Warning to "iCloud" users

[people]

That's not correct. Cloud services are largely provided by clustered, highly redundant servers in geographically diverse data centers. Stored data is usually replicated through a variety of schemes to ensure continuity, regardless what happens at an individual site. My organization provides both a private, highly secure "dark cloud" in our data center and similar services hosted in Amazon's AWS cloud services infrastructure. There is no single definition but a "cloud" is not "really the internet."

In the Op's unfortunate case, there was no unforeseen data loss problem. This was a "terms of service" problem.

Server or server cluster basically the same thing. I would guess 99% of the guys on this forum do not even know what a server is let alone what deduplication is.

The data loss was more than a terms of service thing. It goes to not actually backing up your data. No matter your security plan is it needs offline storage at a minimum. Different locations should just be the way. I send DVDs and technical packages to my brother you know just in case.

 

[Albany Mountain]

Why would anyone pass personal info onward to what seems to be an acceptable thing and sign of the times of technology, but does not offer to even identify theirselves and their policies upfront unless they stick it into a 27-54 page legal document for your approval. My work has set everything up in my cloud which I immmediately disabled, since I didn't give my permission since its my stuff on their computer. If they disagree with this, they can have the damn thing back and I will get my own.

 

[Dave Berg]

I would guess 99% of the guys on this forum do not even know what a server is

It's the cute chick in a short skirt that brings the drinks right?

 

[theMadAlaskan]

"Terms of service". That would be the 98 pages of 8 point type written in legalese.

 

[Ray B]

It's the cute chick in a short skirt that brings the drinks right?

No, it's the two big boxes sitting in my living room waiting for transportation to my son's apartment. what he's going to use two servers for is way beyond my level of internet comprehension.

 

[rogn]

I think this is really old tech, like dinosewer tech, but why rely so blindly on volatile storage. "Clouds", sticks, remote hard drives. All subject to the whims of physics and such. Park your stick on a cute magnet and you might not find anything to retrieve. Dont people still burn things on a disc? Isnt a data stick also a possible route for a malware or who knows what new digital malady. Discs are still durable as long as we dont let the gurus render them obsolete. Just $0.02.

 

[jpx2rk]

I just wonder what the latest/greatest method of media storage will be in 5 years, or 10. Will the "cloud" be obsolete, will anyone who has used a jumpdrive or dvd to back up their pictures/data, etc., be able to retrieve the info in 10 yrs when you need to. Will there be a USB socket in 10 yrs to plug that jump drive into, will there be software to "see" what is on that jump drive?

 

[joshb]

This happened to me about a month ago. It still really tick's me off. I checked my iPad storage capability. Several sources said I could store my photos on my pad, no problem. To have those people come into MY computer and STEAL my photos from me is unconscionable. Lesson learned! I just needed to warn other Dinosaurs.

 

[JRS]

Do you have "optimize storage" turned on?

This might help you: support.apple.com/en-us/HT204264

Always back-up anything/everything that is important to you.

 

[carlsbad]

This happened to me about a month ago. It still really tick's me off. I checked my iPad storage capability. Several sources said I could store my photos on my pad, no problem. To have those people come into MY computer and STEAL my photos from me is unconscionable. Lesson learned! I just needed to warn other Dinosaurs.

A lot of replies are missing your point. I get it. You put a copy of your photo on their cloud. They then decided that they own your original photo and can delete it. This is ridiculous. They should not have the ability to change anything on your device. I personally boycott all apple products because their attitude that they know what you need and if you'll just load your credit card with them, they will sell it to you from iTunes. But to take ownership of your photos on your device and hold them hostage for more money, although not surprising that they would try it, should be illegal.

--Jerry

 

[rvn1968]

Like "Blackthorn",I also use external hard-drives. Mine are two separate WD "My Cloud" drives that are disconnected when not actually in use copying info.I also use an APC power backup that gives me all the time I need if I lose power to the house.. Belt and suspenders,or 1911 and AR. Just in case. Tom

 

[Toolbreaker]

Sorry for your loss, Josh. Although it doesn't help now, I do as another poster has stated and back up all of my pics and documents to an external hard drive just for that purpose. As a side note: I test-drove some CAD software awhile back that looked promising...until I seen that the only way to save files was through their cloud, and not locally to my computer. I promptly uninstalled the software. Unfortunately (to myself, anyways), this seems to be the direction that many software companies are headed.

 

[JRS]

You can always download photos to your computer, then transfer them to a CD/DVD.

 

[dickn52]

Go to your local wally world. Computer section. Buy a 3TB storage unit. Connect to your computer with USB cord. It will act like another HDD. Store everything there, and then disconnect it until you need to store more or retrieve something. No one can remove anything that is NOT connected to the internet except the owner/user.

 

[dickn52]

Sorry for your loss, Josh. Although it doesn't help now, I do as another poster has stated and back up all of my pics and documents to an external hard drive just for that purpose. As a side note: I test-drove some CAD software awhile back that looked promising...until I seen that the only way to save files was through their cloud, and not locally to my computer. I promptly uninstalled the software. Unfortunately (to myself, anyways), this seems to be the direction that many software companies are headed.

Look at Microsoft Office. you can't buy a hard disc now. Everything is downloaded and then stored on their servers. There is no privacy in that. When someone says cloud, then think about sharing with them because they now have possession.

 

[dickn52]

This happened to me about a month ago. It still really tick's me off. I checked my iPad storage capability. Several sources said I could store my photos on my pad, no problem. To have those people come into MY computer and STEAL my photos from me is unconscionable. Lesson learned! I just needed to warn other Dinosaurs.

TOS (terms of service) agreements probably have the language that gives them the right.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Sorry that you lost your image files. However, that's small potatoes compared to what is going to happen the instant the cloud becomes "self-aware" . Even data stored on a flash drive in the safe probably won't be safe at that point.

 

[RustyMetal]

I have never messed with iCloud, or should I say opened myself up to even more problems. I simply back everything up to standard DVDs periodically, because they are compatible with most everything. Then I keep an ongoing 'live' backup to a 64gb USB drive. That works like a charm for me.