Concerns raised about Amazon's Cloud Drive and privacy

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March 31st, 2011 - Posted by Kent

An article over at ZDNET is raising privacy concerns about Amazon's new music-streaming Cloud Drive service. Writer Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols notes that Amazon's terms of use give the service carte blanche to access user files. Amazon.com's TOS (Terms of Service) states that:

5.2 Our Right to Access Your Files. You give us the right to access, retain, use and disclose your account information and Your Files: to provide you with technical support and address technical issues; to investigate compliance with the terms of this Agreement, enforce the terms of this Agreement and protect the Service and its users from fraud or security threats; or as we determine is necessary to provide the Service or comply with applicable law.

This might not seem like a big deal, but pay attention to the part where they say they can access your files to "investigate compliance with the terms of this agreement." Compliance, in section 5.1, means:

that you have all the necessary rights in Your Files that permit you to use the Service without infringing the rights of any copyright owners, violating any applicable laws or violating the terms of any license or agreement to which you are bound."

Vaughan-Nichols worries this could lead Amazon to sweep user accounts looking for material that violates copyright, and then hand over those user accounts to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for enforcement. Is this really different from other online backup service providers like SugarSync? SugarSync's TOS simply states that:

We respect the privacy and confidentiality of your Files, so we agree never to disclose your Files to anyone unless you instruct us to do so or a court orders us to disclose them, as provided in our Privacy Policy.

SugarSync's TOS also contains provisions against abuse of the system, which includes anything that might "violate or infringe the rights of third parties, or expose SugarSync to any actual or potential civil or criminal liability." That could theoretically include material that violates copyright. They also don't want nudity. But will they go into your files to find it?

Content screening is a big, ugly can of worms for any Internet service provider to get into. There are liability issues, true, but it's also difficult to do; there's simply too much data to make combing through every file worthwhile. Amazon, however, has a much cozier relationship with the RIAA and the labels it represents. YouTube is already using its Content ID system to let entertainment companies find unauthorized uses of their material on the video sharing site. Amazon could employ a similar mechanism to allow entertainment companies to identify infringing files.

I don't think Amazon's terms of service are too terribly different from anyone else's. They must comply with the law, specifically the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, but also with subpoenas from law enforcement related to more serious crimes. Any Internet service provider would have to do the same. There's another reason that Internet service providers don't get into pro-active content screening: It makes them liable for everything stored on their servers. As it is, they're only responsible for what they know about. If and how Amazon might allow entertainment companies to look for infringing content through a system like Content ID is unknown.

But let's take a step back. In the end, much of it comes down to user responsibility. Everyone should know by now that copyright violation is illegal. Amazon's Cloud Drive is primarily meant as storage for MP3s legally purchased or ripped from CDs owned by the account holder. Stick to that, and you'll be fine. Cloud Drive is not a great online backup service for other files because it's not automatic. Those worried about Amazon sniffing through their personal files would be better off going through a service like Carbonite, Mozy or IDrive which handles automatic backup and lets you manage your own personal encryption key. That way no one but you can read your files—just don't lose your encryption key.

Do you offer identity theft protection services with access to and the printout of 3-bureau credit reports?

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March 31st, 2011 - Posted by Tasha

Q:  Do you offer identity theft protection services with access to and the printout of 3-bureau credit reports?

A: Two of our top-rated identity theft protection services, IDENTITY GUARD® and Trusted ID allow you immediate online access to your 3-bureau credit reports.  You can also print them out.  With Identity Guard your credit scores and reports will be updated quarterly.    Trusted ID gives you your scores and reports when you sign up, but they aren't updated after that.  However, both services provide ongoing 3-bureau credit monitoring, so you'll be alerted if there are any changes to your credit reports.

As an added bonus, Identity Guard and Trusted ID both feature free trials, during which time you'll receive your credit scores and reports free of charge.  Then if you don't see value the service you can cancel during the trial period and keep your scores and reports at no cost.  (We recommend keeping the service though, as they are both excellent deals and highly rated identity theft protection services).

