A lot of WAHMs use Google Docs, especially when collaborating with VAs or clients. Google docs is free and you can use it from any computer – what’s not to love? Well, actually, there is something not to love. Last week, Google had a privacy issue and some people’s docs were shared without their permission. Eeek! Looking at the numbers, very few customers were effected (0.05%), but you would not be happy if you were in that small percentage. If you were, you will have received an email from Google.
Does this mean you should remove all your docs from Google immediately? Should you go back to keeping your spreadsheets on your computer? Should you write them down on graph paper and store them under your mattress? I honestly have no idea. Google is a behemoth (dontcha just love that word?), and will always be attacked by people wanted to see it fail. Your spreadsheets on your hard drive could be stolen or hacked into to. Your mattress may be lifted by a clever thief. Data is never 100% safe no matter where it is housed. I have watched enough crime shows to tell me that.
So what is the solution? Be careful what you put online, things can “break” and your info may be shared (highly unlikely, but it could). Don’t put passwords or other extremely sensitive data in your Google Docs. If you are going to do this anyway, don’t label the file or the field “passwords”. Disguise things, make it hard to find your information. Do the same on any spreadsheet you have created on your computer. If you are using Microsoft Excel, put a password on your spreadsheet (you cannot do this with Google docs) and change it often.
You can’t make everything 100% secure, but you can lessen your chances of others getting their hands on your important information. Consider yourself informed and make your decision for your business with what feels right to you. Personally, I am still going to use Google Docs, I like the program, I can use it anywhere, even on my iPhone and I think they will be more vigilant about attacks or bugs now.
What do you do to make sure your important information is secure? If you are a Google Doc user, does this news frighten you?
Wed, Mar 11, 2009
Working at Home