Gaming Mouse vs Regular Mouse

When you’re searching for the right gaming mouse for your computer or laptop you might think that either a normal mouse or any old gaming mouse will be sufficient in getting the job done. Even though you recognize that this would be an integral component when interacting with the computer, you are not placing that much priority in it. In addition, majority of the people fail to distinguish between a normal mouse and a gaming mouse.

In order to clear up this topic once and for all, we have taken it upon ourselves to explain the entire concept. In this article, we individually discuss the benefits of each kind of mouse before comparing and finally reaching a conclusion on the key differences between a gaming mouse and a regular mouse.

Difference Between a Gaming Mouse and a Regular Mouse

Someone who would only be gaming on occasions may be able to just go by with a regular optical mouse that would also not cost them much. However, as soon as you would start to become more invested in your gaming and would start to take the entire experience more seriously, an investment in a good gaming mouse would definitely be needed. In fact, it would actually become a top priority if you would consider yourself to be a competitive person.

In this case, you might be wondering about what the difference would be between a gaming mouse and a normal optical mouse. So, if you would play games that would demand plenty of reaction-based actions such as first-person shooter or real-time strategy games, then you would definitely know that sensitivity and reliability would be highly important. It would even be more important if you would be playing online against other actual gamers when every small edge that you would be able to get would count. It could also mean the difference between an awful miss or a strong headshot.

So, the actual matter is that gaming mice have been constructed and designed highly differently than regular optical mice in several ways. The efforts would be more focused on strengthening the different aspects that would be crucial for a mouse when it would be used for a particular game.

In addition, a gaming mouse would also have lower latency when compared to a regular office mouse. It would come with a better software, which when customized with a bit of tweaking, would support high DPI settings. A perfect gaming mouse would also use sensors in order to keep up with faster movements.

The Best Gaming Mouse of 2018, And What To Look For In A Mouse!

In 2018 the overall best gaming mouse is the Razer DeathAdder or the Logitech G502 Proteus, depending on your play style. It’s important to factor in what games you play, or what games you plat the most and purchase a mouse for that game genre. For example, a mouse which has been designed for real-time strategy and MMO would usually be outfitted with a range of 6 to 12 programmable macro button. Since this would be set under the tip of your thumb, these buttons could be programmed for executing longer macro controls or a number key.

So, even though every gamer tends to have their own personal preference when it comes to picking a gaming mouse, they are certainly not all created equally. In fact, you would be horrified to find out that there would be several worse gaming mice available in the market as well. Some of them would have sensors that would not be up to the mark, built with cheap quality materials, and even some terrible driver software.

Aiming, targeting, slashing, and attacking would be some of the important actions in PC games that would happen with a mere click of a mouse. Hence, a gaming mouse would be able to offer responsive and smooth tracking, reliable connectivity, and other basic click and scrolling functions. However, it would also take more than these basic functionalities in order to make a perfect gaming mouse.

Quality of sensor would be the starting point towards precision and accuracy. A regular mouse would usually include LED or optical sensors that would give it fairly good tracking sensitivity. However, they would perform better when lifted a little from the tracking surface. On the opposite spectrum, laser sensors would be considered fussier in the heat of a battle, but comes with better tracking. It would also be possible to have the best of both worlds by having a mouse that would feature both less delicate tracking of optical sensor and high precision tracking of laser.

The best gaming mice provide comfort and customization in order to meet the needs and wants of your preferred games. Mice which would be aimed at the first-person shooting feature ratcheting scroll-wheels would allow you to cycle to your arsenal without having to pick the wrong weapon. In addition, on the fly DPI adjustment would allow switching between fast low-DPI tracking in frantic firefight along with more tightly controlled higher DPI for lining up the shot of the sniper.

All of these gaming mice have been designed while keeping slight customization in mind, even if it would be just to tweak the speed of tracking. In fact, every gaming gear provider would develop its own customization software that would usually include advanced macro programming. In addition to record macro commands, their dashboard would also allow swapping profiles which have been preset. Several would also offer preset for non-gaming purposes which would allow you leverage programmable mouse in programs such as Excel and Photoshop.

