Data Privacy

3 Simple Steps to Lock Down Your Cloud Storage

OCT 10, 2025

Stop Over-Sharing: Why Cloud Security Is Personal

Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive are convenient, but they are often the easiest way for hackers to access your personal and professional data. The risks are rarely about the company’s security; they are almost always about your access settings.

Our "Security In Five" quick guide gives you three simple steps to immediately reduce your cloud risk.

Step 1: Ditch the Password and Use Strong MFA

The biggest mistake you can make is relying on just a password. If that password is stolen (via phishing or a data breach), your entire cloud is open.

  • Action: Immediately enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your cloud account. Use an authenticator app (like Authy or Google Authenticator) instead of SMS texts, as text codes can be intercepted.
  • The 5-Minute Fix: Stop using the "login with Facebook/Google" option for other services; if one account is compromised, they all are.

Step 2: Stop Sharing Links Publicly

The default setting for sharing a file is often "Anyone with the link can view." If you ever accidentally share that link publicly—or a recipient forwards it—your file is instantly accessible to the world.

  • Action: Whenever possible, restrict sharing to specific email addresses. Avoid blanket public sharing for any file containing personally identifiable information (PII) or financial data.
  • Check Your Permissions: Take 60 seconds to review your shared folder list and change the status of any unnecessarily public files to "Specific People Only."

Step 3: Audit and Remove Old Devices

Cloud providers track every device that has ever logged into your account. If you sold an old laptop or lost a phone, those devices may still have active access tokens.

  • Action: Navigate to your Security Settings and find the section labeled "Your Devices" or "Manage Devices."
  • Clean House: Revoke access for any old phone, tablet, or computer you no longer own or use. If you see an unfamiliar device, log out of everything and immediately change your password.

Final Thought

Locking down your cloud storage is not a technical chore; it's a privacy fundamental. These three steps take less time than a single episode of your favorite podcast but offer protection that lasts.