Dropbox Acquires Boxcryptor Assets To Bring Zero-Knowledge Encryption To File Storage (techcrunch.com) 12
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Dropbox has announced plans to bring end-to-end encryption to its business users, and it's doing so through acquiring "key assets" from Germany-based cloud security company Boxcryptor. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Dropbox is well-known for its cloud-based file back-up and sharing services, and while it does offer encryption for files moving between its servers and the destination, Dropbox itself has access to the keys and can technically view any content passing through. What Boxcryptor brings to the table is an extra layer of security via so-called "zero knowledge" encryption on the client side, giving the user full control over who is allowed to decrypt their data.
For many people, such as consumers storing family photos or music files, this level of privacy might not be a major priority. But for SMEs and enterprises, end-to-end encryption is a big deal as it ensures that no intermediary can access their confidential documents stored in the cloud -- it's encrypted before it even arrives. Moving forward, Dropbox said that it plans to bake Boxcryptor's features natively into Dropbox for business users. "In a blog post published today, Boxcryptor founders Andrea Pfundmeier and Robert Freudenreich say that their 'new mission' will be to embed Boxcryptor's technology into Dropbox," adds TechCrunch. "And after today, nobody will be able to create an account or buy any licenses from Boxcryptor -- it's effectively closing to new customers."
"But there are reasons why the news is being packaged the way it has. The company is continuing to support existing customers through the duration of their current contracts."
For many people, such as consumers storing family photos or music files, this level of privacy might not be a major priority. But for SMEs and enterprises, end-to-end encryption is a big deal as it ensures that no intermediary can access their confidential documents stored in the cloud -- it's encrypted before it even arrives. Moving forward, Dropbox said that it plans to bake Boxcryptor's features natively into Dropbox for business users. "In a blog post published today, Boxcryptor founders Andrea Pfundmeier and Robert Freudenreich say that their 'new mission' will be to embed Boxcryptor's technology into Dropbox," adds TechCrunch. "And after today, nobody will be able to create an account or buy any licenses from Boxcryptor -- it's effectively closing to new customers."
"But there are reasons why the news is being packaged the way it has. The company is continuing to support existing customers through the duration of their current contracts."
Consumers don't need privacy?! (Score:1)
For many people, such as consumers storing family photos or music files, this level of privacy might not be a major priority.
Tell me you don't understand privacy without mentioning it...
Re: (Score:2)
I don't think they need much fear of it being compromised at a cloud storage service.
Certainly not compared to a false positive CSAM report locking them out, seems to me a much more realistic reason to encrypt.
Really (Score:5, Informative)
You don't say [slashdot.org].
Re: (Score:2)
It's weird how nobody at Slashdot seems to read Slashdot :)
I know this has been a complaint for ages but how has someone not built something into their editing interface to look for similar stories? Even the most basic pattern matching would have picked this up.
Re: (Score:2)
Does anyone have a (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Re:Dupe detector (Score:2)
Who really owns and controls Slashdot so those who care about quality can contact them and perhaps persuade them to replace the editors who basically sabotage the site?
They do insultingly bad things like posting frequent dupes out of obvious contempt for the people who really make the site, the Slashdot community.
DUP (Score:3)
I can understand a dup from say, a few days ago, but would it trouble you to read the front page before posting a new article???
Dupe dupe dupe ... (Score:2)
how to (Score:1)
There is no "zero knowledge encryption" (Score:2)
The term "zero knowledge" has a defines meaning in cryptology and it is not what is referred to here. This is more marketing-assholes misusing terminology to make things sound fancy. What this is about is properly called "zero access" encryption and it means a cloud provider storing data does not get access to that date.