For extreme comfort, most of the gaming mice would also be physically customizable. Removing weight has been found to be extremely common, thus allowing you to tweak the total weight by any means necessary. Few models would be taken to the advance level which would allow you to adjust the height and pitch of palm rest, and allow you to shift center of balance. All in all, finding which gaming mouse would be the best would come down to know what style of game that you would prefer and also finding what advantage you would be able to take from more complex functions.

Benefits of using a gaming mouse

Unlike what most of the people would like to think, a gaming mouse could not in any way be considered to be your ordinary computer mouse. This is because this kind of a mouse tends to come with some great features, such as customizable buttons, comfortable design, configurable weights, and much more. In terms of other benefits that you would be able to enjoy from using a gaming mouse, some of them have been listed below.

Better durability and performance

Gaming mice have been designed specifically so that they would be able to last for lengthy periods of use. In addition, they have also been made using high quality materials so that they would be able to deliver better performance. It would be because of this reason that they have been considered to be highly durable.

Ergonomic advantages and superb comfort

Being a computer user, there would be no doubt that you would be in search of a mouse that would be able to offer you with both ergonomics and comfort. So with a gaming mouse, it has been designed in a manner that it would feel comfortable despite being used for a long period of time. In fact, you would be happy to find out that manufacturers tend to take pride in gaming mice because they have been crafted in a way that would conform to the human hand much better than when compared to regular mice. Hence, it would be considered to be a practical option if you are thinking of making an investment in a gaming mouse since each and every piece of gaming mouse has been made while keeping comfort in mind. It would be because of this reason that this would seem like an excellent choice for both non-gamers and gamers alike.

More productive work being performed

When people hear the name “gaming mouse”, the first thought that would come to their mind is that it would solely be designed for gaming purposes. But the truth of the matter is that gaming mice tend to come with customizable buttons. This means that they could be used to delete, copy, paste, and perform even the most basic tasks that you would often do. Also, you would find that a gaming mouse would have better tracking for smoother movement of cursor. Thanks to these features, it would allow you to be more productive with comfort and ease.

Excellent choice for gamers

Since it is a gaming mouse, obviously the first preference of users would be the gamers. Since it tends to offer big advantages over a normal mouse where gaming is concerned, it has been found to be the number one choice for gamers all over the world. As has already been mentioned above, a gaming mouse is ergonomic, thus allowing you to play games for an extended amount of time. This has also been built while keeping accuracy and precision in mind. This would be extremely important when playing fast-paced games.

Other than that, a gaming mouse would also come with well-placed buttons – something which you would not be able to find in a regular mouse. You would also be able to set the buttons in such a way that they would be able to perform a particular action.

Do not turn off

Another benefit of using a gaming mouse is that it would not turn off even if you would remain inactive for a specific amount of time. With a standard mouse, you would find it to come with a power-saving feature that would allow the mouse to turn off when it would not be in use. So, since a gaming mouse would not turn off, you would not have to face any delays in your response when you would be using the computer.

Hence, it would be safe to say that there would definitely be a lot of benefits of using a gaming mouse. So, if you are planning on buying one, it would be best to choose one that would feature added precision. A gaming mouse would usually come with a sensor offering 1600 or 2000 dpi (dots per inch). In addition, it would also be a good idea to read some reviews before purchasing. This would allow you to get an idea if the gaming mouse that you are thinking of buying would actually be highly recommended or not.

 

Advantages of using a computer mouse

In a computer, you would find the mouse to be one of the most common input devices. However, you would also be able to find several variations to the standard computer mouse. They could have a single or several buttons with a scroll wheel. Wireless mouse would also be available. In addition, they would also use optical light or trackballs to sense movement. However, some disadvantages would also need to be brought in to light.

