all-in-one privacy solution":["Proton Unlimited is een all-in-one privacy-oplossing"],"Black Friday":["Black Friday"],"No ads. Privacy by default.":["Geen advertenties. Standaard privacy."],"People before profits":["Mensen vóór winst"],"Security through transparency":["Veiligheid door openheid"],"The best Proton Mail ${ BLACK_FRIDAY } deals":["De beste ${ BLACK_FRIDAY }-deals voor Proton Mail"],"The world’s only community- supported email service":["'s Werelds enige door de community ondersteunde e-mailservice"]},"specialoffer:limited":{"${ hours } hour":["${ hours } uur","${ hours } uur"],"${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } and ${ secondsLeft } left":["Nog ${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } en ${ secondsLeft } resterend"],"${ minutes } minute":["${ minutes } minuut","${ minutes } minuten"],"${ seconds } second":["${ seconds } seconde","${ seconds } seconden"],"Limited time offer":["Aanbieding beperkt geldig"]},"specialoffer:listitem":{"Create multiple addresses":["Maak meerdere e-mailadressen aan"],"Hide-my-email aliases":["Hide-my-email-aliassen"],"Quickly unsubscribe from newsletters":["Meld u eenvoudig af voor nieuwsbrieven"],"Use your own domain name":["Gebruik uw eigen domeinnaam"]},"specialoffer:logos":{"As featured in":["Zoals te lezen in"]},"specialoffer:metadescription":{"Get an encrypted email that protects your privacy":["Kies voor beveiligde e-mail die uw privacy beschermt"]},"specialoffer:metatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday Sale - Up to 40% off":["Proton Mail Black Friday Sale - Tot 40% korting"]},"specialoffer:newmetadescription":{"Get up to 40% off Proton Mail subscriptions this Black Friday. Find great deals on our secure end-to-end encrypted email plans.":["Profiteer tijdens Black Friday van wel 40% korting op Proton Mail-abonnementen. Bekijk geweldige aanbiedingen voor onze veilige, end-to-end versleutelde e-mailabonnementen."]},"specialoffer:newmetatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday sale | Up to 40% off secure email":["Proton Mail Black Friday Sale | Tot 40% korting op veilige e-mail"]},"specialoffer:note":{"* Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["*U betaalt ${ TOTAL_SUM } voor het eerste jaar"],"*Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["*U betaalt ${ TOTAL_SUM } voor de eerste 2 jaar"],"30-day money-back guarantee":["30 dagen niet-goed-geld-terug-garantie"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["U betaalt ${ TOTAL_SUM } voor de eerste 2 jaar"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["U betaalt ${ TOTAL_SUM } voor het eerste jaar"],"You save ${ SAVE_SUM }":["U bespaart ${ SAVE_SUM }"]},"specialoffer:off":{"${ DISCOUNT } off":["−${ DISCOUNT }"],"${ PERCENT_OFF } off":["−${ PERCENT_OFF }"]},"specialoffer:testimonial":{"I love my ProtonMail":["Ik ben fan van ProtonMail"],"My favorite email service":["Mijn favoriete e-mailservice"],"Thanks Proton for keeping us all safe in the complicated internet universe.":["Proton houdt ons allemaal veilig in het complexe internetuniversum."],"You get what you pay for. In the case of big tech, if you pay nothing, you get used. I quit using Gmail and switched to @ProtonMail":["Je krijgt waarvoor je betaalt. In het geval van Big Tech betekent 'gratis' dat je wordt gebruikt. Ik ben gestopt met Gmail en overgestapt op @ProtonMail"]},"specialoffer:time":{"Days":["Dagen"],"Hours":["Uur"],"Min":["Min"]},"specialoffer:title":{"And much more":["En nog veel meer"],"Make your inbox yours":["Personaliseer uw inbox"],"Safe from trackers":["Beschermd tegen trackers"],"Stay organized":["Houd overzicht"],"Black Friday email deals":["Black Friday-deals voor e-mail"],"Don’t just take our word for it":["U hoeft ons niet te geloven"],"Our story":["Ons verhaal"],"Transfer your data from Google in one click":["Zet uw gegevens van Google over met één klik"]},"specialoffer:tooltip":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, connect up to 10 devices, access worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Bekijk geblokkeerde inhoud en surf privé. Met ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } servers in meer dan ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } landen, verbinding met maximaal 10 apparaten, wereldwijd toegang tot streamingdiensten, malware- en advertentieblokkering, en meer."],"Easily share your calendar with your family, friends or colleagues, and view external calendars.":["Deel uw agenda eenvoudig met uw familie, vrienden of collega's, en bekijk externe agenda's."],"Includes support for 1 custom email domain, 10 email addresses, 10 hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["Ondersteuning voor 1 aangepast e-maildomein, 10 e-mailadressen, 10 hide-my-email-aliassen, gedeelde agenda's en meer."],"Includes support for 3 custom email domains, 15 email addresses, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["Ondersteuning voor 3 aangepaste e-maildomeinen, 15 e-mailadressen, onbeperkt hide-my-email-aliassen, gedeelde agenda's en meer."],"Manage up to 25 calendars, mobile apps, secured with end-to-end encryption, 1-click calendar import from Google, and more.":["Beheer tot 25 agenda's, mobiele apps, beveiligd met end-to-end versleuteling, agenda's van Google importeren met 1 klik, en meer."]