Wikibon Senior Analyst Stu Miniman recently stated that while cloud computing has been much talked about over the past five years, we’re still in the early stages.  Which means there’s still lots that can be improved upon with cloud storage and cloud storage security just some of the chief concerns.

Google is said to be experimenting with new methods of encrypting files stored in its Google Drive product, but with Ed Snowden’s revelations that the government is in cahoots with leading US internet firms to snoop on people’s lives, the looming question is what can people do to keep their files secure?

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With cloud storage replacing the use of USB sticks to keep files at the ready, some are questioning whether it is wise to use these services knowing that the government can easily take a peek at your files.

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Non-cloud storage?

The reason we love cloud storage so much is because it makes it easier to access our files from anywhere we go, using any device we want, without having to lug around enormous external storage devices with us.  With cloud storage, your synced files are only ever a click or two away at the most.

But the problem with cloud storage is that it can be hacked, spied upon, the provider could go bust, heck it could even be hit by a hurricane.  One alternative is to go back to just storing everything on our hard drives, but for those of us who are used to the freedom and mobility that the cloud gives us, that’s an idea we can’t even begin to contemplate.

So what’s the best way of storing and sharing data?  Simple, we find something that provides all the benefits of the cloud, only without an actual cloud!

BitTorrent Sync

One of the most exciting alternatives to cloud storage is BitTorrent Sync, a product that’s been under development for some months now, and one we’ve been watching closely. It’s encryption is based on the peer-to-peer BitTorrent protocol, which means your files are directly moved from one device to another.  The data isn’t stored in the cloud at all, and the data transfer is always encrypted.

Users can set things up so that only those with access to the key, called a Secret, can open the file and the keys can even be a one-time use key if you’re exceptionally paranoid.  The easiest way to explain this is by comparing it to transferring or sharing files via a secured Bluetooth connection – the first device connects via Bluetooth to your device, then it just sends over the files securely, so that nothing can intercept them.

As the name suggests, BitTorrent Sync is able to sync photos, videos, and documents across all of your different devices so everything is available when needed, without even thinking about any clouds.  The service was released in private beta back in April, and has now been released in public beta so anyone interested can head on over to the site and download BitTorrent Sync.

We think BitTorrent Sync promises to be an extremely useful application for those who’re concerned about privacy, but if for whatever reason you’re a ‘bit’ suspicious of the BitTorrent protocol, then the following devices may be for you:

Transporter

This bottle-shaped storage device can be best described as a “private cloud.” The hardware acts as your main server, and can be kept safely in your office or home away from the prying eyes of the NSA or anyone else who cares to know about your private life. Think of it as a cloud server on a private network that no-one else knows about – it’s about as secret as you can get, and ideal for the paranoid and criminally-minded alike.

The Transporter comes in three variants; a $199 version that has no drive so you choose the capacity you need and the driver you trust; a $299 version which comes with 1TB drive; and a $399 version that packs a massive 2TB drive.  All three versions come with unlimited sharing, file protection, file accessibility from anywhere, and you don’t have to pay any monthly or yearly fees to use it.

It has been released in Europe and version 2.0 will soon be landing in the US.  Version 2.0 features a simplified interface with full drag-and-drop support, right-click functionality and the ability to share links to files with others; flexible sync options for limited capacity devices; iOS and Android apps support for smartphone and tablet Transporter file access; and enhanced connection technology so users can connect to and access their Transporter files regardless of the firewall security that may be in place.

Click here for more storage options like the Transporter.

Space Monkey

Slightly similar to Transporter-but-not-really, the Space Monkey promises to be a revolution in cloud-like, non-cloud storage solutions. Think of it as a network of “space monkey servers” scattered around the world, with ‘half’ of your data stored on your own device, and ‘half’ stored on the rest of the devices (wherever they may be).

For $10 a month, you’d be given a Space Monkey device that comes in Glossy White or Matte Black which stores up to 1TB of data.  The data is stored both in the device and the company’s encrypted shared network (the other devices) which makes data available whenever or wherever you need it and is sharable with your peers.

Data stored in Space Monkey is “broken up into 40 different ‘pieces’ of data, with half of them being parity pieces and the other half being erasure coded, so that even if someone does access your files it won’t make any sense to them. Instead of all your data being stored in a central data server, all of those Space Monkeys are essentially tied together to create a network-based data center that hosts your digital files,”

SiliconANGLE’s Mike Wheatley explains in more detail here.

Seagate Wireless Plus

Not everyone can afford a cloud subscription, so the next best thing is getting an external hard drive, preferably 1TB or higher, to store all your prized digital possessions.  The trouble with most of these external hard drives is that in order to get the data stored in it, you need to physically connect it to a computer.

And that’s the beauty of the Seagate Wireless Plus.  It allows up to eight devices to wirelessly connect to it, accessing data via an accompanying Seagate Media App.  It has an internal battery that lasts up to 10 hours so you can take it wherever you want to have your data readily available even without an internet connection – it’s like a lumbering, physical version of the cloud.

Contributor: Mellisa Tolentino