Safe and Secure in the Cloud : corrupted system

Safe and Secure in the Cloud

17 June 2024

We looked at the centralisation of the internet and why this is not a good thing way back in 2021, and of course The Great Consolidation hasn’t relented for a moment. With the largest Governments and international Governance organisations with infinitely deep pockets happy to pour taxpayers money into these Big Tech behemoths’ already inflated coffers, the idea of “you’ll own nothing and be happy” extends further and further into all aspects of life, but none more-so than the hoovering up of more and more of our data, for our security and convenience of course.

Every tech company is now urging us relentlessly to sign up to this and that, offering free or cheap online storage, send your backups, documents, images, video, audio and biometric data “to the cloud”, you know it makes sense.

From a privacy perspective this has always been a major issue, and by now even the most credulous, non-conspiracy-theorist types acknowledge that devices listen to us, adverts follow us around the internet and big tech companies know far too much about most of us.

But it’s just so convenient, and our data is safe, right? After all, it’s in the privacy policies of all these companies that our data is safe and secure, right? Obviously we all read every word of these policies that seem to be changing every week as these companies find new ways to improve transparency, make their policies clearer and easier to understand etc. etc. I recently set aside a week to go through Spotify’s policy and list of “partners”…

It’s super-lucky that Spotify “cares” so much about our privacy, or I might be concerned about my data being shared with over 700 other companies. Here is the list as of today, 17th June 2024:

