5 ms·

I certainly see something like number 1 happening much sooner than later. I actually think something that works like dropbox could achieve this. Keep a copy l

I certainly see something like number 1 happening much sooner than later. I actually think something that works like dropbox could achieve this. Keep a copy locally on my machine, but have it all sync'd and stored online. There wasn't really a need for this 10 years ago. We pretty much had one computer. Now we have many, and the number will only grow larger. Mobile phone, kindle, tablet, game console, netbook, desktop pc,etc. are all computers. Someone needs to create something so all of these devices can be in sync/talk to each other. I envision a day where any system I buy or log in to can access the same settings, files, etc. instantly.

mattmanser 17y ago
Are you totally crazy? point 1 = end of privacy, freedom and sanity which is why we must pray that it will never, ever happen.
- jacquesm 17y ago
  Exactly. To put all our data in the hands of untrusted and not-beholden third parties is really asking for trouble at a level that is hard to even comprehend. Anyway, the first major cloud dataloss will put an end to that one. And that's only a matter of time.
  - mattmanser 17y ago
    One wonders what will happen when one of the cloud computing companies goes bust and it turns out the data that was oh-so-secure turns out to be legally fair game to anyone with a cheque book. But the other comments are spot on too, it's all in the air, but Facebook's and Google's recent attitude of you shared so you're damned has left me gravely worried about our future.
  - lunchbox 17y ago
    Anyway, the first major cloud dataloss will put an end to that one. I am willing to bet you on this. Big datalosses will happen, and people will for the most part continue doing what they did before, because they don't know better, because it's less of a hassle, or because the cat's already out of the bag. Look at the long list of data losses and privacy breaches that have happened in recent years: http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm#2005 http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm#2005 These haven't significantly changed the way your average person protects their data. People continue to put their data at risk in ways that boggle my mind, but we hackers have to be careful not to assume the average consumer shares our tech savvy and concerns for privacy. As for the question of data loss: sure, a cloud provider might lose your data, but then again you might spill coffee on your laptop and do the same. (Again, "you" meaning the average consumer.)
  - greendestiny 17y ago
    I don't think a massive cloud dataloss will be that big a deal, it will all be cached locally. Also I think data will be pretty segmented between many providers (like steam for games, flickr for photos, etc) not like Dropbox on a whole harddrive.
- lunchbox 17y ago
  1. Predicting that it will happen isn't the same as saying that it's a good thing. 2. Even if it does happen, that doesn't mean everybody would be forced to use it. If you don't want to put your data on Dropbox you don't have to. 3. From a technical perspective, isn't it premature to conclude that hosting all our data means the end of privacy? For example, I can host all my data on my own server and connect all my devices to it without compromising my privacy. I am sure smart people are working on other solutions. (I think the end of privacy will pretty much happen anyway, but I'm not sure that cloud computing will be the culprit.)
  - borism 17y ago
    I think the end of privacy will pretty much happen anyway, but I'm not sure that cloud computing will be the culprit. Agreed on that one. Moving everything into the cloud will just speed things up for the culprits ;)
- paul 17y ago
  Do you keep your money in a bank, or under your mattress? I think you're underestimating the security of Google's servers and overestimating the security of your own computer.
  - gloob 17y ago
    All the security in the world won't protect Google's servers from a subpeona, and no black hat on the planet can break into my wallet without being in immediate physical proximity to me.
    - stanleydrew 17y ago
      Are you suggesting your personal computer is somehow immune to subpoenas?
      - orangecat 17y ago
        Your personal computer is less likely to be compromised as part of a fishing expedition, like when the feds tried to get Google to turn over an entire week's worth of search history to help them defend of one of their "for the children" laws. I could easily see them demanding access to all Google Docs containing certain keywords.
        ErrantX 17y ago
        > I could easily see them demanding access to all Google Docs containing certain keywords. IANAL but I have experience in this rough area. That is pure scare mongering and I don't think there is even the remotest possibility they would get away with it. If they even tried Google would wrap them in counter-defence so fast it would be funny. Also, for the record, your search history may be criminally suggestive but it is not something they could use to actually prosecute you (this is something I do know about). They still need a subpeona on your personal machine :) Fishing is expensive; forces tend not to do it too much (despite what the politico's want to suggest otherwise). :)
    - ErrantX 17y ago

mattmanser 17y ago

Are you totally crazy? point 1 = end of privacy, freedom and sanity which is why we must pray that it will never, ever happen.