Location

In order to operate a computer mouse, you would need a flat and an unobstructed surface if you would like to effectively manage and monitor movements. However, you would soon begin to realize that flat surfaces may not always be available, especially as computer users tend to become more mobile with their laptops which limit the use of a mouse. In addition, even wireless mouse would require the user of the computer to be relatively close to the computer in order to register mouse movements.

Flexibility in movement

It would be the mouse that would give the computer user the freedom to move the cursor in any direction that they would like. This would be unlike the arrows in the keyboard which would constrain the user to a limited set of directions. Also, the mouse could also be fine-tuned to each user so that movements would then be able to match with the expectation of the user. For instance, you would be able to adjust the speed of the cursor so that it would travel a shorter or further distance with the movement of the mouse. These would also be considered to be popular input devices for various computer games since they would be accurate and highly responsive for user input.

Variety

You would be happy to find out that there would be a large variety of computer mice in order to suit individual needs. Small compact mice would be available for mobile computer users or frequent travelers. Optical mice would also be available if you would like to avoid problems that would be associated with trackball-based mice, when they would become obstructed or dirty. Mice could also have a single button or several ones in order to support control as well as minimize the need to switch often between a mouse and a keyboard.

 

 

What’s Best, Gaming Mouse vs Regular Mouse Conclusion

To wrap it up, a gaming mouse would undoubtedly be able to give you more customizability and options, but it would not in any way make you a better player. So, a gaming mouse could not be considered to be a shortcut to top-level play. The real reason why gamers tend to prefer gaming mice would be because of the options, comfort, and coolness factor that it tends to provide. So, nobody would actually need a gaming mouse in order to compete. All that would matter is that you would choose a mouse that would feel good in your hand. Simply put, you should focus not on the tools but how you would use them.

Why are Mechanical Keyboards Better for Gaming

A mechanical gaming keyboard is not just any keyboard, you will experience a unique and pleasurable ergonomic user experience with ease of operation and long life and most importantly, tactile response. There are good keyboards for power typists and gaming and then there are freebies that are completely worthless for demanding operation without failure which unfortunately are the one that are bundled with most budget PCs from stock. Here is what is and why a mechanical keyboard is the way to go when you want to game and type like a pro and enjoy long keyboard life hence cost effectiveness when it’s for business. So we ask, is a mechanical really worth it for gaming? Consider the following;

Why are Mechanical Keyboards Better for Gaming?

Ordinary membrane keyboards are typically constructed with cheap materials and weak parts with minimal functional features for cost effectiveness. For instance, keys are mostly rubber domed which necessitates a complete depress of the key for the keyboard to register a stroke. This is hard labour for your fingers and actually slows down your typing speed particularly if the rubber is tough.

A mechanical keyboard on the other hand is one with heavy duty switches and other dope functional parts that help detect keystrokes easily and make the keyboard easier to use and last longer compared to the staple inexpensive rubber squish keyboards. These keyboards simply overlap the ordinary run off the mill keyboard tens of times in terms of multitasking and ease of registering strokes making it easier for your fingers and avoiding hardware and software failures. Below are some benefits of buying a mechanical keyboard for whichever use

• Easier to press
• Higher accuracy
• Speedy typing
• Better for multitasking
• Extra features an keys

Are mechanical keyboards really worth it for Gaming?

As evident above, there are plenty of reasons why to purchase a mechanical for your gaming or typist hobbies. They may be a bit of an investment at first but they come with high quality materials and tough construction coupled with an ergonomic design making your life a whole lot easier and are without a doubt far superior. Mechanicals are definitely the best gaming keyboards available, especially when you factor in ease of use multitasking and long life.

Feel the Difference

From the moment you strike your first stroke on your mechanical you will realise that you should have had this like year ago and only then will you agree that it is worth every last penny you spent on it. This of course if and only if you choose the best mechanical keyboards for gamers on the market today and not some knock off slabs without a name.