152 Media LLC
1plusX AG
2KDirect, Inc. (dba iPromote)
33Across
6Sense Insights, Inc.
A Million Ads
A.Mob
AA INTERNET-MEDIA Ltd
Aarki, Inc.
Accorp Sp. z o.o.
AccountInsight Ltd
Active Agent (Virtual Minds GmbH)
ACTV8, Inc.
AcuityAds Inc.
Ad Alliance GmbH
ad6media
Adasta Media S.r.l.
adbalancer Werbeagentur GmbH
adbility media GmbH
AddApptr GmbH
AdDefend GmbH
AdElement Media Solutions Pvt Ltd
Aderize, Inc.
Adex (Virtual Minds GmbH)
Adform A/S
AdGear Technologies, Inc.
Adhese
adhood.com
Adikteev
AdInMo LTD
ADITION (Virtual Minds GmbH)
Adjust Digital A/S
Adkernel LLC
Adlane LTD
Adloox SA
ADMAN – Phaistos Networks, S.A.
ADman Interactive SLU
ADMAX
Admixer EU GmbH
Admo.tv (Clickon)
Adnami Aps
ADNOW I RENODO MEDIA LTD
Adnuntius AS
Adobe Advertising Cloud
Adobe Audience Manager, Adobe Experience Platform
Adpone SL
adQuery
ADRENALEAD
Adrino Mobile Sp. z o.o.
adrule mobile GmbH
Ads Interactive Ltd.
Adserve.zone / Adserve AS
AdServing Factory srl
ADSOCY
Adsolutions BV
AdSpirit GmbH
adsquare GmbH
ADSTOURS SAS
AdsWizz Inc.
Adsyield Inc
Adtarget Teknoloji A.S.
Adtelligent Inc.
AdTheorent, Inc
AdTiming Technology Company Limited
Adtriba GmbH
ADTTRIBUTION Inc
ADUX
advanced store GmbH
ADventori SAS
Adverticum cPlc.
Advisible AB
ADWAYS SAS
adWMG
Adxperience SAS
ADYOULIKE SA
Affinity Global GmbH
Agate Systems Limited
AIDEM Technologies LTD
AirGrid (An MiQ Company)
AlgoriX Technology Pte. Ltd.,
Alkimi
Alliance Gravity Data Media
AllMediaDesk GmbH
Alphonso Inc.
Amazon Ad Server
Amazon Advertising
Amnet GmbH
Amplified IntelligenceTechnologies
Annonsera SUNT AB
Anonymised
AntVoice
Anzu Virtual Reality LTD
Apester Ltd
Appier PTE Ltd
Appstock LTD.
Appush Technologies
Arago
ArcSpan Technologies, Inc.
Arcspire Limited
Arkeero
ARMIS SAS
Arpeely Ltd.
ArtChaos s.r.o.
Artefact Deutschland GmbH
Aryel s.r.l
Ask Locala
Audience Network
Audience Solutions S.A.
AudienceProject A/S
Audiencerate LTD
AudienceRun corp
Audienzz AG
AUDIOMOB LTD
Audion
Automattic Ads
Avantis Video Ltd
AWIN AG
Axel Springer Teaser Ad GmbH
Azerion Holding B.V.
Azira
B2B Media Group GmbH
Bababam
Baidu USA
bam! interactive marketing GmbH
Bannerflow AB
Bannernow, Inc.
Basis Global Technologies, Inc.
BCOVERY SAS
BeeswaxIO Corporation
BEINTOO SPA
belboon GmbH
BeOp
Bertelsmann Data Service GmbH
Better Ads GmbH
Better Collective A/S
Between Exchange
BidBerry SRL
BidMachine Inc.
Bidmatic Inc
BIDSWITCH GmbH
Bidtellect, Inc
BidTheatre AB
BILENDI SA
Blendee srl
BLIINK SAS
Blis Global Limited
Blockthrough, Inc.
Blue
Blue Media Services LTDA
Bmind a Sales Maker Company, S.L.
Boldwin LTD
Bombora Inc.
Bootleg Digital LTD
BotTalk UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Brand Advance Ltd
Brand Metrics Sweden AB
Brandhouse/Subsero A/S
Brave People Ltd.
Brid Video Doo
Browsi
BSmartData GmbH
Businessclick Sp. z o.o.
C Wire AG
Captify Technologies Limited
Caroda s.r.o.
CASTOOLA D.O.O.
Cavai AS
Celtra Inc.
Channel Pilot Solutions GmbH
Channel99, Inc.
CHEQ AI TECHNOLOGIES
Cint AB
CITISERVI EUROPE, S.L.
Claritas LLC
CleverPush GmbH
Clickagy LLC
Clinch Labs LTD
Clipcentric, Inc.
Clipr
Cloud Technologies S.A.
Cluep Inc.
CMI Marketing, Inc. d/b/a Raptive
CND Motion Media GmbH
Comcast International France SAS/FreeWheel Media, Inc.
Commanders Act
