Cloud storage that encrypts your files so that they are protected - Sprout Wired

Cloud storage that encrypts your files so that they are protected - Sprout Wired


Cloud storage that encrypts your files so that they are protected - Sprout Wired

Posted: 31 May 2021 05:21 AM PDT

Cloud storage that encrypts your files so that they are protected

There was a time when Win free on the internet. Despite being strict, the situation is still the same. But there are those who wonder to what extent it is worth using the free services In lieu of your data, Our data, is used for advertising campaign Or to sell us something. Cloud storage is a sector that gives free and paid space to save files. And it is becoming increasingly common that, among their works, they shed light on the following Encryption of your files To keep them safe.

I mean, it's not enough anymore There is room to save Your files, share them and keep them on all your connected devices. Now we also need files uploaded to the cloud to be safe. And for this, In addition to encrypting the connection Between your device and the server of the cloud storage service, it is common to find services that Encrypt your files So that they are not accessible by third parties or even by keeping them online.

Thanks for doing File encryption, Cloud storage relieves that old mistrust that if your documents are on an external server, they are visible to other people. Now that is no longer the case. Content you upload to the cloud Be safe Both during shipping and after storage, wherever you are.

Nordlocker

The creators of NordVPN, a popular VPN service, come to us Nordlocker, Your cloud storage that bets on End-to-end encryption. Its free version gives us 3 GB of space, which you can increase to 500 GB for $ 3.99.

With its own applications for Windows and MacOS, which integrate with Finder and Windows Explorer, the service makes it easy to encrypt files, share them via public links. Automatic backup, etc. As a specification, Its encryption applies to your files Since they are on your device. From there, you can upload the content of your choice to their server.

Best free VPNs for secure browsing on PC, iPhone, Fire stick and more - The Independent

Posted: 28 May 2021 09:54 AM PDT

A VPN keeps you anonymous and secure when browsing the internet, and can also help you get around geographic restrictions to stream shows and access content that's not normally available in your country.

If you're not sure whether it's worth paying for one, you might be tempted by one of the many free VPNs available to download. But are they safe to use?

Below, we'll list the best free VPNs, but first let's talk about why most VPNs cost money. Put simply, a virtual private network is a security tool used to disguise your presence online. They work by routing your internet traffic through encrypted servers, so that to websites and streaming services, you appear to be located somewhere else in the world.

Those encrypted servers are physical things whirring away in a warehouse somewhere. They cost money to run, require engineers to service them and slow down as more customers use them, which is why the most trusted and popular VPNs are paid for on a subscription basis.

So how do free VPNs make money? They're profiting in a different way. Many paid-for VPNs offer a free trial or a limited version of the full product to lure in new customers, who they hope to convert to the paid version.

Read more:

Others make money by selling your browsing data to third-party advertisers, or by replacing the ads you'd normally see on webpages with their own, or even by using your device as a virtual server for other users to connect through.

The problems with free VPNs

When you use any VPN, free or paid, you're trusting a private company to look after your data responsibly. The best VPNs don't keep a log of your online activity, so that even if they're compelled by law to hand over information about their customers, there would simply be no useful data to reveal.

A free VPN has no such obligation to its users. To survive, a free VPN has to make money out of you in other ways. At best a free VPN will offer limited features, no customer support and throttled download speeds, making streaming impossible.

But at worst it will actively harvest your information to sell to its advertising partners. It's generally not a good idea to have this kind of adversarial relationship with a service that's handling the very data you're trying to keep private.

With that in mind, it's worth considering a free trial of a paid VPN before you settle for a completely free VPN. Many paid VPNs have 30-day trials that can be easily cancelled before you're charged, or only cost a few quid a month. For the peace of mind that comes with knowing the service has your back, we think a paid VPN is worth it.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

The best paid-for VPNs in 2021

The best all-round VPN, ExpressVPN is super fast and compatible with most operating systems, including Android set top boxes and videogames consoles. It can even be installed on your home router directly to secure every device on your wifi network in one go.

ExpressVPN safeguards your data using secure encryption protocols and doesn't store any record of your internet activity while doing it. In our tests, it reliably unblocked the US versions of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services (although keep in mind that doing this is normally against providers' terms of service), and was fast enough to watch TV shows and movies without buffering.