Choose The Best Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Needless to say, there are mechanicals and mechanicals, not every keyboard branded as a mechanical keyboard is authentic or performs even half of how it is expected to. Have you already tried a mechanical keyboard before?

Please share your thoughts and comments in the section below.

Also let us know what mechanical key switch type works best for you?

What is Ethical Hacking?

When you hear the word “hacker” you often think of cyber criminals and bad guys with hoodies, or if you’re old enough the movie hackers. However, there is another bread of white hat “good guys” called ethical hackers. But what is ethical hacking? In short, it is the practice of simulating an attack against an organisation and identifying cyber security weaknesses with the companies permission.

By taking the same approach, ethical hacking tools and methodologies that a criminal hacker would, it’s possible for ethical hackers to bypass system security measures and compromise corporate networks. Ethical hackers are also commonly referred to as “white hat hackers” help organisations identify security issues then explain how to fix the discovered issues, ethical hacking ultimately helps and organisation improve their cyber security.

What is Ethical Hacking?

What is ethical hacking – ethical hackers commonly perform penetration testing to identify weak entry points into a network. In addition to discovering security issues and vulnerable software weaknesses, professional ethical hackers document findings, explain how to fix issues, and in some cases, provide consultancy on how to mitigate or perform remediation for cyber security threats. The work of a professional ethical hacker helps improve IT security policies, best practices and staff awareness to the cyber security issues that exist today.

How to become an Ethical Hacker

Ethical hacking ultimately requires the mindset of a hacker, the want to learn how things work, how things can be taken apart and finally, how things can be exploited to perform tasks that the original designer had not intended. Ultimately, your job will be breaking things, using them in a way to which the original designer had not intended them to be used. You’ll use this ability and passion to identify logic flaws, vulnerabilities and security issues within applications and infrastructure.

Professional Certifications

Industry level certifications can help show an employer you have what it takes to be a good ethical hacker. Certifications that offer hands on / practical elements such the OSCP, or the (CEH) credential prove you can perform ethical hacking against lab machines. In addition, they demonstrate a basic ability to document and report your findings in a professional capacity.

We hope this article has helped you understand more about ethical hacking, be sure to check out our other cyber security related articles.

 

Gaming Headset vs Headphones and Mic

Gaming Headsets vs Real Headphones

We all pride ourselves in a good pair of headphones. Whether you are on the go, relaxing at home or gaming, you deserve perfect sound quality to enjoy those hits or a conversation with a friend. However, such good quality comes at a price. So unless you are really good at shopping around in the market to get the best quality at the best price, you are in trouble. When it comes to gaming, just like an awesome movie experience, sound quality is paramount. With incorporation of an almost perfect environment sound in game design, you need headphones that can provide you with the perfect sound experience. Now you find yourself with a difficult task. Do you maintain our current headphones that do provide you with good music quality but you are not sure they will provide you with a good gaming experience or on the other hand, get some new gaming headsets that promise you with the ultimate gaming experience but you are a bit skeptical about.

To help out with this, we will take a good comparison of these two and hopefully help you with your decision. As expected, gaming headsets place a greater emphasis on specific aspects of gaming such as surround sound where you can feel the sound environment as you play. In this way, if different characters move within the game environment, in respect to your position, you are able you get a good sense of where they are located within the field of play. Most gaming headsets will therefore incorporate 7.1 surround sound technology to their headsets to help achieve this. However, the idea does not work out with nearly all gaming headsets and here is why;

• The technology uses different audio channels within the headsets to provide the directional feel when the headphones are in use. These channels are Front, center, side, rear and the subwoofer. The seamless operation of these different channels within the headsets ensures that the surround sound is achieved. As you will notice however, most gaming headsets if not all ,are terrible at this, giving you less quality surround sound quality and, therefore, reduce them to your usual headphones but in addition, loose some the more premium qualities you will get with real headphones.

The only other thing that can come in to give the gaming headphones a better feel is an open back design. Gaming headphones that have this design have proven to give a really good feel of the gaming environment but sadly, they tend to fall on the higher price range.