},"Status Banner":{"At the moment we are experiencing issues with the Proton VPN service":["Momenteel werkt de dienst van Proton VPN niet naar behoren"],"Learn more":["Meer informatie"]},"Status banner":{"Learn more":["Meer informatie"],"Please note that at the moment we are experiencing issues with the ${ issues[0] } service.":["We ondervinden op dit moment problemen met de ${ issues[0] }service."],"We are experiencing issues with one or more services at the moment.":["We ondervinden momenteel problemen met een of meer services."]},"suggestions":{"Suggestions":["Suggesties"]},"Support":{"Sub category":["Subcategorie","Subcategorieën"]},"Support article":{"${ readingTime } min":["${ readingTime } min","${ readingTime } min"],"Category":["Categorie","Categorieën"],"Didn’t find what you were looking for?":["Niet gevonden wat u zocht?"],"General contact":["Algemene contactgegevens"],"Get help":["Krijg hulp"],"Legal contact":["Contactgegevens voor juridische zaken"],"Media contact":["Contactgegevens voor media"],"Partnerships contact":["Contactgegevens voor partnerschappen"],"Reading":["Lezen"]},"Support categories":{"Browse Proton product support":["Zoeken in Proton-productondersteuning"]},"Support category":{"There is no article in this category yet.":["Er zijn nog geen artikelen in deze categorie."]},"Support troubleshooting":{"--- Select ---":["--- Selecteren ---"],"App version":["App-versie"],"Browser":["Browser"],"Check if this helps":["Kijk of dit helpt"],"Choose a category for your question":["Kies een categorie voor uw vraag"],"Choose a product":["Kies een product"],"Did this solve your issue ?":["Heeft dit uw probleem opgelost?"],"Faster assistance is just a few clicks away — please make your selections":["Snellere ondersteuning binnen een paar klikken — maak uw keuze"],"No, contact support":["Nee, contact opnemen met ondersteuning"],"Proton account":["Proton-account"],"Proton Bridge":["Proton Bridge"],"Proton Calendar":["Proton Calendar"],"Proton Drive":["Proton Drive"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Proton Mail":["Proton Mail"],"Proton Pass":["Proton Pass"],"Proton VPN":["Proton VPN"],"Thank you for your feedback":["Bedankt voor uw feedback"],"Troubleshooting":["Probleemoplossing"],"What can we help with ?":["Waar mogen we u bij helpen?"],"Yes":["Ja"]},"support_modal_search_query":{"Search query":["Zoekopdracht"]},"support_search_button":{"Search":["Zoeken"]},"support_search_i_am_looking_for":{"I'm looking for":["Ik ben op zoek naar"]},"SupportForm":{"For a faster resolution, please report the issue from the Bridge app: Help > Report a problem.":["Om problemen sneller op te lossen, meldt u het via de Bridge-app: Help > Een probleem melden."],"Information":["Informatie"]},"SupportForm:option":{"Account Security":["Accountbeveiliging"],"Contacts":["Contactpersonen"],"Custom email domain":["Aangepast e-maildomein"],"Email delivery and Spam":["E-maillevering en spam"],"Encryption":["Versleuteling"],"Login and password":["Inlognaam en wachtwoord"],"Merge aliases and accounts":["Aliassen en accounts samenvoegen"],"Migrate to Proton":["Migreren naar Proton"],"Notifications":["Meldingen"],"Other":["Overig"],"Plans and billing":["Abonnementen en facturering"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Sign up":["Inschrijven"],"Storage":["Opslag"],"Users, addresses, and identities":["Gebruikers, adressen en identiteiten"]},"SupportForm:optionIntro":{"Select a topic":["Kies een onderwerp"]},"swiss_baseed_feature":{"Swiss based":["Gevestigd in Zwitserland"]},"Testimonial":{"Awards":["Awards"],"Customers":["Klanten"],"Featured":["Featured"],"Go to testimonial source":["Naar bron van testimonial"],"Reviews":["Reviews"],"Videos":["Video's"]},"Text":{"Find the plan that's right for you":["Vind het abonnement dat bij u past"],"If you need help, check out our ${ supportLink }.":["Bekijk onze ${ supportLink } als u hulp nodig hebt."],"The page you’re looking for might have been removed, or it could be an\nold link.":["De pagina waarnaar u op zoek bent, is mogelijk verwijderd, of u gebruikt een oude koppeling."]},"Title":{"On this page":["Op deze pagina"],"Related articles":["Gerelateerde artikelen"],"Share ${ thisPage }":["${ thisPage } delen"],"Thank you!":["Bedankt!"],"this page":["deze pagina"]},"Tooltip":{"More information":["Meer informatie"]},"tooltip_calendar":{"Create up to 20 custom & shareable encrypted calendars. On top of that, add up to 5 calendars from friends, family, colleagues, and organizations.":["Maak tot 20 aangepaste en deelbare versleutelde agenda's aan. Voeg daar bovenop tot 5 agenda's toe van vrienden, familie, collega's en organisaties."]