How to Protect Your Dropbox Data

Mistakes pass off–Dropbox scholarly this the hard way when it circumstantially left some user accounts open to the state-supported for well-nig cardinal hours on Tuesday.

This is obviously an indefensible error, especially for a service that stores users' documents and files on the Net, but you needn't swear off cloud computer storage in ecumenical–OR even Dropbox particularly–because of this regrettable mistake.

Instead, take security into your own hands with these tips to protect your own data on Dropbox.

Password Hygienics

Piece it's unlikely that Dropbox will make the same error twice, soul could eventually start a hold of your Dropbox password through different means–for example, through all the hacking we've seen latterly on separate Websites. If you use the selfsame password in much of places, your files could be at chance if any one of those sites is compromised. You may neediness to practice a separate password for Dropbox–or, at the least, a stronger one than you use for, say, the PlayStation Network. Too, try to avoid exploitation a password that anyone can guess.

Encryption is Key

Let's don that, smooth with your iron-clad countersign skills, someone manages to find a way into your Dropbox account. You can stock-still protect the information itself by using encryption.

The expressed fashio to cause this is to create an encrypted container within Dropbox by using an encryption utility such as TrueCrypt. Just follow the tutorial for creating new containers (be sure to produce information technology within your Dropbox directory). Make sure the intensity is unmounted before uploading the files to Dropbox.

If that sounds a niggling also crazy, simpler methods are ready. Sophos, for instance, offers a disembarrass encryption tool, though you'll have to provide the company with some elementary information about yourself to set off the download. The political program creates a special file and handles all encryption and decryption.

Lifehacker has an flush simpler method: Create an encrypted .ZIP file for any documents you want to keep safe. WinRAR has a "set countersign" choice under the "modern" tab when adding files to an archive.

Diversify

Still worried about intruders potentially deleting your engorge? Consider mount up your data elsewhere. Windows 7 has a stacked-in backup utility that's actually beautiful right. If you're ready to trust the cloud again, you can use an automatic backup service such as SugarSync or Windows Live SkyDrive.

If you're not feeling assured after every of this, you're either beyond aid, or you're a intelligence agent.

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