So in essence what we have nothing significant in reference to sound quality left to compare gaming headsets to real headsets. Apart from the sound quality, there is the immense work on design and comfort. Gaming headsets designers have gone out of their way to create large rugged designs that do not really add much to the consumers gaming experience; apart from the fact that they make a statement to that they are gaming headsets. Some designs have included creative lighting designs that maybe quite a distinguishing factor from your normal headphones. At the end of day however, all the lighting and exterior design do not really improve the consumer sound experience as compared to the real headphones.

The Most Secure Cloud Backup Providers

Secure Cloud Backup Providers

Are you worried about backing up you data on insecure sites that can be easily hacked leading to loss of your data or leaking of sensitive information about your personal life or business?

If you are, then you are just like most other people with secrets that need to be kept as such which constitutes all of us! Criminals and so called hacktivists will bend over backwards to exploit every shot they get to access your data locked away in insecure servers. While every system ever made has its own weaknesses that can be exploited to break into it and access the data without following due procedure, there are systems out there that are nearly hack proof. As you may well be aware, perhaps the weakest link even with a secure cloud backup provider, is likely the human user prone to errors. Such systems are not really hack proof but have been assessed by a consultant skilled in ethical hacking, to identify security that more obvious. Making the service more secure and presenting a larger challenge to hackers, hopefully to the point where it’s more trouble than it’s worth for malicious user to try and break in.

Here are some ways in which you can choose the most secure cloud backup providers

How to choose the most secure cloud backup services

• Personalized services
  Consider the ability of the service to suit your personal needs and those of your family or business associates.
• Consider cloud back up reviews
  Sifting through the most trusted consumer review of backup services will help quickly reveal the best services. Or at least the bad ones; if you are unsure if you can live a similar complaint as one posted by a previous customer ask yourself if it’s a chance you are willing to take.
• Up to date sites with latest encryption
  Sites that have a habit of always being at the front line with new cutting edge encryption technology for your data are far more secure than those that lag with updates. Its common sense. Remember the cyber security industry is a highly dynamic one.
• Avoid sync services
  This excludes Google drive, drop box and other sync backup services from your list. They may offer large free storage but they are not the most secure ones.
• Sites that offer much information on data encryption techniques

If a cloud backup service provider does not offer much information about how they go about encrypting your data, then perhaps they are not worth your business.

When you use this criteria to sort through the plethora of cloud backup services available on the web, you are left with only the crème de la crème of cloud backups. These include companies like Backblaze, Carbonite an MozyHome.

In short, how safe your data is online depends on a number of factors key among them how the data is scrambled using an encryption key and how difficult it is for someone other than those authorized by the system to recover the same key. There are various methods of data encryption and levels as evident above as well as the amount of control you have as a subscriber as far as data encryption goes.

 

Is Online Cloud Storage Your Best Option?

There are many different ways to store data today. Online cloud storage is becoming increasingly popular as more people become familiar with it. The online cloud storage market is getting crowded and DrivePop also has their foot in the door with our DrivePop Briefcase service.

There are many advantages to using online cloud storage. Cost has become one of the most compelling reasons to use cloud storage. Storing data on backup tapes or hard drives is expensive. There are plenty of other cloud vendors that offer a little space for free. DrivePop offers a free backup account as a trial. More storage is available for a small monthly or annual fee, saving money over traditional storage methods.

Security is another reason to store your files in the cloud. Data that is stored online is encrypted to provide security to the data owner. DrivePop uses 256 bit encryption during transfer as well as storing the files. The data is also secured by restricting access. Data that is stored on tape or disk can more easily be stolen or accessed by unauthorized persons.

Best To Have A Backup

One of the problems with storing data is making sure you have a backup copy in case something happens to the original. Backups can be time consuming and expensive. Most people do not backup their data because they think of it something they will get around to, but they usually do not. Cloud storage automatically backs up data so the customer does not have to worry about this boring and tedious task.

