How to keep the feds from snooping on your cloud data

ComputerWorld has taken the time to write an article on how to protect your data when using the cloud. Freedom of Information Act requests by the American Civil Liberties Union revealed last week that the U.S. government claims the right to read personal online data without warrants. "It is the case everywhere in the world that governments seem to believe that if data is recorded and available, they should be able to access it," said Jay Heiser, an analyst with research firm Gartner. "It's not unique to the U.S., although the United States brags about it to a unique degree."

They suggest that you consider encrypting your data using freeware programs like TruCrypt but there are some options available with automated tools like SafeMonk for Dropbox as seen in the video below.



We have a better idea. Buy a second hard drive or some DVDs. It’s cheaper in the long run (if you use a lot of space and end up paying) and only you have access to your data. The cloud is not some blue, fluffy place somewhere in the sky, although it sounds nice. It’s the exact opposite. The name comes from the common use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. I never understood the popularity of cloud based services to send your personal data all over the place and leave it exposed. Once you send that data, you might feel safe and secure but do you really know where it is going and who has access to it?

It always seemed like an unnecessary, yet convenient, risk to me.