Microsoft has added a new layer of security to its OneDrive and Outlook.com websites. The company says OneDrive has PFS encryption (perfect forward secrecy) now, and the good news is it is in effect on the web, and in all apps. PFS encryption is an advanced encryption protocol that protects your files even if one of the keys is compromised in the future.
Microsoft also announced that all Outlook.com email is now protected by TLS encryption. TLS encrypts your email during transmission. The person you send your email to must have an email provider that uses TLS for it to work.
Adding these extra layers of encryption is no doubt a response to the revelations about NSA snooping made by Edward Snowden last year. Microsoft lost a lot of credibility after Snowden revealed the company had been working with the government to provide a way to snoop on users.
These new encryption layers are welcome news, but it doesn't mean Microsoft is not being forced to provide some other means of snooping on its customers.
Microsoft also announced the Microsoft Transparency Center. The center is part of the company's Redmond, WA campus where governments can come and review source code for Microsoft products to verify the integrity and lack of "back doors" in their products.
Microsoft also announced that all Outlook.com email is now protected by TLS encryption. TLS encrypts your email during transmission. The person you send your email to must have an email provider that uses TLS for it to work.
Adding these extra layers of encryption is no doubt a response to the revelations about NSA snooping made by Edward Snowden last year. Microsoft lost a lot of credibility after Snowden revealed the company had been working with the government to provide a way to snoop on users.
These new encryption layers are welcome news, but it doesn't mean Microsoft is not being forced to provide some other means of snooping on its customers.
Microsoft also announced the Microsoft Transparency Center. The center is part of the company's Redmond, WA campus where governments can come and review source code for Microsoft products to verify the integrity and lack of "back doors" in their products.