Another advantage of online cloud storage is accessibility. Your files are accessible from anywhere that has an internet connection. There is no need to worry about copying files to a laptop or flash drive when traveling if they are stored in the cloud. Files can be accessed from your desktop computer, laptop, tablet and phone. Carrying flash drives or burning DVDs is no longer needed with cloud storage.

A major problem with traditional storage is keeping your files in sync. If you work on a file from one source, you will need to copy that file to every location you access it from to keep the same version of the file. Storing files online ensures that they stay in sync. This makes the latest version of the file you saved on your desktop be available on your smartphone or tablet.

Share Your Files

Storing files online in the cloud makes it easier to share files. Most online storage providers enable you to give access to authorized people to access the files you want to share with them. And because it is stored online, they will always get the most recent version of the file.
Online storage also makes it easy to collaborate with other people. Multiple people can access the same files and edit them. There is no need to track changes or worry about who has made which changes to a file.

Disaster recovery is another great benefit of cloud storage. Backups of your files are stored offsite which isolates your data from fire, storms, or viruses. This keeps your data safe no matter what happens.

Cloud storage is the best way to store your data. It keeps your files accessible and in sync. It also protects your data and keeps it secure.

What are Some Security Issues in Cloud Storage?

Nowadays, there are a lot of options when it comes to saving your files and making extra copies for safekeeping. These extra copies can be saved using other storage options besides hardware. Enter the cloud. The cloud is an excellent way to store files you need to back up without having to buy hardware which is subject to physical damage and corruption in the long run.

With the cloud, you can store files for free or through paid services, and you can access your files anywhere as long as you are connected to the Internet and you have a device to view the cloud service provider’s website or mobile application. It presents ease of access, an inexpensive storage option, and a way to reduce spending on external hard drives that may be lost or damaged.

However, there are some security issues in cloud storage which users need to be aware of. Usually, cloud service providers and services are easy and hassle-free to use, but there are times when users will meet some challenges while using cloud storage services. Here are some security issues in cloud storage that you should be prepared for:

• Hacking threats – Today, there are a lot of malicious third parties who get in the otherwise harmonious relationships that cloud service providers and cloud users have. Just recently, thousands of photos from private accounts were leaked, and once they were out on the web, they became subject to the eyes of thousands—even millions—of curious people. Cloud service providers usually secure their databases and servers, but there are still times when hackers can get the upper hand.
• Lost files – In relation to hacking threats, there are also times when files can be lost. Hackers don’t always just expose files; some can steal the files or delete them completely. This is a particularly troublesome thing to deal with especially when the files you’ve saved online are work-related. Because of this, it is still important to have secure copies of files in reliable hardware options. If you can, go for cloud services that are paid and offer additional layers of security to avoid file loss.
• Account recovery – This may seem like a nonsensical problem but there are times when account recovery can actually become a problem. Especially when the security measures of the cloud service provider are tight, recovering your account which may have been logged out or not used for a while leading to inactivity can be a lot challenging. Sometimes, users rely on “remember” me features in their computers or devices to access their online cloud storage accounts. But what if they forget their login details and they need the files? This is where the hassle begins. The process can usually be resolved quickly, but for really secure cloud service providers, more details may be required from the users to prove their identity and claim over the account.

Have you ever had security issues with your chosen cloud storage service provider? Can you tell us how you handled those issues?

Unlimited Online Cloud Backup Plans

Drivepop’s cloud backup plans in detail. Choose the right plan for you!

Cloud Storage vs. Hard Disk Storage – What’s Better?

While companies choose storage for compliance purposes, individuals require additional space for photos, music files and an array of documents. Regardless of which category you fall into, your dilemma will be the same: cloud storage vs. hard disk storage.

Cloud storage is an innovative storage format that has been around since the 1990s but gained popularity recently. Basically it allows you to upload your files to the cloud, or virtual servers, for storage and then access and edit them whenever you need them. Some services also allow you to create files in your cloud storage space, but these usually come with a fee. As for hard disk storage, this external unit is physical and you can plug it into your PC and use it like you would its own hard drive.