},"tooltip_vpn":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, highest VPN speed, ${ TOTAL_VPN_CONNECTIONS } VPN connections, worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Bekijk geblokkeerde inhoud en surf privé. Met meer dan ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } servers in meer dan ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } landen, de hoogste VPN-snelheid, ${ TOTAL_VPN_CONNECTIONS } VPN-verbindingen, wereldwijde streamingdiensten, malware- en advertentieblokkering, en meer."],"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, highest VPN speed, 10 VPN connections, worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Bekijk geblokkeerde inhoud en surf privé. Met meer dan ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } servers in meer dan ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } landen, de hoogste VPN-snelheid, 10 VPN-verbindingen, wereldwijde streamingdiensten, malware- en advertentieblokkering, en meer."]},"version_history_label":{"Version history":["Versiegeschiedenis"]},"version_history_tooltip":{"Store up to ${ versionHistoryNumber } versions of each file for up to ${ years } years":["Bewaar tot ${ versionHistoryNumber } versies van elk bestand tot wel ${ years } jaar"]},"vpn_features_link":{"View VPN plans":["VPN-abonnementen bekijken"]},"vpn_features_useCase":{"Access blocked content and browse privately":["Bekijk geblokkeerde inhoud en surf privé"]}}},"unleashApi":"https://account.proton.me/api"};
// We need to import data (the framework context) from the server
// This Astro feature with define:vars works well but creates an inline script
// So we can't directly import the initFramework helper, we have to store the context
window.frameworkContext = frameworkContext;
})();
Many of us use the cloud on a daily basis, sometimes without even realizing it. Backing up photos from your phones, sharing files with friends, and working on shared documents are all examples of cloud computing. While the cloud has revolutionized the way we store and share data, it’s important to acknowledge that it is vulnerable to hacking attempts the same as any other online service.
In this article, we explain how the cloud can be hacked and what you can do to keep your data safe.
The cloud(new window) refers to a network of remote servers hosted on the internet that you can use to store and access data and applications. Instead of storing data on physical storage devices (such as hard drives), you can store it in the cloud, making it accessible from any device with an internet connection.
Cloud storage is just one example of how the cloud is used. Chances are you’ve also used cloud-powered services in the following contexts:
Online collaboration tools (Google Docs, Microsoft 365)
Video conferencing software (Zoom, Skype)
Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter)
Cloud computing platforms (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure)
For businesses, cloud computing offers many benefits. It allows companies to scale IT resources up or down as needed, based on real-time demands. Compared to traditional computing platforms, cloud computing also lets businesses avoid upfront capital expenses associated with purchasing and maintaining physical servers and other networking equipment.
Can the cloud be hacked?
The short answer is yes, the cloud can be hacked. Although many cloud service providers take extensive security measures to protect your data, no system is completely foolproof. Ultimately, your data’s security relies upon the type of encryption used by your cloud service provider.
How can the cloud be hacked?
Weak and reused passwords
Exploiting a weak or reused password is one of the most common ways attackers can hack your cloud storage account. Through brute force attacks, an attacker can easily gain unauthorized access to your account and steal your data. Even strong passwords can be undermined if you reuse them on multiple accounts. If any of those services suffer a data breach, it will expose your password, making every account where you used that password vulnerable.
Attackers might also try to steal your password using phishing scams(new window) that try to trick you into revealing your login credentials through deceptive emails or websites.
Data breaches
While most cloud providers prioritize security and invest significantly in protecting their infrastructure, data breaches still occur. In 2022, FlexBooker, a digital scheduling platform, suffered a data breach(new window) that compromised 3.7 million user accounts. Attackers hacked the platform’s cloud servers and stole sensitive user information, including full names, email addresses, and phone numbers. The compromised data ended up being sold on hacker forums.
Social engineering attacks
Cloud providers can also experience data breaches through social engineering attacks. Hackers target the “human loophole” and manipulate company employees into divulging private information to gain access to sensitive information and systems.
