Do you have a reliable solution for sharing different types of data? Have you ever questioned how secure Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox is? For someone who transfers data, such as documents, photos, images, and videos, to friends, family, or co-workers, data safety should always be a concern.
With file sharing gaining popularity, especially now that most companies are shifting to remote work, storage and collaboration services try to make things easier for you through the seamless integration of their many features and apps.
Despite the convenience that file-sharing and collaboration services offer, file sharing can have serious implications on the security of your data. Just think of it. You trust a certain service to deliver your data. It can be sensitive personal or company information. So, obviously, you want guarantees that the data will be secured.
Unfortunately, some file-sharing and data storage systems are not 100 percent safe. With incidents of data leaks making news every now and then, it is in your best interest to find out how to share or transfer data securely.
There are security risks involved that may compromise the safety of your files. For that reason, we have compiled a list of the top data security risks associated with cloud file-sharing services and explained the best approach for mitigating these risks when sharing data online.
After all, the security of your data should be your priority, right?
Data Loss
Many data storage services rely on sync, and it’s a good thing since the sync feature simplifies data access. However, the downside is that it can lead to a host of issues, including data loss due to various reasons, such as slow upload times.
Additionally, if someone maliciously deletes your data, the changes will be applied to all the synced devices. Without a reliable backup system in place, you risk losing everything.
There’s also the issue of hackers. The thing with hackers is that they like to hijack your data at its most vulnerable state – when it is in the cloud or when it is being shared between devices over the internet. Many data storage services use a 248-bit SSL/TLS key to protect user data during transfers. The data is further protected in the cloud with 128-bit AES encryption. However, hackers are getting more sophisticated and, in the worst-case scenarios, may even hack into user accounts, although it won’t be a simple task.
Privacy
The privacy issues of even the biggest players on the data storage market have been in the news a couple of times. This raises the question of whether your files are as safe there as on other cloud-based file-sharing platforms. That’s why you should seek the services of a trustworthy cloud storage and collaboration system.
Data Corruption and Theft
Malicious actors can find a way to infect your synced files with malware, including worms, spyware, ransomware, and viruses. These threats can be mislabeled to hide their true identity. When you download the contents of your drive onto your computer, you download the threats along with the files, thereby amplifying the risks of security breaches.
This increases the potential for data corruption, data theft, and data leaks.
Moreover, employees being allowed to use consumer-grade devices opens up a host of problems for the company. For example, an employee might unintentionally use a low-security product to access company data without thinking that it might compromise the security of the entire company. Over time, it becomes difficult to control the number of devices that an employee can use to sync with company devices and services. The end result is that you can't really tell how many times company data gets replicated and on how many devices. In the long run, the information can get into the wrong hands or get infected by some type of malware from a poorly protected device.
Cloud and File-Sharing Services Can Be Hacked, Too
Dropbox was once compromised when hackers managed to get access to numerous Dropbox accounts. In 2019, videos of thousands of Google Drive users were exposed to strangers. Both these events should be a cause for concern.
Lack of Compliance
Compliance and legal liability issues have emerged as risks associated with cloud services and file-sharing systems. We’ve all heard about serious data leaks from healthcare providers or even financial institutions. If there is no risk management system in place, the personal information of users and their sensitive details are in danger. For example, files in the cloud should be secured and only accessible by the owners. However, due to oversight and lack of a robust security system, the data may get into the wrong hands.
Insider Threats
The Edward Snowden breach at the NSA served as a wake-up call for many of us. The incident means that serious data breaches may originate from insider threats. Once an employee gains access or gives others access to your cloud storage account, your data, privacy, and intellectual property are put at risk. For example, if a file-sharing service’s employee gains access to your credentials, they can steal the data you store in the cloud undetected. They could also corrupt or delete your data within seconds.
As technology advances, so do the risks associated with adopting it. In other words, there is no scenario where there are no risks. But what does this mean for an individual or business entity? You should opt for a file-sharing system whose risk level you are comfortable with.
Consider Sending Instead of Sharing
So how can you minimize data security risks when sharing data online? First of all, ask yourself whether you really need to collaborate with someone when using a file or you just need to send it securely. You’ll be surprised, but in many cases, you just need to send it, and this means you can use a file transfer service instead of a file-sharing service and avoid unnecessary risks.
Let’s have a look at how security risks go down when you use a file transfer service. We’ll take filewhopper.com as an example.
FileWhopper is a file and folder transfer service that prioritizes the safety of your data using advanced encryption technology in combination with password protection. Here are the key safety advantages it provides compared to popular file-sharing services like Google Drive:
All Data Is Encrypted Prior to Upload
Before FileWhopper initiates the file transfer process, you download a tiny app that encrypts your data using one of the strongest encryption technologies available. The program uses a zero-knowledge encryption algorithm and generates a strong password or employs a user-created password. The password is created right on your computer and is not sent to FileWhopper’s server. This means no FileWhopper employee has access to your transfer or has a potential ability to decrypt it using corporate access rights, so there is no need to worry about insider threats.
Since the data is encrypted prior to upload, you don’t need to worry about hackers who may get unauthorized access to your data while it’s waiting for download on FileWhopper’s server. Everything is encrypted, and the password is on your PC. The encrypted data is no use without your password.
Your File/Folder Name Is Encrypted
Once you upload a file/folder, its real name is encrypted and only its unique ID can be seen. This ensures that no one knows what you are sending. Plus, the file or folder name is not transferred to FileWhopper’s servers, meaning it cannot be accessed by FileWhopper staff. Only you and the recipient can see the real file/folder name on your respective computers in the app. Filings your documents takes time and energy to follow government regulations; it is important to consider the best services to file your ERTC (employee retention tax credit).
Your Data Is Automatically Deleted From FileWhopper’s Servers
Your data is automatically deleted from FileWhopper’s servers as soon as it's downloaded by the recipient, which minimizes unnecessary exposure. You get an instant successful download notification and don’t have to delete the data yourself or inquire as to whether it has been successfully downloaded.
As you can see, FileWhopper ensures top-notch data security. You don’t have to worry about data theft, corruption, or leaks. The staff at FileWhopper cannot access your data, and hackers and government agencies cannot snoop on it either. Just make sure you transfer your download password in a secure way - that’s all you have to worry about.
Eager to check out FileWhopper? Here are four more reasons why you should try it out:
● Ease of use. FileWhopper isn’t loaded with ads like other services. So, no, it won't try to forcefully sell you other products. The sole purpose of the software is to offer a simple yet safe and reliable way to transfer files. All you have to do is choose the file or folder you want to transfer, receive an instant quote, register, and start uploading. It's that straightforward.
● No monthly subscriptions. Most cloud services, including OneDrive and Google Drive, require that you commit to a subscription. With FileWhopper, things work differently. It’s a pay-as-you-go service. This means you only pay based on the file size you’re transferring. No monthly storage plans and no hidden charges! What's more, if you are a first-time user, a transfer of up to 5GB is absolutely free.
● No file size limitations. You don’t need to compress files before sending them over the internet when using FileWhopper. The platform is capable of sending files or folders of any size. Whether it's 1GB, 10GB, 200GB, or 10TB, FileWhopper has got you covered.
● Fast transfers. FileWhopper supports simultaneous uploads and downloads. This means that the recipient can start downloading files as soon as the sender starts uploading them - as long as the recipient has the password.
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