OneDrive security?

gogreen · 02 Aug 2015

I've disabled OneDrive and removed its icon from the desktop. I might be inclined to use OneDrive, but I'm leery about its security. It seems that every week now there's a report that yet another website with personal information has been hacked. In the last year, two of my credit card companies have issued three new cards to me because a store's credit card information was stolen. So what are OneDrive's security measures, and do others share my reluctance?

I currently use another storage method. I encrypt and then back up critically important files.

Mystere · 02 Aug 2015

Given that Microsoft is probably the single largest target out there for hackers, the fact that OneDrive hasn't been compromised is pretty telling.

That's not to say that if an attacker has your password (this is common when you use the same password on multiple sites, attackers can gain access to another sites database, get your email and password and use them). However, OneDrive (and MS's email) has multi-factor authentication, so it's a bit harder (but not impossible). This is why I use a cellphone for an SMS message for the 2nd factor authentication, because that's much harder for them to circumvent.

Anything cloud based means that, if you can access, so can someone else, no matter how good the security... if they can get your security information in other ways (ie you don't use random, long passwords that are unique for every site).

You can encrypt files locally before you store them in OneDrive if you like...

gogreen · 03 Aug 2015

Thanks, Mystere, for your note. I suppose it's a mixture of curmudgeonness and paranoia that sparks my concern. Still, I already encrypt critical files for offsite storage, so I don't need OneDrive right now. I will continue to explore it, though. Thanks again.