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Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Security to the documents shared via Dropbox, Skydrive, etc?

by: jeffrogler October 17, 2012 1:06 AM PDT

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Security to the documents shared via Dropbox, Skydrive, etc?

by jeffrogler - 10/17/12 1:06 AM

Hello,

Anyone knows of a solution where I can share my contracts and proposals via Gdrive, Skydrive etc. but make sure that I can expire or recall the files when no longer needed? I don't want my files to be misused.

You must surely be aware of the cloud security issues arising and I feel uncomfortable sharing my confidential docs with partners via dropbox. Please share your views too on how you protect your files. This would certainly help me. Please comment.


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Re: sharing

by Kees_B Moderator - 10/17/12 1:13 AM

In Reply to: Security to the documents shared via Dropbox, Skydrive, etc? by jeffrogler

Shared files can be downloaded and copied by everyone allowed to read them. So they can end op on any backup, hard disk, USB stick, web storage or website, in short whereever the receiver wants to store or publish them. Since you can't touch those files there, you can't recall them either.

You can make this somewhat more difficult by using restrictions built into pdf (such as don't copy), or presenting your document as html with browser restrictions. Then people would have to make screenprints to copy the content for others or for later use by themselves.

Kees


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Sharing

by jeffrogler - 10/17/12 1:57 AM

In Reply to: Re: sharing by Kees_B Moderator

Thanks for sharing your views Kees. I have a couple of questions here.

Since you said you cannot recall the files, my data would have the risk of getting manipulated. This according to me is a security issue with these sharing platforms. What are your views on this?

Yes, PDFs give me some option of controlling my documents to a little extent. However I would ideally want to know the activities done on the document(like print, edit,etc.) too.

In your opinion is there any encryption mechanism that can solve these concerns?

Thanks


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Re: sharing

by Kees_B Moderator - 10/17/12 2:03 AM

In Reply to: Sharing by jeffrogler

I don't think the risks and options when you use a sharing platform are any different from the situation that you send the document as an e-mail attachement to the receiver.
Having a document encrypted means that you should tell the receiver the key, or he wouldn't be able to read it.

Kees


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Sharing

by jeffrogler - 10/17/12 3:31 AM

In Reply to: Re: sharing by Kees_B Moderator

Appreciate your points. Yes exactly, there is no difference. That is where the risk lies (I have had a bad experience). I am wondering how could there be no technology that would address my concerns. In fact, they could be anyone's concerns.

I have come to know that even encryption has limitations. I need to exchange the keys, so once decrypted the receiver would have all the privileges to play (if I could use this word) with my document, which I ideally would not want. Second, management of the key server which in my opinion is a nightmare. If that is hacked, then that is it!

I am looking at some technology which has gone a level higher doing away with all these/some of these shortcomings.

Thanks


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Secure sharing

by sax_63 - 10/22/12 6:32 AM

In Reply to: Security to the documents shared via Dropbox, Skydrive, etc? by jeffrogler

Hi Jeff,
you are looking for a DRM (Digital Rights Management) solution. With DRM you control who and how uses your files. You can explicitly specify who can open a file and under which conditions i.e.

- Only Jack and Jane can open a file
- Only Jack can print it (but not Jane)
- File cannot be opened before Jan 15 and after Jan 31

Once a file is DRM-ized you can track the file usage and change/revoke given permissions (even after the file was shared or sent).

There are several solutions out there striking different balance between ease of use, security, manageability, price, and complexity.


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