Buy now

One of the most popular VPNs around, NordVPN supports up to six devices and can be installed across your smartphone, laptop and desktop computers, your Amazon Fire box and other platforms.

NordVPN's slick interface lets you select your desired location from a map of the world, and like ExpressVPN it keeps no user logs. The VPN allowed us to watch TV and movies from the most popular US streaming services, as well as access our Google accounts while travelling in China.

Buy now

We like IPVanish for its uncapped device limit, which allows even the largest families or house shares to all use the VPN at the same time. The IPVanish app is available to download on a range of platforms too, from your iPad or Android tablet to opensource TV streaming apps like Kodi.

Top-level encryption, fast speeds and round the clock customer support put IPVanish in our top three paid-for VPNs. In tests we found it worked well with US Netflix, though sometimes it struggled to access international versions of other streaming services.

Buy now

The best free VPNs in 2021

Set on not paying a penny and want to know which free VPNs are the safest to use? Here are the ones we can recommend.

(ProtonVPN)

Best: Unlimited VPN

Number of servers: 1,245

Server locations: 3 (55 in the paid version)

Devices supported: 1 (10 in the paid version)

Data allowance: Unlimited

Pros: Unlimited data allowance, decent speeds

Cons: Free version is slow, no P2P support or streaming

A free account with ProtonVPN limits you to three locations around the globe – the Netherlands, Japan and the US – and just one simultaneous connection. Unlike most free VPNs, your data allowance isn't capped, meaning you can browse for as long as you want, but your bandwidth is shared with other free users. At busy times you'll notice a drop in speeds.

As a free user you can't use streaming services or peer-to-peer connections, which means torrenting services won't work, but for simple, secure web browsing from a trusted name in security, ProtonVPN is the best free VPN you can get.

Download now

(Hotspot Shield)

Best: For iOS and Android

Number of servers: 1,800

Server locations: 1 (115 in the paid version)

Devices supported: 1 (5 in the paid version)

Data allowance: 500MB per day

Pros: Support for a range of devices, no registration required

Cons: Free version capped at 2Mbps, no streaming

While most paid-for VPNs offer time-limited trials, Hotspot Shield offers a free version that you can continue using for as long as you like and without handing over your credit card details. With the free version you can unlock US websites and avoid local content filters by tunnelling your internet through one of Hotspot Shield's servers located in North America. Speeds are slow but consistent and the free VPN can be installed on iOS and Android devices.

You're given a data allowance of 500MB per day, can only use the VPN on a single device at once and can't access entertainment services like Netflix and Prime Video. If you want a free VPN for streaming, the paid version of Hotspot Shield starts at $12.99 per month.

Download now

(TunnelBear)

Best: Without a credit card

Number of servers: 3,000

Server locations: 27 (as many as the paid version)

Devices supported: 1 (5 in the paid version)

Data allowance: 500MB per month

Pros: Friendly design, free version includes all server locations

Cons: Free version capped at 500MB per month, no streaming

TunnelBear's free VPN can be used as often as you like, but its bandwidth limitations are restrictive enough that we'd consider it more of a sample of what the paid version can do. You have a mere 500MB per month to work with, compared to 500MB per day with Hotspot Shield, and unlimited bandwidth with ProtonVPN.

The free version of TunnelBear can't bypass Netflix's geographical restrictions, so this isn't a VPN for those who want to take a peek at TV shows not available in their own country. However, you do get to use up to five devices at once, and TunnelBear's privacy credentials are top notch.

Download now

(Kaspersky Secure Connection)

Best: For PC

Number of servers: 300

Server locations: 1 (24 in the paid version)

Devices supported: 1 (5 in the paid version)

Pros: Reliable speeds, stable connection

Cons: Free version capped at 200MB per day, no streaming

Trust is important when choosing a VPN, especially a free one, and Kaspersky is one of the most trusted names in online security. Founded in Russia, Kaspersky and its VPN servers are now owned by a UK holding company and based in Switzerland, a country with famously strong privacy laws. The free version of its paid VPN uses the same server infrastructure as Hotspot Shield, meaning you can only choose to disguise your location as coming from inside the US.

