Why You Should be Grateful For The PSN Attack

[neiroatopelcc]

He's sort of got a point here! Despite my view that security is a burden I agree with him.

 

[alidan]

if i can ever access car data from a cloud, i will hack the service, and at 1-4am i will make all cars honk horns and not let up...

the jail time would be worth it.

 

[internetlad]

One of the first, intelligent, well written and interesting articles I've read on Tom's Guide. Kudos.

 

[fir_ser]

You are right Wolfgang Gruener, what happened to Sony’s PSN is a game changing event for the cloud computing industry.

 

[tidex]

Agreed.
But don't get me wrong I think cloud computing has potential in SOME areas, not all.
Places where security and privacy are key should be left alone. Other areas however like games and music where privacy and security do not matter, work very well with the cloud system. Steam is an excellent example of this and I have high hopes for google music. On the other hand some places that should be avoided are our personal lives and information (facebook) or our finances. (paypal)

I'm glad that sony got hacked, they needed a reality check and it served as a warning to other companies relying on the cloud. Security is almost, if not, the most important part of running a tech company. Running outdated software and leaving holes where there shouldn't be are inexusable. Put everything you don't need online on a closed loop, make backups, update your software, stop using proprietary garbage for everything, and take security seriously.

 

[Xenophage]

Cloud services for something as simple as word processing never actually made any sense to me considering the cheap, ubiquitous, portable nature of high performance computing. It's already beyond simple to share my important documents with my various devices.

I see a use for it in computationally intensive routines. Game streaming, for instance, makes sense - if they can eliminate latency issues and provide a better experience than I can afford with my own hardware.

 

[RevolutionRed]

As a software engineer who works on a Cloud based product, I can say that this article is true. There are already real repercussions in the industry due to this attack, but probably not as large as he makes it out to be. Many software companies are run by CEOs who don't have the first clue about security, programming, technology, etc., and have never heard of PSN.

To all the people in the comments bashing on the Cloud, realize it's just a marketing term. If you are connected to the internet, you are part of the Cloud and participate in it. By virtue of the fact you commented on this article, I must assume this true. Security is a big issue on networks. Always will be. But how many people here are saying "WHAT?? A SECURITY FLAW THAT THEY DIDN'T PATCH?? WTF??" and then turn around and say "Yeah, I never update windows. I don't like Microsoft taking over my computer and breaking things."

As far as large databases with personal information goes (the central attack point argument), do you seriously think they don't already exist? That the driver's license division in your state doesn't already have the names, SSN, and addresses of every driver in the state? That's just one example. What about credit card companies. You think they don't have all your information in a database somewhere? Of course they do. But they try to protect it. Sony clearly failed.

Like it or not, the Cloud (which as I said is just a marketing term for the Internet) is the future. It makes things easier, cheaper, faster. It's not perfect. It probably will never be perfect. Neither are physical locations. My father-in-law just had his house raided and everything was stolen, including his on-site backup. Would he still have his data if he would have made a copy in the Cloud? Yes. Banks are robbed, cars are stolen, money is lost. That's life. Try to protect your data. Choose online companies that are willing to do the same.

 

[eklipz330]

i dont agree with you when you say if they had evil intentions, they would have done so already. smart criminals hold onto information or stolen money for months or maybe even years before actually using it to lessen the chance of being caught

 

[gm0n3y]

The problem I have with cloud computing is that it is going in the opposite direction that ISPs are going. Cloud computing sound great for many things. I'd love to store my movies, music, games, etc in the cloud. But with bandwidth caps becoming increasingly common and ISPs keeping the same speeds/caps/prices for years it just doesn't seem feasible. When a household needs a $100/month internet connection just to use cloud services for digital media, then it is not acceptable.

 

[Onus]

A useful, workable/working service like Steam may represent a "mini-cloud," but The Cloud, in which you can do any and all kinds of data processing, where all your data is aggregated in someone else's "zone of control" does nothing but obviate your need to know what you're doing, or to think. It is a really bad idea on its face.
At best, The Cloud should be seen like that little flat-blade screwdriver in your tool box. Very useful on those occasions you have a use for it, but hardly suitable for every occasion.

 

[pythonic13]

+1 RevolutionRed well put, its funny how people are so upset over the cloud computing concept yet have important information stored online already.

 

[Guest]

The problem with the cloud isn't really security, its that we just don't have the infrastructure for it, and won't have it within the next few decades or more. Until high-speed stable wireless connections (or even better, wired, as stable wireless is more or less an impossibility) are free to everyone, everywhere, cloud computing is just a waste of resources and cost-ineffective. It's slower, more error prone, and less secure than dedicated machines, and if the big companies have their way it'll probably be more expensive too, even if it's cheaper on their end.

No companies out there are interested in developing cloud computing because it could be innovative or useful, they want to develop it because its another way to charge people indefinitely (and without an opportunity to cancel without losing everything) instead of allowing them to own what they purchase. That seems to be the general trend these days, rent out products rather than sell them. It's pure profit for the company, after all.

As far as I'm concerned, infinite cost (by way of a never-ending monthly/yearly fee) is always worse than a single cost. I think companies think the reverse, that $5 a day, forever, is better than $300 once. It is vastly better for the company, but they try to convince consumers that its better to pay more, forever. And most agree.

 

[blueer03]

Great article! I like using different cloud storage sites as backup. For instance, I have all of my pictures on Picassa, as well as my harddrive. Same thing with Google docs and anything I don't want to lose. If anything, I feel more confident in companies security now; no one wants to be the next Sony.

 

[HappyBB]

Tom is right about that Sony itself is to be blamed on this hacking incident! I take a further step to blame Sony for its greediness!

I believe that there's NO" unhackable" network regardless of how sophisticated its security is. It's all down to how much one is willing to take that risk. Like Tom mentioned, I hope companies from now on will take online security more seriously!

 

[noonin]

Here's another reason to stay away from Cloud Computing:Tech glitches locking you out. Check article...this

 

[rantoc]

I have been saying it for a long time, the achilles heel for the Cloud Computing model is security. Few systems can claim to be unhackable and it have been proven over and over now latest with Sonys psn. Few regular consumers seem to realize what danger they put their information in, why? The more eggs in one basket the more of a target, why bother hack a system for just one set of information when you can hack another and gain millions.

Cloud-computing is imo a step backward to the "terminal" era of computing, where a client connects to a local mainframe and all the information is stored/processed at the mainframe. Today that mainframe is not local but on the internet that opens up a whole array of new attack angles. So in a way cloudcomputing is even worse! Progress, not imo!

 

[Guest]

I am not great-full at all. I am still waiting to clear up over $450 of unauthorized use of my credit card, All which were spent on Irish based websites. Coincidence? I think not. I am hopeing that there is no way these people can open any further credit in my name. Regardless, I will not be thanking Sony for not even encrypting sensitive information.