Privacy Concerns About Cloud Computing

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Privacy Concerns About Cloud Computing

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Cloud computing is said to be the next big thing in the Web. Instead of localizing software, data, and computation power in your own computers, you can make these location-independent through third-party mediums like the Internet. Perhaps the easiest way to explain this is through Google Apps, which allows you to edit documents as if they are in Microsoft Office except that they are online. In simpler terms, the cloud is that unseen part of the network where information passes through between two parties.

But with the convenience that comes with cloud computing is the fear that our own privacy may be compromised. The issue of privacy in cloud computing is a hot topic nowadays and I am not surprised that it is so, because there are a lot of legitimate concerns about privacy in this field.

The traditional concept of privacy included the physical control of information, whether this be data in a CD or your personal diary stored somewhere. These days, this concept is already revised as more and more people entrust their data to third-party handlers up there in the cloud. How do we know that those people we trust in the cloud are not going to turn against us or are not using our information for their own benefits? And assuming that they don't turn their backs on us, how assured are we that dark-minded individuals won't try to take advantage?

Fortunately, cloud computing seems to be somehow immune to attacks based on stealing information from backup devices. There are no CDs or passwords to steal. But there is the distinct possibility of hackers getting into the cloud.

When that happens, those who own the information are at the losing side of things. People are rarely prosecuted for stealing information online, while companies that are supposed to take care of the information only suffer from reputational damages and the cost of stopping the thieves from using the information. Very convenient.

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Tags: • stealing information • google apps • cloud computing • microsoft office •

• Google assures gov't users about data location (data centers)

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