Online storage has recently become popular for people who wish to access their information from any computer, backup certain data, speedily transfer files to a designated party, or just need additional storage space that is affordable. Unfortunately, many others take advantage of this service to pirate publicly shared information, mostly music and/or movies. Some storage sites include Rapidshare, Megaupload, and Mediafire. Youtube can technically be considered as online storage, though it is limited to videos.
Don't get me wrong - file sharing can be a really convenient way of transferring data to another party, if you follow some hard and fast rules. First, make sure that you own the file, or gain approval from the owner before uploading. If you choose an online storage site, you might want to consider setting your files to "private" so that it does not turn up in search engines. In addition, protect each file with a password, preferably a different one for each file. That way, if someone does gain access to your link, they will not be able to download the file without the password. Likewise, if they gain access to one password, they will not be able to repeat the process with all your stored files. It may seem like a pain to remember all those passwords, but it is better than a lawsuit for leaking information.
In closing, it is probably not a good idea to store files with sensitive information or copyrighted material. I hope I do not have to reiterate that piracy is a criminal offense, and that online storage should NEVER be used to that end.
No comments:
Post a Comment