vulnerabilities might make keeping certain information locally a better choice. For that reason, there are several things I personally avoid backing up to the cloud.
Why You Shouldn’t Store Explicit Content in the Cloud
Uploading explicit images or videos to the cloud is not advisable. If a breach occurs, you could fall victim to sextortion or have these images circulated online.
A notorious example is the iCloud celebrity photo leak of 2014, where hackers accessed the accounts of several stars and leaked their private images, causing significant emotional distress.
A more recent event underscores the risk, as an iOS bug caused deleted photos to reappear on users’ devices due to a corrupted database. Apple clarified that this was not an iCloud issue, but it highlighted that deleted files may not truly vanish until they are overwritten.
This means that explicit content stored in the cloud could linger on servers, even after deletion. While the likelihood of recovery is low, the consequences can be severe, making it wise to avoid cloud storage for any explicit material.
Scanning and Uploading ID Documents Isn’t Always Smart
While scanning and backing up your IDs to the cloud might seem clever, this practice carries considerable risks. If someone gains access to your cloud account, they can steal your identity and personal information for malicious purposes.
This could lead to identity theft or other forms of fraud, as your personal details may give them the keys to your other accounts, making it easy for them to perform unauthorized actions.
Avoid Storing Financial Records in the Cloud
Your cloud storage is not the place for sensitive financial documents, such as tax returns and bank account details. If breach occurs, criminals can misuse this information, leading to financial damages and complications you would rather avoid.
Even if you escape financial loss, resolving the aftereffects of identity theft takes time and energy. Therefore, it’s smarter to keep this data off the cloud.
Risks of Storing Passwords in the Cloud
Local Solutions Are Often More Secure
With so many accounts requiring passwords, many people resort to saving their credentials in a cloud-stored text file for convenience. However, this poses a significant risk. If a hacker gains access, they can infiltrate all your accounts at once.
A more secure option is using a password manager, which only requires you to remember one master password. This tool can create strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, autocompleting them when you log in, and alerting you to potential compromises.
Keep Creative Works Off the Cloud
It’s advisable to store drafts and other intellectual property offline. If your cloud storage gets breached, regaining control over your work can be very challenging.
Instead of relying on the cloud, consider keeping backups on an encrypted external hard drive stored securely. While access may be a bit less convenient, the security offered is more crucial for sensitive data.