Should I Go for Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage is becoming the most popular form of storage these days. It allows you to share folders and large files with family, friends and colleagues without trading USBs. You can also sync files across different devices, so they will always be the same wherever you go. However, to help you answer the question in the heading, here are the benefits and drawbacks of this service.

The Benefits of Cloud Storage

• Easy Access Anytime Anywhere – Cloud storage allows you to access your files using a client or app on your PC or mobile device. If you have a smartphone and internet access, you can also manage your documents from your browser. Therefore, you’re not bound to one location or a single device.
• Better Security – Most cloud storage services boast about their encryption technology. A number of service providers like DrivePop even use military level technology to ensure that your files are secured against third parties. In addition to taking the burden of security off your shoulders, cloud storage will ensure the availability and integrity of all of your files.
• Enhanced Sharing and Collaboration – Gone are the days when you had to wait ages to share your vacation photos or huge documentation files. With cloud storage services, you can select multiple folders and share them with everyone. You can also grant access to others so that they can edit and modify your documents. This is one feature businesspeople and their employees will love as it makes their operations more virtual.
• Value for Money – Cloud storage comes with a range of services and so much flexibility; this makes it worth the money you invest in it. However, you probably won’t need to pay anything at all since most services offer you ample space for free. For example, Google Drive offers 15 GB while Dropbox’s free 2 GBs can be upgraded to 16 GB with referrals.
  

  The Drawbacks of Cloud Storage

• Slower Speed – The transfer speed of your files can be slow if your internet connection isn’t too fast. So it will take a while for your files to be uploaded and synchronized across different devices. Though it won’t be much of an issue for personal users, corporate ones won’t be able to wait weeks for their huge amounts of data to be uploaded and ready for use.
• The Cost of Additional Data – Some paid plans are heavy on the pocket, especially those targeting businesses. However, you can’t afford skipping a single payment once you sign up for the service or else your data will be inaccessible.
• The Need for Trust – By using cloud storage, you’ll basically be transferring your important files to a service you hardly know. Now you need to trust your provider before you can take this step, so find out as much as you can through reviews and expert opinions before signing up for the service.

Is Hard Disk Storage the One for Me?

External hard drives are the simplest form of storage. All you need to do is plug them into your PC’s USB port and upload or download your files. However, before you decide that this is the storage solution for you, take a look at its advantages and disadvantages first.

The Benefits of External Hard Disk Storage

• Lower Cost – Storage prices are low today and will continue to decrease at a fast pace. So rest assured that you’ll get external hard drives at a very cheap price. In fact, 2 TB of data costs $100. So if you ever need more storage, you can simply buy another drive for the same price or less or replace your old one with a model that offers more storage.
• Quicker File Transfer – New technology and USB 2.0’s high transfer speed enable your files to move around quickly. Whether it’s your HD video collection you want to back up or a huge number of spreadsheets, rest assured that your files will be transferred within hours.
• One Time Cost – If you’re on a budget, hard drives can be a wise choice since you only have to pay once for huge amounts of data. Besides, there aren’t any hidden fees that will surprise you when your bills come in at the end of the month.
• Customizable Security – Rather than depending on an unknown service to secure your files, you can do that yourself by deciding how to encrypt your files. That way even the NSA won’t be able to access your private documents since they’ll be with you and for your eyes only.
  

