In an earlier post we discussed some worries that you might have about online backup. One question was - how can I be sure that my data is kept confidential? We briefly explained that any good online backup service will ENCRYPT your data.
If you look at the Back Up Solutions site you will see the statement "Our files are 256-bit AES encrypted before being uploaded." What on earth does this mean?
Well I am not a techie so I don't understand the technicalities of encryption algorithms, but AES stands for "Advanced Encryption Standard". It is a symmetric key encryption technique which was accredited by the US government as the standard to which all encryptions must comply. The US government has confirmed that AES is secure enough to protect classified information up to TOP SECRET level - that is, it is the standard which the government itself uses to protect its MOST SENSITIVE information!
The AES algorithm uses one of three cipher key strengths: 128-bit, 192-bit or 256-bit. The larger the number of "bits", the more complex the algorithm used to scramble the data, so the more difficult it is for a hacker to get in.
So the encryption level used by Back Up Solutions is the highest level of security you can get! If it's good enough for the US government to protect its most top-level secret information, it's probably good enough to protect your data and mine!
If you look at the Back Up Solutions site you will see the statement "Our files are 256-bit AES encrypted before being uploaded." What on earth does this mean?
Well I am not a techie so I don't understand the technicalities of encryption algorithms, but AES stands for "Advanced Encryption Standard". It is a symmetric key encryption technique which was accredited by the US government as the standard to which all encryptions must comply. The US government has confirmed that AES is secure enough to protect classified information up to TOP SECRET level - that is, it is the standard which the government itself uses to protect its MOST SENSITIVE information!
The AES algorithm uses one of three cipher key strengths: 128-bit, 192-bit or 256-bit. The larger the number of "bits", the more complex the algorithm used to scramble the data, so the more difficult it is for a hacker to get in.
So the encryption level used by Back Up Solutions is the highest level of security you can get! If it's good enough for the US government to protect its most top-level secret information, it's probably good enough to protect your data and mine!
More about this in the next post.
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