The Cloud
A great deal of the tools and applications we use in our day-to-day online life require cloud based services to function properly. The “cloud” or more commonly “cloud computing” refers to the process of using a network of servers to store, manage and process data over the internet rather than keeping the information on one device. The data is then stored and maintained by a cloud service provider.
https://www.techtarget.com/searchcloudcomputing/definition/cloud-computing
Perhaps the most commonly used cloud-based application used is e-mail. G-mail, Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo Mail are all examples of e-mail services that utilize the cloud in their daily operations. Users can access their data remotely to send and receive e-mails from any device of their choosing. The e-mail account needs to be backed up to the cloud from time to time, to ensure that a copy of user data is saved and secured.
Microsoft Outlook used to be able to function without the cloud service, but with the implementation of Windows 11 came the switch to cloud-based services for many of their applications. Now users’ data is automatically stored on Microsoft’s servers instead of the user’s device. While there are some advantages to having data backed up and stored on the cloud, this move has created serious concerns over security and privacy for users and their personal information. The new and improved Outlook gives Microsoft unrestricted access to their users’ data leaves very little room for their users to retain control over what the company does with that personal information. The Microsoft Cloud is also susceptible to hacks and leaks that put user data at risk. I feel strongly that users should be able to opt out of using the cloud to store their personal information, particularly with data that comes from personal emails.
https://www.xda-developers.com/privacy-implications-new-microsoft-outlook/
Another common service that utilizes the cloud is the popular virtual meeting app, Zoom. Zoom is a cloud-based application that allows users to connect over video and host private calls. Zoom has the function to record and save video and audio to the cloud for users to download for later viewing. These files can be downloaded and accessed from any device with internet connection. The files can also be accessed from Zoom’s Web Portal. The setting for cloud recording has to be manually enabled, but is automatically available for paid subscribers to the service. Zoom records live footage and does not need internet connection in order to function. As the cloud is an internet-based service, there is no reason Zoom would not be able to function as intended without cloud access. While it is nice to have a easy way to access old recordings of meetings, Zoom has faced a multitude of privacy concerns since its skyrocketing popularity over the course of the Covid-19 lockdowns. These issues include their initial failure to meet HIPPA compliance – meaning the standards of privacy for medical information – and their failure to enable end-to-end encryption, ensuring the security of their software. Zoom’s systems have improved over recent years, but the company is as susceptible to data breaches as any other software company.
https://www.hipaajournal.com/zoom-hipaa-compliant/
https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0065679