Storing data in the Cloud? READ THIS and BEWARE.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you store data in the Microsoft-Cloud: READ THIS and BEWARE...
http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-micros ... -industry/

[exTPfan]

I'm not concerned about MS handing over my data in response to a search warrant. I'm concerned with what MS does with my data without a search warrant.

[jdrou]

I would certainly never store something that might involve jail time or worse on someone else's servers. Anything that might cause significant financial loss would need to be heavily encrypted (by me, not the storage provider).

[Dekks]

My guess US govt isnt interested in the losses to the US tech sector.

[ajkula66]

My guess US govt isnt interested in the losses to the US tech sector.

While I'm not a fan of MS, their loss in court could possibly mean more horrendous stuff than I dare imagine....

I'm not concerned about MS handing over my data in response to a search warrant.

I would be, if the data requested by the warrant were out of physical jurisdiction of such a warrant...as it is in this case.

I'm concerned with what MS does with my data without a search warrant.

Same here. However, that doesn't make me feel any better about the subject matter of this thread...

[pianowizard]

If you store data in the Microsoft-Cloud: READ THIS and BEWARE...

You think this problem is specific to Microsoft's cloud?

This is not yet another of those "Microsoft is bad" articles, which have become very trendy lately. This is about a much wider problem. It's a good article.

[RealBlackStuff]

You got to start somewhere, and M$ happens to be the first outfit under fire.
I'm sure others will follow and suffer the same...

[pianowizard]

You got to start somewhere, and M$ happens to be the first outfit under fire.
I'm sure others will follow and suffer the same...

The article says this is the first case of its kind, which I think means the first *legal case* of its kind. Similar search warrants might have happened before, but the cloud provider didn't resist.

[ajkula66]

You got to start somewhere, and M$ happens to be the first outfit under fire.
I'm sure others will follow and suffer the same...

The article says this is the first case of its kind, which I think means the first *legal case* of its kind. Similar search warrants might have happened before, but the cloud provider didn't resist.

That's not how I'm reading it...

The key issue here is the location of data. No sovereign country would take kindly to this type of action, and if there were such actions taken in the past against other providers with storage outside of U.S. you can be pretty darn certain that we would've heard about it.

MS has a lot on its plate this time around and while I'm definitely not their biggest fan, I do wish them luck for the sake of all of us.

[Temetka]

So when do we start seeing the exodus of US tech companies to other countries?

I see it this way:

US tech companies will no longer be trusted by other countries, thus weakening their ability to conduct business overseas. So they are either forced to relocate, or will be forced to do business solely in the states. Either way this doesn't look good for US companies or US citizens. What really bothers me about all of this is that joe consumer is not even aware of this and the government knows it. This allows the fed to run in any direction they wish. As history has shown us, they will not exercise any caution or control with their new found powers.

One can only hope and pray that this comes out before their control is absolute and we are able to pull back from the cliff. Otherwise I forsee a dark future of surveillance that will make the state we are in today seem like a fairy tale.

[ajkula66]

Otherwise I forsee a dark future of surveillance that will make the state we are in today seem like a fairy tale.

Brave New World, my friend...

[Omineca]

This kind of case only adds to the argument for decentralized, server-less computing, along the lines of tox.im, syncthing, etc.

[pianowizard]

That's not how I'm reading it...

The key issue here is the location of data.

We are reading it the exact same way. This is the first legal case of *its kind*, meaning a search warrant for cloud data located outside the U.S.

Microsoft (and others) had certainly fought against the federal government, in court, against warrants for domestic data.

if there were such actions taken in the past against other providers with storage outside of U.S. you can be pretty darn certain that we would've heard about it.

If the cloud provider didn't make a big deal out of it, we might not have heard about it. Why is Microsoft making this a big deal? To show that it does respect people's privacy, at a time when many people think otherwise.

This kind of case only adds to the argument for decentralized, server-less computing, along the lines of tox.im, syncthing, etc.

I say stick with local hard drives, like I do. Ideally, use external hard drives that are disconnected from the internet most of the time. I don't even use hard drives purchased by my institution, but instead my personal hard drives. The biggest 3.5" hard drives are now 10TB, and sub-6TB drives are dirt cheap.

[ajkula66]

If the cloud provider didn't make a big deal out of it, we might not have heard about it.

Well, I'd be reasonably certain that the "foreign government" in question would likely make a big deal out of it. And if you think that they wouldn't find out, you may want to re-examine that train of thoughts.

Why is Microsoft making this a big deal? To show that it does respect people's privacy, at a time when many people think otherwise.

Yep. There's an awful lot at stake here, both for MS and us.

[Saucey]

I think nearly all companies have to comply with US with file searches on their clould database.
Its just renting out a room or land to someone who is doing devious acts in your property.
It would not be fun to get raided and get jailed for.

Anyways the thing is, Micro$oft helped Russia take out those who didn't agree with their government.
I don't want to sound like I have tinfoil hat but I wouldn't be surprised if there will be something similar in the US.

It sucks as even if its not illegal or bad, there's possibility of it still being suspicious to the US or cloud servers.
Cloud servers are great for music, I'd love to have my music online but given how the RIAA views .mp3 files as easy copyright lawsuits, I'm a bit skeptical about uploading it anytime soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/world ... .html?_r=0