For years now people have been talking about the cloud. “That document is in the cloud,” they’ll say, or, “I saved those pictures in the cloud.” Meanwhile, nobody ever bothers to explain it.
Let’s end that vague talk once and for all. It’s time to get a grip on this shadowy figure known as the cloud.
What Is the Cloud?
Simply put, the cloud is the concept of using someone else’s computer server to store, host or process data. The cloud is a service offered by all kinds of companies. If you use a computer, smartphone, smart TV or any other kind of electronic device that connects to the internet, chances are you’ve used some form of cloud service.
There are all kinds of cloud services. Netflix is one. So are Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Yahoo Mail, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive. There are many more, but you get the drift.
Why Does the Cloud Matter?
The cloud allows us to access large amounts of information on any device with an internet connection. Think about streaming a movie or episodes of a show on Netflix. Now, imagine trying to store every single movie or show available on Netflix on your home computer. It would stop working. Cloud technology is how we can choose from tens of thousands of movies to watch at the touch of our remotes.
Cloud services are how your child can write a paper on their laptop and you can edit it from an entirely different place, whether it’s your office or another city, state or country. The cloud’s remote servers handle much of the computing and the storage, so you don’t have to buy a Pentagon-worthy computer.
The cloud also allows us to store and back up our own data. For instance, you can store and view documents, videos and your photo collection on a cloud service without overloading your computer or smartphone’s internal storage.
If you use cloud services, anything you save is backed up and accessible from anywhere, provided you remember usernames and passwords. A fire, network outage or a power surge might destroy your devices, but your information can still be secure in the cloud if you backed it up.
Where Is the Cloud?
The cloud is not actually in the clouds. Cloud services are right here on Earth, stored inside computer servers that are most likely sitting inside server farms— giant, temperature-controlled facilities full of computer servers that store and transmit information. Next time you picture the cloud, think of rows of black boxes with blinking lights.
Not-so Silver Linings
There can be downsides to storing and accessing information remotely, however. For one thing, many cloud services cost money. Some devices, such as iPhones, offer free cloud storage up to a certain amount of data. After that, you’ll need a subscription. Business cloud services often charge per gigabyte of storage.
Also, cloud services only work with internet access. Without the internet, there is no connecting to the cloud. And despite serious security measures set in place by cloud service companies, hackers can still find ways to get in. Other calamities that could disrupt your cloud services are natural disasters and other disruptions that cause network outages.
Avoid QR Mischief
QR codes—short for quick response codes—pop up frequently. TV ads, restaurant menus and many more businesses and services rely on these little squares of blocky lines to link a smartphone user to handy information, a download or as a way to digitally send money to someone.
The FBI, however, has warned that cybercriminals may tamper with the codes. The FBI offers a few tips so you can take advantage of QR codes while staying safe and secure:
- After scanning a QR code, check the URL to make sure it is the site you want. A malicious domain name may be similar to the intended URL but with typos or a misplaced letter.
- Be cautious when entering login, personal or financial information.
- If scanning a physical QR code, ensure the code shows no signs of tampering, such as a sticker placed over the original.
- Do not download an app from a QR code.
- If you receive an email asking you to complete a payment through a QR code, call the requesting company to verify. Look up the company’s number on a trusted site—don’t use a number from the email.
- Do not download a QR code scanner app—the built-in phone camera is a safer option.
- If you get a QR code you believe to be from someone you know, contact them through a known number or address to verify.
- Avoid making payments through a site navigated to from a QR code. Instead, manually enter a known and trusted URL to complete the payment.