  The Drawbacks of Hard Disk Storage

• Susceptibility to Loss or Theft – If you had forgotten you sunglasses or keys somewhere and forgot where they were or someone stole them, chances are that the same fate will befall your hard disk. This is especially true in the business sector where corporate espionage is the norm these days.
• Fragility –A physical hard drive can fall or slip out of your hands. As a result, your data can be lost forever unless you had a backup plan ready.
• More Trouble for Non-Technical People – If you’re not technical savvy, you may think that you just need to transfer your files on the external hard drive without encrypting them. This can be dangerous since it allows other people to access your files whenever they want. So, this storage option may not be feasible for those who don’t have a strong background in IT.
• Wire Trouble – The external drive needs to be connected at all times or else you won’t have access to the data. However, with the wiring comes the chance of the drive falling. In addition, it can be a hassle if you have less office space.
• Compatibility Constraints – External hard drives don’t necessarily work with all hardware specs or operating systems. Therefore, when buying one, you need to make sure that it’s compatible with all the devices you use.

What Storage Is Actually Best?

One of the beauties of modern technology is that you can combine as many modes together and avail all their benefits. Therefore, you can easily use both cloud storage and external hard drive storage. However, if you absolutely have to choose one, use the list of advantages and disadvantages to select the best option. Then, do a little research on the best service or model and invest in it without looking back.

The Importance of File Encryption During Uploading to Cloud Storage

File encryption has become the buzz word in the industry as cloud storage solutions like Box promise high security to prevent access to file contents and ensure clients’ privacy against the NSA. However, while most brag about the robustness of their security algorithms, not a peep has been said about their ability to encrypt files during uploading or transferring to the cloud. If you don’t see the harm in having no encryption during this stage, read on to change your mind.

Top Reasons Why Data in Transit Should Be Encrypted

There are numerous reasons why data on the move should receive as much security as that at rest and in use. Here are the top four.

Data Can Be Easily Intercepted During Transfer

Encryption is a must for data in motion because it can be intercepted on the way and viewed by anyone. There are many hacking tools available on the web and many are free. Therefore, there’s always a chance someone may get their hands on your data while you’re uploading it. To avoid having your secrets leaked, you should try getting a cloud solution that offers encryption to moving data.

Your Files Can Be Modified or Fabricated

Just think – if someone can eavesdrop on the data you’re uploading, doesn’t that mean that they can modify your data packets or fabricate a few incriminating files? Cyber criminals have the skill and resources to incriminate you or delete important files that you may need. Even if you aren’t a business owner, the idea of losing precious pictures or files you deem important can be devastating.

Security Threats Dissuade People from Pursuing Cloud Storage

Cloud storage users find it easier to share data with others availing the same service. However, if the latter deem cloud storage too risky, you may be burdened with extra work and costs to securely send your data. This also limits your quick collaboration capabilities since you won’t be able to work on the fly.

There is No Such Thing as Too Much Security

Just encrypting data in use and at rest isn’t sufficient. With hackers growing smarter by the day, chances are that your cloud solution’s encryption techniques are being uncovered as you read these lines. By ensuring multiple layers of security, your cloud storage company will be able to protect your data efficiently.

How Files in Motion are Encrypted

Now that you know about the importance of encrypting files while they’re being uploaded or transferred, you may be interested a little in discovering how this is done.

• Using 256 AES Encryption – This is what DrivePop Cloud Storage currently uses. The Advanced Encryption Standard, which is currently used by top governments including the U.S.’s, is one of the strongest file encryption methods. This is why it’s used to protect classified data. It is also hard to crack due to its large number of key combinations, which means that even the NSA itself will have a hard time getting to your data.
• IPsec VPN – Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) authenticates and encrypts IP packets during IP network sessions. It can be used to establish virtual private networks (VPNs), which authenticate, encrypt and encapsulate data for transport. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this method is quite low since configuring traffic policies at each end point or gateway is a must.
  See IPinator VPN if you are looking for a VPN IP service.
• Group Encryption Solution – Group encryption is the friendlier alternative to IPsec VPN. It distributes keys more efficiently, reducing configuration complexity and the limitations for multiple path encryption.

There are other methods used for encrypting files in transit, but these are the ones generating a buzz in the cloud storage industry.

So, don’t settle for just encrypting your data while in use or in storage. Protect it from prying eyes and thieving hackers by ensuring its encryption while it uploads or transfers.