In November 2022, popular cloud storage provider Dropbox became a victim of a data breach(new window). An attacker accessed a Dropbox developer’s GitHub account after he fell victim to a phishing attack, stealing 130 internal code repositories. The breach included a few thousand names and email addresses belonging to Dropbox employees, current and past Dropbox customers, sales leads, and vendors.
Third-party vulnerabilities
Cloud providers sometimes work with third-party vendors like content delivery networks and domain name system services to provide a more comprehensive cloud solution. Vulnerabilities in these third-party services, such as software flaws or server misconfigurations, could lead to your data in the cloud being exposed and stolen.
How to protect yourself from cloud hacking
Protecting yourself from cloud hacking involves using strong encryption and following cybersecurity guidelines. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your data.
Choose end-to-end encrypted cloud storage
Most cloud providers use industry-standard security measures, such as TLS and AES-256, to protect your online accounts, but they aren’t adequate. That’s because the most robust form of security is achieved through end-to-end encryption(new window) (E2EE), which ensures your data is protected at the highest level.
Unlike other encryption methods that only encrypt data in transit or at rest, E2EE encrypts your data at all stages, including when it’s being sent, received, and stored. Only you have the private key needed to decrypt the file, meaning nobody can access it without your permission. This means that even if an E2EE cloud service was breached, the hackers would not be able to access your files unless they also got access to your device. If privacy and security are your top concern, you should choose an E2EE cloud provider like Proton Drive.
Use a strong password
A strong password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access to your cloud account, making it harder for hackers to guess or crack your password. If you’re struggling to create and remember strong passwords(new window), use an open-source password manager(new window). A password manager generates and stores your login credentials for your online accounts, and all you need to do is remember the master password that unlocks your password manager.
Protect yourself from phishing attacks
Phishing attacks come in various forms, but the most common is email phishing. Phishing emails appear to come from a legitimate source (for example, your cloud provider) but are in fact a ruse designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious email or an email from an unknown sender, don’t respond and report it to your email provider immediately.
Enable two-factor authentication
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA)(new window) adds an extra layer of security to your cloud account. As the name suggests, 2FA works by requiring a second form of identification, such as a fingerprint or a faceprint, during the sign-in process. The most secure form of 2FA is security keys(new window). Unlike traditional 2FA methods, security keys aren’t time-sensitive and don’t require a connection to the internet.
Update software regularly
Ensure that all software and applications you use in the cloud are regularly updated with the latest security patches and updates. This not only includes the operating systems and software on your local devices, but also any software or applications used by your cloud service provider.
Protect your files with Proton Drive
Choosing an E2EE cloud provider is the most important step you can take toward ensuring your files’ security. Even if you use a strong password, turn on 2FA, keep your software up to date, and stay on guard for phishing attacks, you’re entrusting your files to your cloud provider. If its security is compromised, then your files are at risk, even if you’ve taken all the other precautions listed above.
With Proton Drive, all your data is automatically encrypted on your device before being uploaded to the cloud. Only you have access to the private key that decrypts the data, so no one else can see your files without your consent. Even if our servers were hacked, your encrypted data would remain inaccessible since hackers do not have your private key.
Revoke share access at any time, or set time-sharing limits
Track file downloads and keep a lookout for suspicious activity
We don’t just encrypt the content of your files — we also encrypt their metadata, including the names of files and folders, file extensions, file sizes, and more. Each file also has its own cryptographic signature that proves it hasn’t been tampered with by outside parties. Signing up for a Proton Drive is free and gives you 1 GB of storage. All the encryption happens behind the scenes, so all you need to do is upload your file. If you’d like to support our mission of building a better, more private internet, consider upgrading to a paid account.
Secure, seamless communication is the foundation of every business. As more
organizations secure their data with Proton, we’ve dramatically expanded our
ecosystem with new products and services, from our password manager to Dark Web
Monitoring for cr
On the subject of cybersecurity, one term that often comes up is brute force
attack. A brute force attack is any attack that doesn’t rely on finesse, but
instead uses raw computing power to crack security or even the underlying
encryption.
In this a
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has become notorious as
the legal justification allowing federal agencies like the NSA, CIA, and FBI to
perform warrantless wiretaps, which sweep up the data of hundreds of thousands
of US citi
In response to the growing number of data breaches, Proton Mail offers a feature
to paid subscribers called Dark Web Monitoring. Our system checks if your
credentials or other data have been leaked to illegal marketplaces and alerts
you if so. Often
Your email address is your online identity, and you share it whenever you create
a new account for an online service. While this offers convenience, it also
leaves your identity exposed if hackers manage to breach the services you use.
Data breaches
Our mission at Proton is to help usher in an internet that protects your privacy
by default, secures your data, and gives you the freedom of choice.
Today we’re taking another step in this direction with the launch of our open
source password manage