DropBox: How to enable Two- Step Verification

DropBox has an added security feature that is most welcome. It is called Two Step Verification - a combination of Google's two-step verification and Outlook.com's single-code verification system. So you can now use text messages or use your mobile app to generate a time sensitive security code to log-in to your DropBox account. This added security feature will help protect your account and keep hackers and intruders at bay. Helps to add an extra level of security to all your folders and files on DropBox. This post will serve as a guide on how to enable to the-step verification process for your DropBox account.

How to turn on, enable or setup Two-step authentication for DropBox.
1. You will need to log-in to your security page on DropBox.
2. Below Account Sign in found at the bottom, you will find the option, two-step verification.
3. You will need to toggle the link to enabled - click on change and enter your password and you now have the two options

How two-step verification works on DropBox
Use Text Messages - this option lets you log-in to DropBox with your password a security code will be sent to your phone. This code needs to be entered before you can log in to DropBox.
To enable security code via text message
1. Select use text messages
2. enter your phone number
3. Verify your phone number
Now each time you login a 6 digit security code will be sent to your phone. Use this as an added level of security to log-in to your account.

Use a Mobile App
To use an  authenticator app - several of which are available for your SmartPhone.
1. Select use Mobile App
2. Use can choose to scan a bar-code is your app supports it or enter your secret key manually. 
3. Once configured enter your secret code and authenticate two-step verification.

Note: Before enabling two-step verification you will be sent a 16 digit backup code. This needs to be stored in some safe-place. In case you loos access to your phone or tablet or any other device - this code will be required as an emergency access to your DropBox.

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Sociolatte

Be careful what you store on Microsoft Skydrive since your private files are monitored

Cloud storage is something that has taken off in a very big way. There is DropBox, iCloud, Google Drive and Skydrive to name a few of the more popular ones. What Cloud Storage does it allows you free storage to store all your files in the cloud and make them available on all your devices. Microsoft is moving out SkyDrive with Windows 8, Office 13 and Windows Phone. This would mean that many uses would store all of their files on SkyDrive and some of what is being store might be inappropriate. This is something that needs to be noted - these might be your private files. Even if they are your private files and your using Microsoft Cloud to store them it might get your banned. A dutch user on the forum Tweakers.net who goes by the handle WingsOfFury reports that he lost access to hos Live account, Hotmail account and XBox account. There are many users who are reporting the same online.


In fact Microsoft monitors its cloud servers and takes action when inappropriate content is found even if it your own personal file - meaning pictures of yourself. Microsoft also has a Code Of Conduct if you want to use its service. What's disturbing to users is that files are monitored even when uploaded into a private folder and not a public folder. So before you think it is safe to store whatever yo want on SkyDrive, think again. Uses suggest encrypting your files before storing them on SkyDrive. Please leave a comment below with what you think about this whole thing. Does this raise privacy concerns?
Source: Private files monitored, Xbox and mail access revoked and Microsoft monitoring and censoring uploads to SkyDrive

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Sociolatte

Use BoxCryptor to encrypt and store your cloud files on services like DropBox and Box.net

It seems everyone these days has the need to store their files in popular cloud services for easy and immediate access. Storage all your files on your local device is a thing of the past with the emergence of cloud storage services. There are a number of cloud storage services to choose from. One of the most popular being DropBox. DropBox the service that adds and extra drive to your PC or other storage device and stores all your files in the cloud for easy access. With all the files that are stored in the cloud what if you need to store some files securely and ensure that if there is any compromise you know your files are safe and secure. Enter BoxCryptor the service that allows you to do just that. with BoxCryptor you can safely and securely store your files on services like DropBox and the service also uses AES-256 standard to encrypt your files. We had previously written about a service called Data Locker and BoxCryptor is an alternative that you can use.

BoxCryptor: How does it work
lets you store your files on-the-fly and it is a fast and easy service to use. The service is available for for Windows, Android and iOS - and even support Mac OS X and Linux. Once you start uploading files each file is encrypted individually and stored in a folder of your choice. Once stored all your files are avialble to you on any of your devices - computer, SmartPhone or tablet. So using your iOS or Android device you can upload and store your files securely even on-the-go. You can even drag and drop existing files into your BoxCryptor folder to safely encrypt and store them, the service also decrypts in real-time BoxCryptor uses the AES-256 standard to encrypt and protect all your files. The Standar AES-256 is classified by the U.S. Government to protect data that is “TOP SECRET” information. In addition to this, BoxCryptor also uses filename encryption.

Check out BoxCryptor here.

Use DataLocker to encrypt and secure your DropBox files

The popularity of DropBox has proved once and for all the importance of cloud storage. More and more people are turning to storing their data in the cloud with the benefit that it will always be available to them no matter where they are. There is however a chance that you want to store some private and confidential information in the cloud and your service of choice is DropBox. So if that is the case you just might want to encrypt those files and then store is securely. DataLocker is a service that will help you do just that. With DataLocked you can store files from your native clients like Windows, Mac, iPhone or iPad. Once you download DataLocker you will be able to then use it to easily secure files and store the same in DropBox. 


DataLocker is the first product from 'Appsense labs' and is completely free to use. Currently the service is focused on DropBox and there is no information on when and if it will be available for iCloud and Skydrive. 