You're also limited to just 200MB of downloads per day. For international users trying to bypass local firewalls or content restrictions, this can be enough. But for more heavy-duty use, such as accessing region-locked streaming services, a paid VPN is the way to go.

Download now

(Hideme)

Best: For speed

Number of servers: 1,900

Server locations: 5 (75 in the paid version)

Devices supported: 1 (10 in the paid version)

Data allowance: 10GB per month

Pros: Free version is fast, has customer support, allows P2P connections

Cons: Free version doesn't allow streaming

Another VPN with a generous free tier you can use until the encrypted cows come home, Hide.me gives you access to five server locations around the world and a healthy data allowance of 10GB per month. Peer-to-peer connections are allowed and the VPN promises no speed throttling, no ad tracking and no data logging.

Unlike some rivals, free users can also access customer support 24/7. Like most free VPNs, you're unable to use Hide.me to bypass region-locked shows on Netflix and other streaming services.

Download now

How to choose the right free VPN service

The VPNs we've selected above are a great way to try before you buy, but here are a few things to bear in mind when choosing a free service that works for you.

  • Data caps: Most free VPNs limit the amount of data you can upload and download. ProtonVPN is the only to offer unlimited data usage to free users.
  • Speed: Free users typically have to share the VPN's limited bandwidth with other free users, slowing the network down for those who don't pay. Hotspot Shield throttles its free VPN to just 2Mbps, but by doing so it creates more consistent speeds and fewer dropped connections.
  • Streaming: No reputable free VPN allows you to stream content on services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, so be very wary of any free VPNs or Chrome extensions that make this claim.
  • Security: The ability for hackers to spy on you while you use the internet is overstated by most VPN services, so don't feel pressured into downloading a free VPN if you're not absolutely sure you need one. If there's a padlock next to the URL in your browser window, your connection is already encrypted and safe.

The verdict: Free VPNs

We would always advise choosing a paid-for service, but if you're looking for a simple to use, free VPN that promises not to sell your personal information to the highest bidder, we recommend ProtonVPN. With an unlimited data cap and reliable speeds, it's a great introduction to the premium product.

Hide.me also offers a generous free version with a few more locations to choose from, top security credentials and access to customer support should you get stuck.

Voucher codes

For the latest offers on broadband and VPNs, try the links below:

Ready to upgrade to a premium VPN service? Here are the best paid-for VPNs available to download in 2021

IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

Encrypted Phones — iPhone and Android Encryption - Reader's Digest

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 12:00 AM PST

Don't let the term "encrypted phone" intimidate you. It's a feature you probably already have and use on your phone without knowing it—and that's a good thing.

Encryption may sound like a tech buzzword, but even if you're not tech-savvy, encryption is probably a very important part of your life. More than likely, your bank, credit card companies, and even some social media sites that you may use, including WhatsApp, incorporate encryption to protect your data. Your phone probably has this capability, too. Here's what an encrypted phone means and how to use it to protect yourself from identity theft.

What is encrypted data?

Encrypting your device means that the data (such as credit card info, social security numbers, addresses, or any other extremely personal information) that is entered into the phone will be jumbled up, making it indecipherable to anyone who might be trying to steal your information. To unjumble the information, it has to be unlocked using a password, PIN, or another key that identifies you as the owner of the information, according to Tom Kirkham, founder and CEO of IronTech Security.

"When you set a pin or passcode on your device and set up fingerprint or facial recognition, this is used to generate the key for encrypting and decrypting your device," says Jack Mannino, CEO at nVisium, a Virginia-based application security provider.

Want to be extra safe? Here are eight apps security experts would never have on their phones.

Why to encrypt your phone

Encrypted phones make it much harder for cybercriminals to gather your personal information because it is very difficult to decode encryption. Is encryption foolproof? "Device encryption is an added layer of security and a necessary step to keep hackers away; more often than not, cybercriminals are going to see a device is encrypted and just move on because it's too much work," says Kirkham. That said, "nothing is 100 percent foolproof when it comes to cybersecurity," he reminds us.

