Dropbox issues patch for security vulnerabilities

November 10, 2011 15:23
Online file hosting and synchronization specialist Dropbox has made several important updates, according to Ghacks, responding to data protection concerns from its users.

Online file hosting and synchronization specialist Dropbox has made several important updates, according to Ghacks, responding to data protection concerns from its users.

Online security experts recently discovered an important glitch within Dropbox's authentication process. According the Ghacks, a loophole in the system was allowing third parties to copy authentication files and sync the original owner's data on a separate computer without authorization. In many cases, users did not find out about breaches until well after the fact.

Even when the original password manager noticed an issue, simply changing the account password was not enough to remedy the problem. According to the news outlet, the solution would have required more extensive intervention from Dropbox system administrators.

Luckily, the company has identified and closed the online security loophole underlying the fraudulent file authentications. The latest version of Dropbox now ships with a host of data protection features, including a new encrypted database format, Ghacks reported.

With more than 45 million registered users saving more than 300 million files each day, Dropbox is a critical utility for consumers and businesses around the world. The online security provisions offered by the latest version of software may be an important step toward satisfying current clients and attracting new users.

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