communicationAds GmbH & Co. KG
Comscore B.V.
Confiant Inc.
congstar GmbH
Connatix Native Exchange Inc.
ConnectAd Demand GmbH
Contact Impact GmbH/Axel Springer Teaser Ad GmbH
Content Ignite
Converge-Digital
Covatic Ltd
Creatopy INC
Crimtan Holdings Limited
Criteo SA
crossvertise GmbH
Czech Publisher Exchange z.s.p.o.
Dailymotion Video Player
Dando online LTD
Dataseat Ltd
DataWave LTD
dataXtrade GmbH
Decentralised Advertising Limited
DEFINE MEDIA GMBH
Delta Projects AB
Demandbase, Inc.
Dentsu A/S
Dentsu Italia SpA
Dentsu UK Limited
Dianomi PLC
Digital Brain Nordic AB
DIGITAL SQUAD
digitalAudience B.V.
DIGITEKA Technologies
Discover-Tech ltd
Disqus
DistroScale, Inc.
Doceree UK Limited
DoubleVerify Inc.
dpa-infocom GmbH
DrivenIQ Corporation
DT Exchange (Fyber Monetization Ltd.)
Duration Media, LLC.
Dynamic 1001 GmbH
Dynata LLC
EASY Marketing GmbH
EASYmedia GmbH
eBay Inc
EDGE NPD Sp. z o.o.
Edge226 Ltd
Effiliation / Effinity
eLabz SRL
eMarketingSolutions, Online Marketing S.L.
EMBRACE Systems GmbH
Emerse Sverige AB
emetriq GmbH
Empower AdTech
Ensighten
Epom Ltd.
Epsilon
Equativ
Eskimi
esome advertising technologies gmbh
ETARGET SE
Eulerian Technologies
Euvic 360e-com Sp. z o.o.
Evolution Technologies Inc.
Evorra Ltd
EX.CO Technologies Ltd
Exactag GmbH
EXADS
Exceed Solutions GmbH
Exit Bee Limited
EXOCLICK, S.L.
Experian LTD
Exponential Interactive, Inc d/b/a VDX.tv
Extreme Reach, Inc
Eyeota Pte Ltd
Ezoic Inc.
Factor Eleven GmbH
Fandom, Inc.
FeedAd GmbH
Feeltapmedia Limited
Fifty Technology Limited
FireArc Technologies Ltd
First-id
Firstlead GmbH (ADCELL)
Flashtalking
Flexoffers.com, LLC
Flyads OÜ
Footballco Media Limited
Foreshadow s.r.o
Frameplay Corporation
fraud0 GmbH
FRVR Limited
FUNKE Digital GmbH
Gadsme
Gamesight Inc
Gamoshi Ltd
Gemius SA
Genius Sports UK Limited
GeoEdge
GeoProve Limited
GfK GmbH
giosg.com Oy
Global Media Group Services Limited
GlobalWebIndex
glomex GmbH
Glui Inc
Go.pl sp. z o.o.
Goldbach Group AG
Golden Bees
Good-Loop Ltd
Google Advertising Products
GP One GmbH
Greenbids
Groupe Canal
GroupM UK Limited
GumGum, Inc.
Happydemics
Hashtag Labs Inc.
Havas Media (Artemis Alliance S.L.U.)
Hearts and Science München GmbH
Hillside (Sports) GP Limited
Hivestack Inc.
Holid AB
Hubvisor
HUMAN
Hurra Communications GmbH
Hybrid Adtech GmbH
Hybrid Theory Global Ltd
hyScore.io GmbH
I.R.V. D.O.O.
ID5 Technology Ltd
ID-CLICK MEDIA / CASANEO
Ideal Media US Inc.
IDG Communications, Inc. dba Foundry
impact.com
Impactify SARL
Improve Digital
Index Exchange Inc.
INFINIA MOBILE S.L.
Infolinks Media, LLC
INFOnline GmbH
Ingenious Technologies AG
INIS sp. zo.o.
InMobi Pte Ltd
INNITY
Innovid LLC
Inskin Media LTD
InsurAds Technologies SA.
Integral Ad Science (incorporating ADmantX)
Intercept Interactive Inc. dba Undertone
INVIBES GROUP
INVIDI technologies AB
IPONWEB GmbH
iPROM
iProspect GmbH
IPSOS MORI UK LTD
IQM CORPORATION
Italiaonline S.p.A.
ividence
IVO Media Ltd
Jaduda GmbH
Jetpack Digital LLC
Jivox Corporation
Justpremium BV
Justtag Sp. z o.o.
Kairos Fire
Kameleoon SAS
Kamino Retail
Kargo Global Inc.
Keymantics
Kindred Soul Ltd
Kiosked Ltd
Knorex
KÖNIGSTEINER digital GmbH
Konodrac S.L.
Kubient Inc.
Kueez Entertainment Ltd.
KUPONA GmbH
Kwanko
lead alliance GmbH
Leadoo Marketing Technologies Ltd
LightBoxTV
LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company
LiquidM Technology GmbH
Listonic Sp. z o.o.
Little Big Data sp. z o.o.
Live Data Solutions SL
LiveIntent Inc.
LiveRamp
Livewrapped AB
Localsensor B.V.
Longtail Ad Solutions, Inc dba JW Player
Loop Now Technologies Inc.
LoopMe Limited
Lotame Solutions, Inc
Lucid Holdings, LLC
Lumen Research Limited
Luna Media Group LLC
M.D. Primis Technologies Ltd.
M32 Connect Inc
MADINAD PC
Madington
Madison Logic, Inc.
MADVERTISE MEDIA
Magnite CTV, Inc.
Magnite, Inc.
Magnite, Inc. (Carbon AI Limited)
mainADV Srl
Marfeel Solutions, SL
Marfeel Solutions, SL (Compass)
MARKETPERF CORP
Mars Media Group
MEDIA FORCE COMMUNICATIONS (2007) LTD
Media Square
Media.net Advertising FZ-LLC
Media16 ltd
MEDIAMETRIE
Media-Micro-Census GmbH
MEDIARITHMICS SAS
Mediasmart Mobile S.L.
Mediavine, Inc.
MEDIAWAYSS Sp. z o.o.
Memob Plus FZ LLC
MGID Inc.
Microsoft Advertising
Mindlytix SAS
MindTake Research GmbH
MiQ Digital Ltd
Mirando GmbH & Co KG
Mobfox US LLC
Mobilewalla, Inc.
Mobility-Ads GmbH
Mobkoi Ltd
Mobsuccess
Moloco, Inc.
Momento, Inc.
Monet Engine Inc
MOOT TECHNOLOGY LTD
MyTraffic
N.Rich Technologies Inc.
Natív Hirdetés Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság
Nativery Srl
Nativo, Inc.
NBCUniversal Media LLC
NC Audience Exchange, LLC
Near Intelligence Pte. Ltd.
NEORY GmbH
Netpoint Media GmbH
netzeffekt GmbH
NEURAL.ONE
Neustar, Inc., a TransUnion company
NEXD
Next Media SRL
Next Millennium Media INC
NEXTCHANCE MULTIMARTKS, S.L.
NextRoll, Inc.
Nexx360
Nexxen Group LLC
Nexxen Inc.
Nielsen International SA
Nielsen Media Research Ltd.
Njuice AB
NoBid, Inc.
Norstat AS
Notify
Novatiq limited
Nubo LTD
NumberEight Technologies Ltd
Numberly
Objective Partners BV
Offerista Group GmbH
Ogury Ltd
On Device Research Limited
OnAudience Ltd
OneFootball GmbH
Onesoon Limited t/a Adalyser
OneTag Limited
Onfocus (Adagio)
Online Advertising Network Sp. z o.o.
Online Solution
onlineumfragen.com GmbH
Onnetwork Sp. z o.o.
OnProspects Ltd
Open Web Technologies Ltd
OpenX
Opera Software Ireland Limited
Opt Out Advertising B.V.
Opti Digital SAS
optimise-it GmbH
Oracle Advertising
Oracle Data Cloud – Moat
ORANGE CLICK MEDIA & COMMERCE LTD
OS Data Solutions GmbH & Co. KG
Otto (GmbH & Co KG)
Outbrain UK Ltd
Papirfly AS
Pelmorex Corp.
Performax.cz, s.r.o.
Permodo GmbH
Permutive Limited
Petal Ads
Pexi B.V.
PIA Advertising GmbH
Piano Software Inc.
Pinpoll GmbH
Pixalate, Inc.
Platform161 B.V.
PLAYGROUND XYZ EMEA LTD
Playhill Limited
Polar Mobile Group Inc.
Portuma Software A.S.
POWERENGINE PTE.LIMITED
PRECISO SRL
PREQUEL INTERNET TRADING LTD.
Pressboard Media Inc
Prisma Media
Project Agora Ltd
ProSiebenSat.1 Digital Data GmbH
Protected Media LTD
Proxi.cloud sp. z o.o.
Pubfinity LLC
Publicis Media GmbH
Publisher First, Inc.
PubMatic, Inc
PubWise, LLLP
PulsePoint, Inc.
Pure Local Media GmbH
Quality Media Network GmbH
Quantcast
QuantumCast digital GmbH
Quantyoo GmbH & Co. KG
QUARTER MEDIA GmbH
Query Click Limited
Questpass Sp. z o.o.
R2B2 a.s.
Radio Marketing Service interactive GmbH
Radio Net Media Limited
Rakuten Marketing LLC
RATEGAIN ADARA INC
Rayn B.V.
Readpeak Oy
Realytics
Redbranch, Inc dba Fraudlogix
Refine Direct Srl
Relay42 Netherlands B.V.
Relevant Audience Oy
