Bitcasa
 | |
| Original author(s) | Tony Gauda Kevin Blackham |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Bitcasa, Inc. |
| Initial release | September 2011 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows Mac OS Linux (alpha) Android iOS |
| Type | Cloud storage |
| Website | www |
Bitcasa, Inc., is an American cloud storage company founded in 2011 and based in Mountain View, California,[1]
Bitcasa provides client software for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS and most major web browsers.
History
The service was first launched after becoming a finalist at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in September 2011.[2] In 2012 Tony Lee was recruited as "vice president of engineering"[3] and Frank Meehan joined the company's board of directors.[4] In June 2012 Bitcasa closed their series A round of funding, which totaled $9 million. The company's investors include: CrunchFund,[2] Pelion Venture Partners, Horizons Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Samsung Ventures and First Round Capital.[5]
Products and services
Bitcasa provides client software for web browsers, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and mobile apps are for Android and iOS platforms. Windows versions include 8, 7, Vista, and XP and Linux is supported in the beta application. [6]
The patent pending[7] algorithm reduces the actual storage need by identifying duplicate content and providing encryption of the stored data.[8][9] According to Popular Mechanics magazine, Bitcasa uses a convergent encryption method whereby a client's data is assigned an anonymous identifier before it is uploaded. If that data already exists on the Bitcasa servers (such as a popular song), it is not uploaded but is instead earmarked as available for download by that client. This protocol is said to reduce upload time.[10] Bitcasa's encryption method reportedly cloaks the data while it is still on the client's computer and then blocks of data are sent by an enterprise-grade AES-256 encryption method to the data cloud for storage.[11] According to ExtremeTech, this service gives users access and ownership rights to their own data. [12]
In a review by Gizmodo of Australia, Bitcasa's cloud service was described as "pricier than its competitors" but supported by Mac, iOS, PC and Android platforms and "if you need unlimited space" ......"BitCasa is your winner."[13]
Security
Use of Convergent Encryption
The emergence of cloud storage services, such as Bitcasa, have prompted much discussion on security.[14] Bitcasa state that they encrypt data on the user's local machine and only "a stream of encrypted blocks"[15] is uploaded to Bitcasa. Hower, Bitcasa's use of convergent encryption has been highlighted as a potential security risk[16] since, unlike regular encryption (using unique keys) which results in completely different encrypted files, convergent encryption derives the key from the file content itself and means an identical file encrypted on different computers result in identical encrypted files.[17] This enables the company to de-duplicate data blocks, meaning only one instance of a unique file (such as a document, photo, music or movie file) is actually stored on the cloud servers but made accessible to all uploaders. A third party who gained access to the encrypted files could thus easily determine if a user has uploaded a particular file simply by encrypting it themselves and comparing the outputs.[17]
Given Bitcasa's focus on media files, some users of illegally downloaded media point out that there is a theoretical possibility that organizations such as the RIAA, MPAA, or the Secret Police of an oppressive government could obtain a warrant for US law enforcement to access Bitcasa's servers and gain access to the encrypted files belonging to a user.[18] By demonstrating to a court how applying the convergent encryption methodology to an unencrypted copyrighted file produces the same encrypted file as that possessed by the user would appear to make a strong case that the user is guilty of copyright infringement.
There is, however, no easily accessible public record of this having being tried in court as of May 2013 and an argument could be made that, similar to the opinion expressed by Attorney Rick G. Sanders of Aaron | Sanders PLLC in regards to the iTunes Match "Honeypot" discussion,[18] that a warrant to search Bitcasa's servers would be hard to obtain without other, independent, evidence establishing probable cause for copyright infringement. Such legal restraint would obviously not apply to the Secret Police of an oppressive government who could potentially gain access to the encrypted files through various forms of hacking or other cybercrime.
Although Bitcasa claim to encrypt all data on the client side, their mobile clients may encrypt some data on the server, not the client.
Retention of Files
For a more in-depth discussion on Cloud Storage Security, please see the main article: Cloud computing security
See also
References
- ^ Bitcasa, Inc., Bloomberg Businessweek
- ^ a b With Bitcasa, The Entire Cloud Is Your Hard Drive For Only $10 Per Month, TechCrunch, September 12, 2011.
- ^ Unknown author (Sept 17, 2012). "Bitcasa Appoints Tony Lee Joins as VP of Engineering". Manufacturing Close-Up.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|author=has generic name (help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Staff writer (Sept 25, 2012). "Industry Veteran Tony Lee Joins Bitcasa as Vice President of Engineering". Journal of Technology.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Taylor, Colleen. "Bitcasa Launches Its \u2018Infinite Storage\u2019 App To The Public To Take Down Traditional Hard Drives". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Bitcasa releases desktop app for Linux platform!
- ^ Unknown author (Nov 27, 2012). "WIPO Publishes Patent of Bicasa". US Fed News Service.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|author=has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Bitcasa Will Offer Unlimited Cloud Storage for $10 a Month, PC World, September 13, 2011.
- ^ Bitcasa gets an early start on IP acquisition, Startups and IP Strategy, September 12, 2011.
- ^ Unknown author (January 1, 2012). "Convergent Encryption". Popular Mechanic.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|author=has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ TechCrunch talks to Bitcasa CEO about encryption TechCrunch September 2011
- ^ How convergent encryption makes Bitcasa’s infinite storage possible | ExtremeTech
- ^ Limer, Eric (March 23, 2013). "The Best Cloud Storage Services". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Jonathan Strickland. "How Cloud Storage Works". How Stuff Works. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "We don't show and tell..." Bitcasa. March 18, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "How convergent encryption makes Bitcasa's infinite storage possible". Extremetech.com. September 20, 2011. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Secure Data Deduplication, Mark W. Storer Kevin Greenan Darrell D. E. Long Ethan L. Miller http://www.ssrc.ucsc.edu/Papers/storer-storagess08.pdf
- ^ a b Brad McCarty. "Bitcasa: Infinite storage comes to your desktop, but so do big questions". TheNextWeb.com. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Cite error: The named reference "TheNextWeb.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).