The era of digital nomads may be upon us. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, traveling the world and working remotely has become a real possibility. In fact, according to LinkedIn, around 71 million US workers now work remotely at least some of the time. That’s a quarter of the workforce. Here’s a scenario that might play out as a result: You’re traveling the world, working remotely for a few months, and the thought of going back to a desk job and being tethered to a monitor sounds dreadful.
If you’re worried about being disconnected from the workforce, you might want to consider the blockchain’s latest innovation, the “Ex” Box. What Is it? How Does it Work? And when should you consider getting one? Let’s explore.
What is the Ex Box?
If you’re still wondering what the Ex Box is, here’s a quick explanation: The Ex Box is an immutable, decentralised storage container that enables users to keep their files safe and private, and allows them to access them from any device or browser. Basically, the cloud has never been safer or more accessible.
The cloud’s security vulnerabilities have never been greater. According to a recent Open State Report, around 28% of people globally have had their personal information hacked, with the average person losing around £500 to £1,000 in damages. The chances of being a victim of a cyberattack are high, given that around 85% of organizations now utilize cloud services.
The cloud’s accessibility challenges are also significant. People throughout the world are now connected to the internet, with around 8.4 billion connections estimated to exist as of January 2021. However, only 2.9 billion of those people have mobile broadband and access to the cloud. That’s a large chunk of the population that is either unconnected or have limited internet access. In 2022, it’s estimated that there will be 6.9 billion connected devices (including smartphones and tablets) around the world. If you add a bit more context to that figure, you’ll see that up to 20% of the world’s population is now online or near-online. While that’s great for global communication and business, it raises significant security and accessibility risks.
The immutable, decentralised nature of the Ex Box means that even if you lose your password, you will never be able to log in again. The data will be inaccessible. And because it is an open source project, any developer can review the code and ensure the security of the entire network.
How Does the Ex Box Work?
You might also be wondering how the Ex Box works. When you download a file to your device using the Box, it becomes stored on a secure element in the cloud. From that point on, the file exists in a location that is both accessible and secure. No other computer or device can access or modify that file without the owner’s explicit permission.
To give you a better understanding of how the Ex Boxes work, let’s take a closer look at the three main components of a typical Box.
The Cloud
The cloud is the central component of the Box. When you download a file to your device using the Box, it becomes stored on a secure element in the cloud. That secure element is designed to be both accessible and secure against any unauthorized attempts to access the data. The data is stored in the cloud with end-to-end encryption, and the owner of the data has full control over who can access it and for what purpose.
That same data can be accessed from any device or browser. In addition to encrypted personal files, the cloud can also be used to store and access business-critical documents and records. Because of its widespread availability, high security and decent performance, many businesses have turned to the cloud to store their data. According to Gartner, around 85% of businesses store their core corporate data in the cloud.
In some cases, the cloud can be an insecure environment. For example, if you use an easily guessed password or a weak security solution to access your data from a device, an unauthorized person could potentially access your personal information. To protect yourself against cyberattack, make sure that your cloud service provider offers both basic and advanced security solutions and that they regularly perform audits to ensure the security of your data.
The Secure Element
The secure element, also known as the trusted platform module (TPM) or hardware security module (HSM), is the next component of a typical Box. It’s a small component found inside many devices, such as smartphones and tablets. When you download a file to your device using the Box, it becomes stored on a secure element in the cloud. That secure element is designed to be both accessible and secure against any attempts to access the data. The data is stored in the cloud with end-to-end encryption, and the owner of the data has full control over who can access it and for what purpose.
That same data can be accessed from any device or browser. Access to the data is controlled by the owner of the device, and if you lose your device or break it, you’ll never be able to access the data stored on it. The TPM comes with many features and advantages, such as a dedicated, random number generator, a private key for using digital certificates and more. If you’re curious about what a TPM is and why you need one, check out this detailed guide from Tom’s Hardware.
The Browser
The browser is the last main component of a Box. When you download a file to your device using the Box, it becomes stored on a secure element in the cloud. That secure element is designed to be both accessible and secure against any attempts to access the data. The data is stored in the cloud with end-to-end encryption, and the owner of the data has full control over who can access it and for what purpose.
That same data can be accessed from any device or browser. Access to the data is controlled by the owner of the device, and if you lose your device or break it, you’ll never be able to access the data stored on it. The reason behind this is to ensure privacy and security of the user’s data. To that end, Google and Mozilla have developed open source projects that allow people to securely store and sync their data across different devices. And since the start of this year, Microsoft has also begun rolling out support for the idea as well.
In some cases, the browser may not natively support the functionality needed to access the data. For example, if you’re using a device that is less than two years old and you’re trying to access an old file or one that is locked away on company servers. In this scenario, you might have to find a way to transfer the file to a computer, and use a tool like WinRar or 7-Zip to unzip it before you can access it. This is where the second part of the Box comes in. If you’re trying to access data from a locked old file or a company that won’t let you have it, you’ll need a way to extract the data.
When Should You Get One?
As a remote worker, you might want to consider getting a Box. The benefits are clear: You can access your data from anywhere at any time, and there are no restrictions on how you can use the device. In the event that it breaks down or you lose your device, you can still have access to your data. Or if you decide to upgrade your device later on, the data will be preserved. Most importantly, the data in your Box is private and secure, and you have full control over who can access it.
While it is true that the cloud is becoming an increasingly accessible and secure place to store and access data, it’s still not the right solution for everyone. If you’re the type of person who wants total control over their data and don’t want to share it with anyone, the cloud might not be for you. That being said, for the vast majority of people, the cloud is the perfect solution.
In the event that you decide to go ahead with the purchase of a Box, make sure to do your research and read reviews. With so much competition, it’s imperative to find out as much as you can about the product before buying it. Also, make sure that the provider you’re considering using offers a money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions. Otherwise, you might be left with a device that doesn’t work as expected or one that breaks down after only a few months of use.