jacquesm 17y ago
Exactly. To put all our data in the hands of untrusted and not-beholden third parties is really asking for trouble at a level that is hard to even comprehend. Anyway, the first major cloud dataloss will put an end to that one. And that's only a matter of time.
- mattmanser 17y ago
  One wonders what will happen when one of the cloud computing companies goes bust and it turns out the data that was oh-so-secure turns out to be legally fair game to anyone with a cheque book. But the other comments are spot on too, it's all in the air, but Facebook's and Google's recent attitude of you shared so you're damned has left me gravely worried about our future.
- lunchbox 17y ago
  Anyway, the first major cloud dataloss will put an end to that one. I am willing to bet you on this. Big datalosses will happen, and people will for the most part continue doing what they did before, because they don't know better, because it's less of a hassle, or because the cat's already out of the bag. Look at the long list of data losses and privacy breaches that have happened in recent years: http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm#2005 http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm#2005 These haven't significantly changed the way your average person protects their data. People continue to put their data at risk in ways that boggle my mind, but we hackers have to be careful not to assume the average consumer shares our tech savvy and concerns for privacy. As for the question of data loss: sure, a cloud provider might lose your data, but then again you might spill coffee on your laptop and do the same. (Again, "you" meaning the average consumer.)
- greendestiny 17y ago
  I don't think a massive cloud dataloss will be that big a deal, it will all be cached locally. Also I think data will be pretty segmented between many providers (like steam for games, flickr for photos, etc) not like Dropbox on a whole harddrive.
lunchbox 17y ago
1. Predicting that it will happen isn't the same as saying that it's a good thing. 2. Even if it does happen, that doesn't mean everybody would be forced to use it. If you don't want to put your data on Dropbox you don't have to. 3. From a technical perspective, isn't it premature to conclude that hosting all our data means the end of privacy? For example, I can host all my data on my own server and connect all my devices to it without compromising my privacy. I am sure smart people are working on other solutions. (I think the end of privacy will pretty much happen anyway, but I'm not sure that cloud computing will be the culprit.)
- borism 17y ago
  I think the end of privacy will pretty much happen anyway, but I'm not sure that cloud computing will be the culprit. Agreed on that one. Moving everything into the cloud will just speed things up for the culprits ;)
paul 17y ago
Do you keep your money in a bank, or under your mattress? I think you're underestimating the security of Google's servers and overestimating the security of your own computer.
- gloob 17y ago
  All the security in the world won't protect Google's servers from a subpeona, and no black hat on the planet can break into my wallet without being in immediate physical proximity to me.
  - stanleydrew 17y ago
    Are you suggesting your personal computer is somehow immune to subpoenas?
    - orangecat 17y ago
      Your personal computer is less likely to be compromised as part of a fishing expedition, like when the feds tried to get Google to turn over an entire week's worth of search history to help them defend of one of their "for the children" laws. I could easily see them demanding access to all Google Docs containing certain keywords.
      - ErrantX 17y ago
        > I could easily see them demanding access to all Google Docs containing certain keywords. IANAL but I have experience in this rough area. That is pure scare mongering and I don't think there is even the remotest possibility they would get away with it. If they even tried Google would wrap them in counter-defence so fast it would be funny. Also, for the record, your search history may be criminally suggestive but it is not something they could use to actually prosecute you (this is something I do know about). They still need a subpeona on your personal machine :) Fishing is expensive; forces tend not to do it too much (despite what the politico's want to suggest otherwise). :)
  - ErrantX 17y ago