Here is a two minute summary of what OmniShare is. To address these challenges, we have developed a new system called OmniShare. To avoid deriving keys from weak passwords, services like Viivo, BoxCryptor, and Sookasa use additional servers to manage and distribute keys, but this adds cost and introduces new vulnerabilities. However, it is well-known that human-chosen passwords are relatively easy to guess, so this approach does not provide very strong security guarantees. Both Alice’s PC and smartphone can derive the same key from Alice’s password. The problem with passwords: Current encrypted storage services like SpiderOak and Tresorit sidestep the key distribution problem by deriving keys from the user’s password using a deterministic password-based key derivation function (PBKDF). So now we have a key distribution problem: how can Alice securely distribute her decryption key to all her devices? Naturally, these keys should not be managed by the cloud service provider due to the risks described above. If this file is encrypted, her smartphone must have (or be able to obtain) the relevant decryption key. For example, if Alice encrypts a file on her PC and uploads it to the cloud, she also wants to access it from her smartphone. However, users want this data to be accessible from all their devices. For example, if the provider suffers a data breach, will your data be secure? Some of the provider’s staff have legitimate access to the data for development or maintenance purposes, but what could a disgruntled employee do with this access? Depending on where the cloud provider is located, could the provider be legally forced to disclose your data?Ĭlient-side encryption: Encrypting data on the users’ devices before uploading it to the cloud is an effective way to mitigate these risks. Even if the provider is completely trustworthy, this still increases the risk of your data falling into the wrong hands. However, the cloud providers themselves still have access to this data. For example, they encrypt the data in transit as it is uploaded and downloaded, and they also encrypt the data at rest while it is stored on their servers. Who has your data? All major cloud storage providers use a variety of good security measures to protect your data. However, of the respondents who chose not use cloud services, 44% said that security and privacy were important concerns. The two main benefits cited by users are the abilities to 1) use files from several devices or locations and 2) easily share files with other users. A 2015 EU survey showed that at least one in every five people in Europe use cloud storage services. OmniShare is open source software and a beta version is currently available (for closed beta testing) on Windows and Android.Ĭloud storage services, such as Dropbox and Google Drive, are increasingly being used by individuals and businesses. OmniShare also allows you to share individual encrypted files with other users. All you have to do is scan a QR code or bring your devices close enough for them to communicate over an ultrasonic channel. Based on your devices’ capabilities, OmniShare automatically selects the best mechanism to transfer your decryption key securely between your devices. To overcome this challenge, we have developed OmniShare, the first system to combine client-side encryption using high-entropy keys with a suite of secure, yet intuitive, key distribution mechanisms. One solution is to encrypt data on the client devices before it is uploaded, but this introduces a “key distribution” problem – how do you share the decryption key with all your devices? Some services sidestep this issue by deriving these keys from your password, but this does not offer much security since passwords are notoriously easy to guess. Cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive are widely used, but security and privacy are often cited as serious concerns.
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