A research study published by PEW titled Internet Evolution states that:
“69% of online Americans use webmail services, store data online, or use software programs such as word processing applications whose functionality is located on the web. Online users who take advantage of cloud applications say they like the convenience of having access to data and applications from any Web-connected device.”
In plain English, Cloud computing is a process by which an organization disperses your content and data across numerous systems, platforms, and physical data centers in order to ensure your data is highly available on demand. Cloud computing has been embraced by Google, salesforce.com, Amazon, social networking sites and many more.
Some typical cloud computing activities:
The survey indicated most users are unaware they are using cloud computing, and interestingly enough, when asked about privacy, these were the responses:
- 90% of cloud application users say they would be very concerned if the company at
which their data were stored sold it to another party. - 80% say they would be very concerned if companies used their photos or other data
in marketing campaigns. - 68% of users of at least one of the six cloud applications say they would be very
concerned if companies who provided these services analyzed their information and
then displayed ads to them based on their actions.
The bottom line: Privacy is a novel idea, and in theory the majority is concerned about it. But, when it comes to getting in the way of checking your gmail on my blackberry, or uploading pictures of your birthday party to your Facebook profile, you, the public, just don’t let that stand in the way.
Americans should be more vigilant about their privacy and push the companies that provide such services to be more transparent about where and how they store your data. If the public doesn’t pressure these organizations, nothing will change, and if there ever will be a disastrous data breach, the government will step in with bad legislation, and there goes the neighborhood…
Protecting your privacy is a contact sport, I suggest you start getting in shape!