Amazon Cloud Drive: Online Backup and Music Streaming

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March 29th, 2011 - Posted by Kent

Today Amazon announced its new Cloud Drive and Cloud Player service, designed to give customers access to their music from any Internet-connected computer or Android phone.  Paid plans start at $20.00 per year for 20 gigabytes of storage. A 50 gigabyte plan costs $50.00, and so on. The Cloud Player lets you stream the stored music. Apple has been rumored to be working on a similar product, though in truth neither Apple's hypothetical product, nor Amazon's real, is particularly new. The Cloud Drive is essentially just an online backup service with a focus on media. SugarSync, a product we enjoy and have reviewed extensively allows online storage and music streaming (as well as multi-computer syncing). SugarSync's a bit more expensive ($49.99 per year gets you 30 GB, and $149.99 gets you 100 GB), but it's an automatic online backup service: it has a few more features, can backup multiple machines, and is compatible with iOS devices (iPod Touch, iPhone) from Apple.

Per gigabyte, Cloud Drive is not the cheapest online backup service out there. However, Amazon Cloud Drive is good for those who buy their music from Amazon and want the freedom of music streaming. New MP3 purchases will be automatically added to the Cloud Drive, and will not count against your storage quota (previous purchases are not covered). So if you already live in Amazon's media universe, and you don't need to stream to an iPhone or iPod Touch, it's something to consider. In addition, Cloud Drive will back up anything you upload to it, but that's also the catch: the backup is not automatic. You must choose to upload your files, a crucial difference between Cloud Drive and the services we've reviewed.

What is the best mp3 player for downloading audiobooks?

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March 29th, 2011 - Posted by Kent

The following is an user-submitted question:

Q: What is the best mp3 player for downloading audiobooks?

A: Good question, but first a little clarification: generally you do the actual downloading on your computer. Once you download it on to your computer, you transfer it to your MP3 player so you can listen to your audiobook on the go. Which MP3 player you need depends on the service you choose. Our comparison chart and reviews have some basic information about the players supported by each service. I've always had iPods, which are compatible with most services. Storage is a consideration, of course, but most MP3 players on the market have at least 4 gigabytes worth of storage, meaning you could store 140 hours worth of audio on them (about 20 books).

Incidentally, If you do want an MP3 player that can actually download, as well as play an audiobook, go for the iPod Touch. You can use Audible.com's iPod Touch app to download audiobooks via a wireless Internet connection, meaning you don't even need your computer to download the book. Plus it's a pretty nifty device that lets you surf the web, check email, and run a variety of other apps.

Are these VoIP devices portable? That is, can I connect the VoIP adapter to my router in Boston, or my router in FL and have the same phone number?

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March 29th, 2011 - Posted by Kent

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q: Are these VoIP devices portable? That is, can I connect the VoIP adapter to my router in Boston, or my router in FL and have the same phone number?

A: Yes, absolutely. That's the beauty of VoIP; it doesn't really matter where you are physically. Your number is virtual and the VoIP adapter is highly portable. You can even use it in hotel rooms that have Ethernet connections; simply plug the adapter into the Ethernet cable, plug in the power cable, and hook up the phone. Using it in the different locations you described will be no problem. Calls to your Boston number will be routed to you wherever you are.

Here's one thing to keep in mind. Since your number is virtual, 911 services will have no idea where you're calling from if you have an emergency. So, when you arrive in your new location, you'll want to contact your VoIP provider and let them know you've changed physical addresses. Most of the time, you can change this by logging into your account.

How can the credit scores differ so much from one monitoring service to the next?

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March 28th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha

Q:   How can the credit scores differ so much from one monitoring service to the next? My Experian score had a 43 point difference between FreeCreditReport.com and CreditScoreComplete, on the same day!

A: I agree that it can be confusing. The reason the your credit score can vary from one monitoring service to another is because different companies use different formulas to calculate your score. They can also have different ranges to measure the results.

Every company starts off with the basics – your credit report. They then take that information and by means of a proprietary (and secret) formula determine what your credit score is. FreeCreditReport.com is using a different formula than CreditReportComplete so it is likely your score result will be different.

