The technology behind cloud computing and data storage, which have together been termed today’s biggest advancements in the electronic world, faced a dark day last September. Cloud computing has enabled online storage and faster access to users photos, music, videos and a vast array of heavy data through remote servers.
One such secure remote server is the iCloud, which is a product of Apple Inc. This was the target of a malicious attack perpetrated in September last year. A hacker was able to penetrate the security walls around the iCloud system, access and siphon off personal photographs belonging to famous A-list Hollywood actresses. These photos made their way into the hands of unscrupulous celebrity stalkers who transmitted them through various social media sites to be drooled upon by salacious masses.
The hacker, whose identity remains unknown, posted private nude photographs of hundreds of Hollywood stars, which were retrieved from the stars’ personal accounts on iCloud, by taking advantage of iCloud system security vulnerability. The stars that were affected by the hacking include Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kate Upton, Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst.
Immediately after the incident, Apple Inc. had shown no response, despite statements of outrage by some of the affected actresses. Jennifer Lawrence, through an official representative to CBS, asserted that the leak was a blatant violation of privacy. One actress issued a statement denying the nude photos in circulation while another had quite the harsh response directed at the lascivious individuals who were currently ‘enjoying’ her photos.
On her Twitter handle, Mary Elizabeth Winstead wrote: “Knowing those photos were deleted long ago, I can only imagine the creepy effort that went into this. Feeling for everyone who got hacked. To those of you looking at photos I took with my husband years ago in the privacy of our home, hope you feel great about yourselves.”
The actress was further insulted on various social media sites following her response on Tweeter. One tweet directed at her said “Stop posing nude on camera, dummy!” while another said, “Your husband does not know what you look like nude? #LessonLearned”.
Not one to back down from confrontation, Winstead’s response was “Great day for the block button! Going on an internet break” after which she added, “Feel free to (read) my @’s for a glimpse of what it’s like to be a woman who speaks up about anything on Twitter.”
The incident provided new ammunition for the advocates of privacy who have stated that nothing found online can be deemed 100% secure, regardless of the extent of precaution taken to ensure the same. According to one critic, the concept of cloud computing and remote storage has brought on a fresh wave of crime, resulting in hazy, impulsive, messy and capricious results, which are difficult to predict hence prevent.
Accordingly, cloud computing security concerns are not only limited to individuals’ privacy, hundreds of corporations globally have embraced remote storage within their organizations, numbers that continue to increase by an average of 50% every year.
Above article has been contributed by Isabella and she is currently engaged with http://remotedba.com/. To know more about Isabella, visit her site.