There are a couple of downsides to cell phone encryption. "An important thing to keep in mind is that it does slow down your phone, depending on the amount of data and the age/speed of the phone," says Tim Koster, tech expert and founder of CleverCreations.

A bigger caveat is that should you ever forget your PIN/password to your phone when it is encrypted, it is impossible to retrieve your data, Koster says. A backup would be the only way to retrieve the data.

Both Android and iPhone devices fully support encryption out of the box nowadays, so there isn't much need for third-party encryption apps, advises Koster.

iPhone Encryption

When your iPhone is locked, personal information is automatically encrypted, as is any data on the iCloud. Find out how to do it and the other iPhone privacy settings you should check right now.

Android Encryption

Setting up encryption on your Android device is easy, even for those that don't usually change the default setting on their phones. While there are many different types of Android phones and the menu options vary, these directions should get you to where you need to go without a lot of steps.

  1. Open the "Settings" app.

  2. Tap the search bar and type in "encrypt."

  3. Choose the encryption option

  4. Follow the onscreen instructions

Some Android devices, such as certain models from Vivo, Huawei, and OPPO can't be encrypted. If you try the steps and you can't find an encryption option, contact your service provider. They will be able to determine if your phone can be encrypted or not.

Encryption can take up to an hour and can't be interrupted, so you won't be able to use your phone. Make sure your phone is plugged in while it is encrypting to prevent it from dying, too. If your phone dies while it is finishing the process you may lose all of your data.

Make your password strong

Since the data on your phone can be viewed as unencrypted when your phone is unlocked, it is important to make sure the method to unlock your phone is strong, just in case it ever gets lost or stolen. For example, a weak password like 123456) or PIN like 0000 may put a device at risk regardless of the encryption's strength. Make the password or PIN more complex, or use face recognition, your fingerprint, or a pattern to unlock your phone. Even with encryption, hackers can still do these four things with just your phone number.

Sources:

Six best alternatives to Google Photos app - Deccan Herald

Posted: 31 May 2021 11:36 AM PDT

In November 2020, Google announced that device owners (except those with Pixe 1-5) will no longer enjoy the free unlimited storage of Google Photos from June 1, 2021 onwards.

The company said it has become tough to scale up the cloud storage as people around the world are uploading billions of images and videos to the Google Photos app. It has already maintained 4 trillion photos and it is registering 28 billion content every week. 

So, from Tuesday (June 1), Google Photos app users will get access only to 15GB storage. For more space, consumers will have to subscribe to Google One plan. 

The company is offering three plans with options of a monthly or annual subscription. Consumers can opt for 100GB Google One service with monthly (Rs 130)/annual (Rs 1,300) fees.
For 200GB and 2TB, consumers have to pay Rs 2,100 ( or Rs 210/month) and Rs 6,500 (or Rs 650/month) for yearly plans, respectively. These can be shared with family members as well. 

To be fair, the aforementioned Google One plans are actually cost-effective and consumers can continue with Google Photos.

If you have already made a decision to jump the ship, we will help you find the best alternatives. Here they are:

Microsoft 365 or OneDrive
This is a really good option for corporates. For individuals, it costs Rs 4,899/year (or Rs 489/month) for 1TB and Rs 6,199/year (or Rs 619/month) for the Family plan (6TB, 1TB for each family member of six).


Micrsoft 365 website (screen-grab)

In addition to cloud storage and users get access to premium productivity-related Word, PowerPoint, Excell, and Outlook applications across all platforms and compatible devices such as iPhone, Android mobile, tablets, Macs, and Windows PC.

If you want just the cloud storage, you can opt for basic Microsoft OneDrive. It offers 5GB of free storage. There is another standalone Microsoft OneDrive plan for Rs 149/month, which offers 100GB storage.

Apple iCloud or Apple One bundle
If you are an Apple device owner, it is best to upgrade the Apple iCloud to any of three plans-- 50GB (Rs 75/month) or 200GB ( Rs219/month) or 2TB (Rs749/month).
Or else, consumers look for Apple One bundles. In addition to iCloud storage, They offer exclusive access to Apple TV+, Music and Apple Arcade.


