Caution for cloud users

[Bramblethorn]

I know a lot of authors here use Google and similar services to store their stories...

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9kgwnp/porn-on-google-drive-error

"Six porn performers I talked to and more on social media said that they suddenly can't download adult content they keep on Google Drive. They also said they can't a share that content with other accounts or send to clients. In some cases, the adult content is disappearing from Drive without warning or explanation."

This doesn't look like an immediate threat to written erotica. From what I can see, Google Drive's policy permits written material but not explicit video; until now they weren't enforcing the video policy, and people unwisely assumed that they never would.

But perhaps take it as a reminder not to put all your eggs in one basket. By all means work on the cloud, but keep a local backup!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I don't use google anything, their terms state they own it once it's there.

I have my own website I use to backup too.
I also use dvd +rw
I also have six hard drives that are mirrored and shadowed. One fails and the other is now the main drive.
I also have assorted flash drives.

There are other clouds out there, but usually cost real money. Like my websites do.

 

[Bramblethorn]

There are other clouds out there, but usually cost real money. Like my websites do.

As the saying goes, "if you're not the customer, you're the product."

 

[Hypoxia]

I may be transitioning soon from DropBox to OneDrive, or maybe not. Gotta work out some details to see what's best for linking desktop, laptops, tablets, and phone. I don't think DropBox claims ownership or imposes censorship.

But all my texts reside on a memory stick in my ThinkPad, mirrored to the desktop's hard disc, then ascending into a cloud. I do not trust cloud services to be friendly to my wants and needs. I don't fear revelation of my dreadful secrets. But I'm careful not to confess crimes in my texts. Not real ones, anyway. Not like the time I... [/deleted]

 

[sr71plt]

I use Literotica to store written erotica and porn.

 

[SolarRay]

I don't know if this necessarily translates well to using a cloud drive to share documents with others in the scenario described, but I use iCloud drive to store my work, but I keep it in a password protected disk image. I suppose you could do the same with Google Drive? If the content, whatever type it is, is stored inside a disk image I would think it's unrecognizable to any content filters.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Actually, with the new option for the author over at Smashword (download Original File) you could use them as a backup. Just save them as drafts.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I don't know if this necessarily translates well to using a cloud drive to share documents with others in the scenario described, but I use iCloud drive to store my work, but I keep it in a password protected disk image. I suppose you could do the same with Google Drive? If the content, whatever type it is, is stored inside a disk image I would think it's unrecognizable to any content filters.

That would presumably protect against filtering that relies on scanning content, but it's still a good idea to have a copy elsewhere. While they may not be able to read your file, they can still block you from accessing it until you give them the password.

I doubt Google has much desire to do that, but technologically illiterate laws like these may force them to do so. If that happens, it's quite possible that Dropbox, iCloud etc. will also be affected; better to diversify with not just the company but also the type of solution, e.g. keep a local copy as well as the cloud one.

I remember one company, based in World Trade Center Tower 1, who kept their off-site backups in Tower 2... that didn't work out well for them.

 

[SolarRay]

That would presumably protect against filtering that relies on scanning content, but it's still a good idea to have a copy elsewhere. While they may not be able to read your file, they can still block you from accessing it until you give them the password.

I doubt Google has much desire to do that, but technologically illiterate laws like these may force them to do so. If that happens, it's quite possible that Dropbox, iCloud etc. will also be affected; better to diversify with not just the company but also the type of solution, e.g. keep a local copy as well as the cloud one.

I remember one company, based in World Trade Center Tower 1, who kept their off-site backups in Tower 2... that didn't work out well for them.

That's a good point. I suppose then the task to do, at least for iCloud if not also for Google Cloud, DropBox, etc., is to confirm that automatic Time Machine backups include anything in iCloud Drive -- in which case not only are local backups made already, but also with revisioning.

 

[Bray123]

As someone who works with secure data, why anyone would entrust private stuff to a free company which depends on using your data for generating its profits is baffling.

If you need to access it anywhere in the world from any device, it costs a few $$ a year for a hosted website with a decent capacity, which can be used for the storage of any data you damn well like.

If that access is not critical, keep it stuff to yourself. It's been years since I've even heard of a hard drive failing (and I'd rather lose some things than find them in the public domain).

 

[8letters]

A story about a guy who lost years worth of personal data because of hackers were able to hack his Apple account:
https://www.wired.com/2012/08/apple-amazon-mat-honan-hacking/