The iTwin makes secure transfer of data practical
AlienBabelTech is very concerned about Internet Security and the protection of our reader’s data. We feature Andy Marken’s weekly Content Insider as he regularly points out the extreme danger of not protecting identity and property from the very real threat of data theft by cyber-criminals against individuals and businesses.
With the iPhone and iPad have come the need for consumers and business people to access their data on the go. Gone are the days of requiring a notebook PC to access Internet data. Unfortunately, these mobile solutions also have limited storage and users usually depend on cloud-storage services and Email/FTP sites as well as DVDs and USB drives to transfer and share files. However, these methods all have privacy and security issues as this blog points out.
Let’s sum up these limitations which demonstrate a compelling need for a better no-compromise yet practical solution.
- Sending email with a file attachment is easy but they are not encrypted and its easy for others to intercept and read messages.
- Both anonymous and authenticated FTP file transfers have security issues because all information is transmitted in plain text which makes it an easy target for hackers.
- Using CDs or DVDs for file transfer is time-consuming and their capacity is limited. They can also be damaged or worse, lost.
- USB drives are relatively small-capacity and may be lost or damaged; and they can be attack-vectors for malicious software.
- Cloud Storage is not suited for small businesses and consumers due to its inherently expensive cost-structure for more than a few Gigabytes of data; there are also security and privacy issues.
Data security has become an increasingly serious problem. If sensitive data falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to identity theft which can become a disaster. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 10 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. That is one in thirty people! Fortunately, there is a potentially inexpensive and practical solution. Enter the iTwin.
The iTwin – two ends of a cable without the cable
The iTwin has been called a breakthrough in file transfer technology that simplifies accessing, transferring, editing and sharing files while protecting your privacy and ensuring your data security. iTwin is plug and play with no space limitations and no annual fees and it etails for $99. You can find it currently at Newegg.com for $89.99 with free shipping and it is now available globally.
As you can see from the professional photo above, the iTwin is a plug-and-play USB device that has two identical halves for connecting any two online computers securely to each other. With the iTwin, you have secure bi-directional access that enables you to copy, back-up or remotely edit the files you choose. There is no storage limit other than the capacity of your computers and the hard drives connected to them.
Privacy and Security
The iTwin software creates a folder where you can drag and drop the files that you want to share, your entire hard drive and even attached storage on the local computer. No other files will be remotely accessible except what is in the iTwin folder.
iTwin uses two-factor authentication for maximum security. The two halves generate a random 256-bit encryption key known only to them and they use it for protecting the data. iTwin is the only industry solution with end-to-end encryption – the hardware token and optional password.
iTwin uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption and also provides a remote disable feature to protect all data in case the device is lost. In addition, when the iTwin is unplugged, all temp files are purged automatically which is a key feature when using public computers. For added privacy, nothing is ever stored on a server. Everything remains on your own hard drive and is encrypted in transit.
We got an iTwin from their company for evaluation about a month ago and we have put it through its paces. It appears to be a very practical solution for mobile users that use multiple computing devices and need secure access to large home or office files without investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or paying for cloud storage and incurring the risk that it entails.
iTwin promises to be a solution for non-technical consumers who wish to create a simple and secure family network. By giving an associate or family member one-half of an iTwin, you can provide them with a secure and easy access to data and documents. So we decided to test out the iTwin’s capabilities by using our home online-connected PC to host the local files that we would attempt to access from our notebook using our WiFi connection. Read on for our experience with secure file sharing over the Internet.