Relevant Digital Oy
Reliz LTD
Remerge GmbH
Reppublika Data Analytics and Technologies GmbH
Research and Analysis of Media in Sweden AB
Reset Digital Europe Ltd
Resono B.V.
ResponsiveAds, Inc.
retailAds GmbH & Co. KG
Revcontent, LLC
RevJet
RevX
Rezonence Limited
Rich Audience Technologies SLU
Rico Developments Ltd
Ringier Axel Springer Polska sp. z o.o.
Roivenue s.r.o.
Roku Advertising Services
Roq.ad GmbH
RTB House S.A.
Sage Archer BV
Samba TV UK Limited
Samba TV, Inc.
Samoukale Enterprises Limited dba ADEX
Samsung Ads
Schober Information Group Deutschland GmbH
Schwarz Media GmbH
Score Media Group GmbH & Co. KG
Seeding Alliance GmbH
Seedtag Advertising S.L
Seenthis AB
SelectMedia International LTD
Semasio GmbH
Seven Technologies S.L.
SevenData S.p.a.
Seznam.cz, a.s.
ShareThis, Inc
Sharethrough, Inc
SheMedia, LLC
Showheroes SE
SIA Setupad
Sift Media, Inc
Silverbullet Data Services Group
Simplifi Holdings LLC
SINGLESPOT SAS
Sirdata
Sitewit, Corp
Skaze
Skimbit Ltd
Smaato, Inc.
SMADEX, S.L.U.
Smart Analytics SL
Smart Traffik
smartclip Europe GmbH
Smartclip Hispania S.L.
SmartFrame Technologies Ltd
Smartology Limited
SMARTSTREAM.TV GmbH
SmartyAds Inc.
Smile Wanted Group
Snigel Web Services Limited
socoto gmbh & co. kg
SoD ScreenOnDemand GmbH
Solocal SA
Solution coupons
Somplo Ltd
SOMQUERY SOMTAG – (SevenOne Media)
Sonares GmbH
Sonic Odeeo ltd
Sonobi, Inc
SoundCast
Sovrn, Inc.
Sparteo
SPICY MOBILE Karczewski Zawadzki Spółka Jawna
Spoods GmbH
SPORTORITY UK LTD
Sportradar AG
SPP Solutions Ltd.
SpringServe, LLC
Sqreem Technologies Private Limited
SSMas
StackAdapt Inc.
Start.io Inc
Stream Eye OOD
streaMonkey GmbH
Ströer Digital Media GmbH
Ströer SSP GmbH (SSP)
Strossle International AB
Sub2 Technologies Ltd
Sublime
SunMedia
Synamedia
Synkd UK Ltd.
TabMo SAS
Taboola Europe Limited
Tangoo S.R.L.
Tappx
TAPTAP Digital SL
Targetspot Belgium SPRL
TargetVideo GmbH
Teads France SAS
Teavaro
Telecoming S.A.
Teroa S.A.
TF1 PUBLICITE
The Kantar Group Limited
THE LINEA 1 MKT SL
The MediaGrid Inc.
THE NEWCO S.R.L.
The Ozone Project Limited
The Reach Group GmbH
The UK Trade Desk Ltd
TimeOne Performance
TMT Digital Inc
Tonefuse LLC
Traffective GmbH
travel audience GmbH
Triple13 Ltd
TripleLift, Inc.
Tri-table Sp. z o.o.
Triton Digital Canada Inc.
TrueData Solutions, Inc.
Truvid Inc.
Turk Telekom
TV SQUARED LIMITED d/b/a InnovidXP
twiago GmbH
TX Group AG
TypeA Holdings Ltd
umlaut communication Gmbh
Unblockia SL
Underdog Media LLC
Unicredit BankAustria AG
UniCredit S.p.A.
United Internet Media GmbH
uppr GmbH
usemax advertisement (Emego GmbH)
VECTAURY
Venatus Media Limited
Verasity Limited
Verve Group Europe GmbH
VGI CTV, Inc
VIADS ADVERTISING S.L.
Viafoura Inc.
Vidazoo Ltd
video intelligence AG
Videobot Ltd
Viomba Oy
Visarity Technologies GmbH
vitrado GmbH
VIZNET
VLYBY Digital GmbH
Voxnest Inc
VRTCAL Markets Inc
Vyde Ltd.
Wagawin GmbH
Watch Fantom Inc. AKA Qortex
WebAds B.V
Webgains GmbH
WebMedia
Weborama
Welect GmbH
WEMASS MEDIA AUDIENCE SAFE SOLUTIONS, S.L.
wetter.com GmbH
Wizaly
Wunderkind Corporation
XAD spoteffects GmbH
Xandr, Inc.
XChange by SFBX®
xpln.ai SAS
Yahoo EMEA Limited
Yieldlab (Virtual Minds GmbH)
Yieldlove GmbH
Yieldmo, Inc.
YOC AG
YouGov
Zeit Agency ApS
Zemanta Inc.
zeotap GmbH
Ziff Davis LLC
Zuuvi ApS

