Office 365 concerns

[Dewi9]

There was a thread recently about Microsoft OneDrive, or something such (http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthre...ght=office+365).

Today, in the 'i' newspaper (p29) there was a warning about Microsoft Office Cloud - is this the same thing ?

I will type out the most of the article, I trust it is not just an April Fool ...

Users of Microsoft Office 365 software have been warned to check their privacy settings after some files uploaded to the company's document sharing platform were accessible to the public.

The file sharing service docs.com is part of the Office 365 Cloud platform and enables users to upload and share files with anyone they wish.

However it has emerged that the site stores files publicly by default, resulting in some users unintentionally sharing sensitive information, including passwords, health data, national insurance numbers and pension forms.

It is suggested that you check the privacy settings of this application.

My emphasis in the above and apologies if you all already knew this, or if it has been covered at length previously.

David

[shenstone]

Re: Office 365 concerns

it is real and has been already reported on reputable IT sites such as the register

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/0...fice_365_leak/

it turns out the system was intended to be used for things that were to be widely available and therefore public was the default.. [edit.. here's the help file link that makes the security aspect really clear IMO https://support.office.com/en-gb/art...whatisdocs.com]

My advice here applies to ALL cloud storage and social media...

Don't put anything on it until you have read and applied the security settings to ensure that things are as secure as you want them to be. if you don't understand them then ask someone to help and if that does not work don't use it!

regards
Andy

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: Office 365 concerns

You can easily change the defaults in Office apps to save files on your local machine.

As others have said, don't store anything in the cloud that you wouldn't want others to see.

[Wally]

Re: Office 365 concerns

All my files - word or excel etc., which I think of as sensitive, I transfer and save to an external HD. I don't trust any services that use the cloud as a storage service where info is exchanged willy-nilly.

A recent news article onf the BEEB shows just how serious things are when the powers that be are worried about hackers getting into the infrastructure and wrecking havok. Suspected circumstances surrounding President Chump are probably the tip of the problem as was the recent heist of $ billions taken from US bank accounts, again suspected by NK government agencies.

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: Office 365 concerns

All my files - word or excel etc., which I think of as sensitive, I transfer and save to an external HD. I don't trust any services that use the cloud as a storage service where info is exchanged willy-nilly.

Look at it another way. Any information stored in the cloud is only a login and password away. Complex passwords make it more difficult for hackers to find their way in, but difficult is not the same as impossible. Another advantage/disadvantage of the cloud is that access is available to everyone 247, and for 365.25 days a year.

On the other hand, data stored on a local hard drive is much more difficult for others to access, especially when the computer is switched off!