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Five Steps To Securing Your Data On Dropbox

Dropbox has shown itself to be one of the top cloud services for file storage and sharing. It can be accessed from any computer, laptop and even mobile devices. But there are risks when you upload data to the cloud. Here are five tips to help you secure Dropbox to ensure protection of your personal or company files.

  1. Two-Step Verification
  2. Control and monitor which computers are authorized and browser sessions are open
  3. Control and monitor which apps which have access to your Dropbox
  4. Encrypt very confidential files using BoxCryptor or TrueCrypt
  5. Backup and replicate your Dropbox data to a separate cloud service

Two-Step Verification:

This authorization method is strongly recommended as it will help prevent hackers and unauthorized users from accessing your account. The two-step verification method uses your username and password for the first step and mobile phone identification for the second step. This means that anyone attempting to access your account will need your online credentials, as well as access to your mobile phone. 

Logon to Dropbox and click on your account name. Click on “Account menu” and then click “Security.” You will see the option for two-step verification. Click to set custom HTML and you will be sent a temporary code to your mobile phone for authentication. You have the option of receiving the code via SMS text or by an authentication app such as Google Authenticator that you must install on your phone. 

SMS is the easiest option and does not require you to install any apps on your phone. If you decide to use an app such as Google Authenticator, just click Settings and add a new account. Then you can add the Scan or the Manual option, whichever you prefer.

Control and monitor which computers are authorized and browser sessions are open:  

Dropbox provides a little of its own security and you can find the settings under the aptly named “Security” tab in your Dropbox account. Here, you can control all devices that have access to the Dropbox account under the list titled “My Devices.” This will give you the device name, what country it is located in, how long ago the most recent activity was enacted and gives you the options to rename or unlink any of these devices. 

Under the list titled “Web Sessions” you will see all browsers currently logged in to your Dropbox account. This will give you the browser name, what operating system it is running on, the most recent activity and the option to end the session. 

Control and monitor which apps which have access to your Dropbox:

Under the tab titled “My Apps” you can control all applications which have access to your Dropbox account. This will give you the application name, the publisher of the application, the access type (for example, full access) and the option to remove access.

Encrypt very confidential files using BoxCryptor or TrueCrypt: 

Even if you have enacted all of the security measures listed above, there is still that very remote chance that someone could gain access to your account. If you have data that is extremely sensitive and it is absolutely imperative that no one gain access to it, you can encrypt these files using encryption programs such as BoxCryptor or TrueCrypt. 
BoxCryptor encrypts cloud services such as Dropbox and prevents any unauthorized access without the correct password or keyfile. TrueCrypt will encrypt files or entire drives to prevent access without the correct password or keyfile. This is an added protection for sensitive data or files that must be secured. 

Backup and replicate your Dropbox data to a separate cloud service: 

cloudHQ is a highly recommended service that will sync, backup, and replicate all your Dropbox files/data to another cloud service in case of emergency situations. If a hacker is able to gain access to your account, he can delete all of your data. If the Dropbox servers go down or become compromised, you will be unable to access your data and it can become corrupted or lost. 
cloudHQ provides a security and backup solution like no other. All of your data will sync to another cloud service such as Google Drive which will be setup with completely different credentials that would be very hard to obtain. Regular social engineering methods will not work on this authentication as well. 
cloudHQ syncs your data/files in real-time so the changes you make on files in Dropbox will update the files in other cloud services instantaneously. 

Conclusion

Well, there you have it- the five best tips I can offer you to secure the data you store in Dropbox. You can be assured of ultra protection by using two-step verification, controlling which computers are authorized as well as monitoring open browser sessions, controlling the access of applications, encrypting your most important files using BoxCryptor or TrueCrypt and finally- using cloudHQ for your synchronization and secure backup plan to ensure the added protection of all of your personal or company data.
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