Sharing Files Securely

How Dropbox can be a danger to your corporate network:

 http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/dropsmack-using-dropbox-to-steal-files-and-deliver-malware/9332?tag=nl.e101&s_cid=e101&ttag=e101

And now Yahoo mail comes with Dropbox built in! Combine the above with this:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/dropbox-yahoo-team-up/?utm_source=nrel&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=nrel

Could it be possible the bad guys have just been handed another tool?

 

After all… Dropbox has had its issues:

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/dropbox-convenient-absolutely-but-is-it-secure/5618?tag=content;siu-container

 

It is convenient, there is no doubt. I’ve been asked if I use Dropbox. I often deal in large video files or quantities of photos. Something that convenient would be nice. But only if I could do so securely. The above are good reasons to consider security over convenience. Sure, I’m just sharing photos and videos, but my concern is not that my photos are on the web. I share photos on Flickr, and upload videos to YouTube pretty regularly. My concern in the case of Dropbox is the app that needs to be installed on the local machine. It has the potential to leave a back door open on the local machine, which degrades the integrity of the network. On a business computer this is not acceptable.

I started this blog last week. Today I decided to do some more research of Dropbox and similar systems. I found an article about Novell’s Filr. I’m a firm believer in Novell products – and this one looks like another winner for the enterprise. Filr can be run on multiple platforms, and the files reside on your own servers, where your admin can control the security and see who has access and who doesn’t. Files can still be shared outside the network for 3^rd parties if necessary.

http://news.techworld.com/security/3442669/novells-new-filr-software-offers-secure-alternative-to-dropbox/

Need to share files within your business network or to your customers? Do a little research into the products available before installing anything on the network.  Look for the security features that fit your situation.