Amongst that lot you’ll find the usual big tech suspects, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Samsung, and Google plus some less obvious ones like IPSOS Mori, YouGov and Experian. It’s just about improving the service though, better user experience and all that, obviously. Trust me bro.

We know this, we know that harvesting and then monetising our data is what is really going on. All the vouchers, loyalty cards, “things that may interest you” and other dangled carrots are designed to get us to part with our information as quickly as possible.

And it is convenient. And quite often, for what you get, cheap or even free. Yes, the old adage of “if you’re not paying for it, then you’re not the customer, you’re the product” was never more applicable, but people’s lives have been made stressful, chaotic and demanding and most people will take anything that gives them one less thing to think about, and so trusting our data to “the cloud” is often, ironically, referred to as a “no-brainer”.

We’re going to introduce a word now that was definitely in the Top 10 most overused words of 2020…

unprecedented

On the 2nd May 2024, UniSuper, an Australian pension fund that manages $135 billion worth of funds and has 647,000 members, had its entire account nuked from Google Cloud, including all its backups that were stored there. The ARS Technica website reported on this on the 17th May 2024, but for some reason this didn’t get picked up on by mainstream media. A search on the BBC for the name “UniSuper” spawns a “Did you mean: uniper” enquiry. Amazing.

Almost 2 weeks of downtime, punctuated by various statements and reassuring messages from both UniSuper and Google including this classic from UniSuper’s CEO:

Google Cloud has issued a statement today which confirms again that the fault originated within their service as a ‘one of its kind,’ unprecedented occurrence

Yes… unprecedented indeed.

Fortunately for UniSuper, it seems one of their employees had got backups on another cloud service, and that is the only reason UniSuper still have a business. If your servers get breached, or your server building collapses that is usually considered the “worst-case scenario” and off-site backups, either in another building or “in the cloud” are there to save the day. As the ARS Technica article points out, the actual worst-case scenario is that Google deletes your account because all your backups on Google Cloud are also gone.

None of the safeguards that are supposed to prevent an automatic account deletion worked, hence the need to restore from another backup provider. Of course if you’re a company that manages $135 billion worth of payments for retirement funds that means if you have a problem you get the CEO on the phone and not someone reading a script from a call-centre asking you to reboot your router.

As it turns out, the Google Cloud CEO couldn’t do anything but allow a rival company provide the data that Google had accidentally nuked.

Sometimes the “security”, “safety” and “convenience” aspects of big tech are not all they are cracked up to be.