DataLocker: How does it work
You will first need to download and install the app. You will then need to link it to your DropBox account. You can then immediately start uploading new files while encrypting them. You will also be able to browse through existing files while protecting them and adding security. You can download the Windows version from here and the iOS app from here. 
DataLocker on the web

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Sociolatte

Bitcasa promises infinite storage on your Desktop for $10/month

Bitcasa  is promising unlimited storage on your Desktop. The service is still new and if you do not have an invite, you will need to add your mail ID and wait for an invite. It is all the talk of the town because Bitcasa is promising infinite storage capacity on your desktop. What this means is that once you install the desktop-app, you can create a folder and add all your files to this folder. This is the Bitcasa folder and you can store  movies, music, photo albums in this folder it all gets uploaded to the cloud  and no memory is used on your Hard-drive. The added advantage of sharing your files easily with your friends and family. Once you share the link they can watch that movie, listen to music or view your photo albums without having to download the files. 


Bitcasa: How does it work
1. Once you sign-up for the service you can then download the app and use it as another folder available on your computer
2. You can add all your files to this folder - music, movies, pics, software and just about anything
3. Once uploaded to the cloud it is all stored in the cloud and does not take-up any of your disk-space locally.
4. You can also cloudify your USB, Pen Drive and external hard-drives and store them in the cloud. This way all your info is available to you to use even if your external hard-drives are not with you.
5. All the files you upload are stored in the cloud
6. The app will use a local cache and you can adjust the size of this cache. This is needed so even if you connection drops your file remains.
7. There is also a web interface for you to access all your files online from anywhere
All data is encrypted and transferred securely
8. Available for Windows and Mac
9. Price: $10/month for unlimited storage with is pretty decent.
Bitcasa

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Sociolatte

How does Skydrive work

What is Windows Live SkyDrive and how does it work.


SkyDrive is part of Microsoft's Windows Live range of online services. SkyDrive is a file storage and sharing service that allows users to upload files to the computing cloud, then access them from a web browser. It is a cloud computing service or also know as a Cloud Storage service It uses Windows Live ID to control access to the users' files, allowing them to keep the files private, share with contacts, or make the files public. Publicly-shared files do not require a Windows Live ID to access.

The service currently offers 25 GB of free personal storage, with individual files limited to 50 MB. A Silverlight-based tool can be installed to allow drag-and-drop uploading from Windows Explorer. Up to five files can be uploaded each time if the tool has not been installed.




If you had previously been using Office Live Workspace you can now shift all your files to SkyDrive. To get started, sign-in to your Office Live Workspace account with your Windows Live ID and click the “Upgrade now” button. All your documents will be transferred to Skydrive (You will get an email once the process is complete) you can then permanently abandon your Workspace account.


Visit http://skydrive.live.com

You can sign-up with your Microsoft Account. Skydrive the cloud storage service from Microsoft. it can be used on the internet, there is a Skydrive App, it can be used on your iPhone, iPad and your Android phone and Windows Phone. Click on the links ot get the Skydrive app for your phone.

So, how does Skydrive work.

Personal folders: With personal folders, you can keep your files online and access them with virtually any web-enabled computer or mobile device—whether it's yours, a friend's, or a public computer.


Shared folders: Working on a project with classmates, coworkers, or family? With shared folders, the whole crew can upload, download, and collaborate with you on documents and other files.


Direct links: Each folder on SkyDrive has a unique web address, so you can save the link as a favorite or copy it and paste it into e-mail or other documents for direct access.


Password protection: You set the passwords and you decide who sees what, so you have confidence that your data is in your control.


With SkyDrive, you can embed public or shared folders on Windows Live Spaces. Everyone who looks at your space can see what you've made public, but only the people you've granted permission to can see your shared folders.

 

Google Doc's get storage for any file in the Cloud.

Google Docs announced it's new cloud storage facility for all your files. Instead of emailing you large files to yourself which could be cumbersome. You can now upload your Google Docs to your own cloud space. This is particularly good in storing your information and accessing it from anywhere. You would not be worried if something happens suddenly to your laptop etc. You files can be easily accessible with an internet connection.


It’s already a crowded field, with all of the usual suspects: Microsoft’s cloud-based platform, Azure, is already available in a fully a la carte pricing scheme geared toward their core enterprise customers, and it offers a25-GB online Skydrive for home users through its Microsoft Live services. Apple’s Mobile Me (once known as iDisk) has a 20-GB floor for $100 a year and a family plan in keeping with their mainly consumer focus.




Found on the Google Doc's Blog


Instead of emailing files to yourself, which is particularly difficult with large files, you can upload to Google Docs any file up to 250 MB. You'll have 1 GB of free storage for files you don't convert into one of the Google Docs formats (i.e. Google documents, spreadsheets, and presentations), and if you need more space, you can buy additional storage for $0.25 per GB per year. This makes it easy to backup more of your key files online, from large graphics and raw photos to unedited home videos taken on your smartphone. You might even be able to replace the USB drive you reserved for those files that are too big to send over email.


This maybe the start of Google's hard disk in the sky. especially good for Netbooks that do not have large internal data memory and rely on external drives. So don't worry about forgetting and leaving a file on your work computer. 


If you are new to Google Doc's and would like online video help, follow Google Doc's YouTube Community Channel  here. 

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Sociolatte