Apple One website (screen-shot)

Apple One India Plans 
--Individual plan includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage for Rs 195 per month. With this, Apple device owners can save up to Rs 177 per month if subscribed to individual services.
--Family plan includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 200GB of iCloud storage for Rs 365 per month, and can be shared among up to six family members. With this, Apple device owners can save up to Rs 200 per month if subscribed to individual services.

There is also another Premier plan for global consumers
--Premier plan includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and 2TB of iCloud storage for $29.95/month (not available in India) and can be shared among up to six family members.

JioCloud- Free Cloud Storage
JioCloud storage is one of the best for Indian customers. It offers 50GB free cloud storage and users can claim more with the 'Refer & Earn' programme and promotions run time-to-time.


JioCloud website (screen-grab)

Amazon Photos app
This app is available only on Google Play Store for Android phones. Anybody with Prime membership (in select countries only), will get access to free unlimited storage. One caveat is that users can upload only 5GB of videos. But, there is no limit to photos. 

Also, users get access to Prime Video, Prime Music, exclusive lighting deals during festive seasons, and also get a free one or two-day delivery option for doing purchases on Amazon e-commerce app.  


Amazon Photos app on Google Play Store (Screen-shot)

However, there is no Amazon Photos app for Apple iPhones and device owners may have to rely on iCloud for now.

Flickr
It offers three plans-- Individual monthly plan for $7.99 (approx.Rs 580/m) . Benefits include unlimited storage ad-free, plus get advanced statistics, and backup with the desktop Auto-Uploadr feature.


Flickr website (screen-shot)

The 3-month Pro plan costs $21.99 (around Rs 1,596). It offers unlimited storage ad-free, plus get advanced statistics, and backup with the desktop Auto-Uploadr.

The third option is an annual plan for $71.88 (around Rs 5,216). It offers unlimited storage, ad-free, with advanced statistics, backup via the desktop Auto-Uploadr, and exclusive discounts from Adobe, Blurb, SmugMug, and Priime.

Dropbox
It offers 5GB free cloud storage for the Basics plan. If you want more, you can upgrade to Dropbox Plus for $9.99 (approx. Rs. 725) a month or $119.88 (around Rs 8,699) a year and get 2TB storage (fully encrypted).


Dropbox app on a phone. Picture credit: Pixbay

There is also Dropbox Family option for $16.99 (roughly Rs 1,233) monthly or $203.88 (approx. Rs 14,795) annual plans. Up to six members can get 2TB storage via Family Room sharing option.

Both the aforementioned plan will offer users to recover changed or deleted files within 30 days.

For corporates, there is Professional + eSign plan for $24.99 (approx. Rs 1,813) monthly or $299.88 (around Rs 21,760). Subscribers will get access to 3TB (3,000GB) encrypted storage and can send unlimited documents for signature. Also, users can recover changed or deleted files within 180 days.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.

Google Messages Gets a Serious Security Upgrade - Droid Life

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST

Google announced a couple of big items related to its Messages app this morning, both of which have to do with RCS. The biggest news is likely in encryption, but if you've been waiting for RCS to arrive in your country, it should now be.

Global RCS rollout complete

RCS in Google Messages is now available globally after a somewhat slow rollout. This is a major milestone, though, as it brings next-gen "Chat" messaging capabilities to anyone whose carrier is a meanie and was refusing to work with Google to give them to you.

As you all know, Google realized last year that carriers were holding up a broader RCS rollout (because carriers like nothing more than to greedily squeeze cash out of messaging) and decided to give it to everyone without them. That has led to today's news, where everyone who uses Google Messages should have access to RCS, which means better group texting, a better media experience, read receipts, chatting over WiFi, etc. Here are some instructions for getting setup.

Encryption in Messages RCS is here

But as I mentioned above, the bigger news for privacy fans is in news that RCS in Messages will soon see end-to-end encryption. With encryption, this "ensures that no one, including Google and third parties, can read the content of your messages as they travel between your phone and the phone of the person you're messaging."

Google says that they'll start by encrypting messages sent in 1-on-1 conversations through the Google Messages beta (sign-up!) later this month and will continue rolling that out further into next year. All of your "eligible conversations" (ex: RCS used from both parties) will automatically upgrade to being end-to-end encrypted.

Big things.

// Google

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