However, these companies also have their own ranges for each score, which indicate if your score falls into a "Poor", "Fair", "Good" or "Excellent" rating.  For example, FreeCreditReport.com uses the Experian PLUS brand of credit score, which measures your results on a scale from 330-850.   CreditScoreComplete uses the Vantage Score brand of scoring, which has a range of 501-990.  So a score from FreeCreditReport.com of 750 will mean something different than a score from CreditScoreComplete of 750 because the scale they use to measure the result isn't the same.

Add into all this confusion the fact that your credit report can change daily.  So if you got your FreeCreditReport.com score in the morning and your CreditReportComplete score in the evening of the same day, your credit report could have been updated with information that helps (or hurts) your credit score.

If you're interested in staying up to date on your credit scores and their fluxuations, you should subscribe to a credit monitoring service.  These services watch you credit reports and alert you if there are any changes.  Many also provide credit reports and scores as part of their service.  Some of our top-rated services even offer 30-day free trial, so you can check out your scores and reports free of cost.

I have a Verizon hot spot MiFi 2200 for my Internet. Will VoIP phone service work with this unit? And will VoIP phone service use up substantial kilobytes?

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March 28th, 2011 - Posted by Kent

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q: I have a Verizon hot spot MiFi 2200 for my Internet. Will VoIP phone service work with this unit? And will VoIP phone service use up substantial kilobytes?

A: Verison's hot spot Mifi 2200 is not the best choice for VoIP, at least using a full VoIP plan like Vonage, Phone.com, PhonePower, or other services we've reviewed. There are two main reasons, and you point out one of them above. With the MiFi, you're limited in terms of data usage, which means any data you send or receive will count against your total allotment. According to estimates we've seen, VoIP runs through 10 to 40 megabytes per hour, depending on the type of compression used by the VoIP service. This could really add up if you use it for all your calls.

The other problem is that the MiFi, from what we can tell, only allows w-ifi-enabled devices to connect to it, while all the routers we've seen work through a wired connection. Because of this, you might benefit from the magicJack. Since it connects to your USB port, the data will travel via your computer's wi-fi connection, so you don't need to worry about a wired connection. We've always said magicJack shouldn't replace your normal phone line, but it's a good supplement if you want to take advantage of cheap calling. Since you choose when to use magicJack, you can just unplug it if the data usage gets too high.

Chemistry.com Free Communication Weekend

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March 25th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha

It's back!  Chemistry.com is offering a free communication weekend today through Sunday, March 27th.  You can sign up for Chemistry.com and communicate with other members absolutely free.  You'll have access to all the great tools full-paying members do, and you don't even need to provide a credit card!   So stop wondering if it's for you and test drive Chemistry.com today—you might find the partner of your dreams.

Yes, you can use the Kindle to download from Audible.com

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March 24th, 2011 - Posted by Kent

According to the people at Amazon and Kindle, you can now shop for Audible audiobooks directly from the Kindle itself, provided you have the most recent wi-fi version of the reader. In the old days, i.e. yesterday, you had to log into your Audible account on your computer, download the audiobook, and then transfer it via wi-fi to the Kindle. Now, Audible subscribers who want the option of using their Audible credits to purchase audiobooks for their Kindle ebook reader just need to link their Amazon and Kindle accounts. Once that's done, the Audible store can be accessed directly from the device.

Does Carbonite back up the programs as well as files? Is the entire hard drive "ghosted"?

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March 24th, 2011 - Posted by Kent

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q: Does Carbonite back up the programs as well as files? Is the entire hard drive "ghosted"?

A: No, Carbonite just backs up documents such as word processing documents, spread sheets, photos, MP3s, and other irreplaceable files. There are a couple reasons for this. One is that program files are massive, and Carbonite (which offers unlimited backup) needs to set some limits in order to keep their bandwidth costs reasonable (they already impose a maximum file size limit of 4 gigabytes, a monthly transfer limit of 100 gigabytes). But there are more practical reason for users too. One is that a full hard drive restore would be a massive download, taking days. Also, when restoring a computer after a crash, a fresh install of programs is generally best. So hold onto your installation discs, and keep track of the serial numbers and activation codes for any software you download. If your computer should crash, reinstall the programs anew, and restore your files from Carbonite.

For more information on online backup services, check out our reviews and comparisons.