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IPFS

Your Privacy and The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things is a remarkable push to bring data collection to a broader range of devices. As technology becomes cheaper, smaller, and more powerful, the internet has found its way into unlikely places. The Internet of Things brings conveniences and insights into the lives of the layperson and the daily dealings of businesses all around the world. What can we gain from the Internet of Things? What happens when the Internet of Things turns its back on us?

What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things is a distributed method of connecting mundane objects, or things, to smart devices and the internet at large. This is done by attaching sensors and transceivers to these objects and directing them to share information that may make end-user lives more convenient[1].

The classic example of an IoT-enabled device is a smart refrigerator. The utility of a refrigerator is bolstered by the inclusion of a few sensors and the ability to communicate. We can extend the lifespan of these refrigerators by predicting service needs and reporting points of failure as soon as they arise. Consumers are able to streamline their grocery shopping, saving time in their increasingly busy lives. 

The benefits of the Internet of Things on a consumer level are numerous. On a commercial grade, they are unparalleled. We can use IoT-enabled devices to drive down overhead costs by taking preventive measures when our servers and production devices ask for regular maintenance. Data points can be gathered from clients at trade shows or in our stores that can further create comfortable and lucrative transactions. Security methods such as intrusion detection and loss prevention can once again be in the hands of the business owner with IoT connectivity.

What are some common IoT Risks?

The Internet of Things relies on the deployment of additional points of internet access, a haphazard deployment of IoT-enabled devices in a workplace can result in easily-missed holes in the digital security fence of your workplace. Password protection and shoddy firmware can lead a savvy hacker directly into a company’s most private data. Ransomware attacks could ironically arrive through an unsecured security camera[2]. 

Beyond security issues, privacy itself may be at risk when adopting IoT-enabled devices. Smart doorbells, for example, give local law enforcement nearly unrestricted access to the video data passing through the connection between the camera and the end user. Bringing on a device that promises to bring the conveniences of the Internet of Things needs to be a process taken on carefully and with a careful eye on end-user agreements.

Inviting the internet into your company creates an interesting set of vulnerabilities that may not have existed before. One thing to be said about simple machines is that they are entirely secure from a digital standpoint. Adding sensors to the devices running your production infrastructure or connecting devices that previously could not communicate with the internet eventually requires more infrastructure than before.

The Internet of Things relies on edge computing solutions[3]. These are solutions that bring computing power and storage away from the cloud and closer to the place of business. This distributed method of computing brings power and stability to IoT-enabled devices, allowing them to gather and process more data without losing speed or increasing latency. Edge computing solutions come in hardware form, like additional servers, or a software form, like bespoke applications or computing protocols. By virtue of existing near your private data, these secondary computing solutions open up a workplace to cyber-attacks and privacy concerns.

How Does AXEL Go Protect You? 

The shortcomings of the Internet of Things should not scare workplaces away from the conveniences and the massive data-related insights that can come from the clever integration of sensors and transceivers. Like anything else, informed decision-making and a safety-first mindset will prevent the Internet of Things from eroding the privacy and security of a workplace.

Adding additional points of failure to a network means that a business’s privacy and security will find themselves quickly under fire. AXEL Go is a file sharing and storage service that is dedicated to protecting privacy and security wherever possible. Our decentralized server structure and cutting-edge AES 256-bit encryption offer top-of-the-line security in the face of ransomware and brute force attacks. AXEL Go also guarantees your privacy when using our IPFS servers. Only authorized users have access to the contents of your storage. Not even AXEL is able to peer into your end-to-end encrypted storage. 

As technology moves forward in innovative directions, AXEL Go is ready to provide the security and privacy required to keep making the internet a safe and convenient place. 

Try AXEL Go Today

AXEL Go is an incredibly versatile tool in the fight for cyber security. Implementing our decentralized, encrypted storage into a workplace will create a robust bulwark between sensitive workplace data and any clever exploits hackers can slip through the cracks.
AXEL Go is a file storage and sharing service designed to revolutionize how we think about security online. Our user experience design is focused on handing top-of-the-line security to any business of any size. Our AES-256 bit encryption and decentralized server structure thwart cyber attacks on big businesses as competently as it protects local operations. No matter how tight the budget for your practice may be, we are the perfect fit for secure, intuitive storage and file sharing. You can try AXEL Go premium for free for 14 days. See what security backed by our $10,000 guarantee can do for your business.

Citations

[1]Fruhlinger, Josh. 2022. “What Is Iot? The Internet Of Things Explained”. Network World. https://www.networkworld.com/article/3207535/what-is-iot-the-internet-of-things-explained.html.

[2]Iredale, Gwyneth. 2022. “Security & Privacy Issues In The Internet Of Things (Iot)”. 101 Blockchains. https://101blockchains.com/security-and-privacy-in-iot.

[3]Gold, Jon, and Keith Shaw. 2022. “What Is Edge Computing And Why Does It Matter?”. Network World. https://www.networkworld.com/article/3224893/what-is-edge-computing-and-how-it-s-changing-the-network.html.

Personal Vehicle Telematics and Privacy Oversights

Our cars are collecting data without our consent. As vehicles have become more sophisticated, tracking information via the onboard diagnostic system (OBD) and built-in GPS has become commonplace. This data is loosely regulated, and that can create a massive privacy hole for consumers. This information can be pulled by insurance companies, mechanics, and whoever else has the authority to demand information from your car. This is rapidly becoming a privacy blindspot upon which we should shine a bright light and direct legislation.

Telematics, Privacy, and Your Vehicle

Telematics is the process of sending and receiving data related to the location and destination of vehicles on the move. In the past, this was typically reserved for fleet vehicles so companies could better track and direct workers to maximize productivity and minimize fuel consumption. Today, as the technology has become more affordable and personally helpful, telematics has found its way into newer vehicles. 

On its face, this information and coordination is a boon to the automotive world. Insurance companies could identify safe drivers, cities could better direct traffic, and the days of being lost on the road could disappear into history overnight. However, like with any technology, a more pernicious reality lies just beneath the surface. If unrestricted access to telematic data is given to too many parties, the vehicles trusted to shuttle us to and from work can easily become intrusive bundles of data weaponized against the driver or any passengers they may have had. Any private activity at any time can be extrapolated from the mere presence of a vehicle. Without oversight, insurance companies, civil courts, and law enforcement will pounce on this opportunity. Hackers plucking this information from servers holding onto this data for later use can easily dangle it over the heads of their targets with frightening precision and expedience.

Buckle Up Your Data

Anybody with a car will immediately understand how much information their vehicle can reveal about them. Everything from their home address to their grocery shopping habits can easily be laid bare once someone has access to location data. This information is sensitive and woefully under-legislated. 

Telematics law is a burgeoning legal framework since the innovations leading to the technology in vehicles have only recently been regularly included in automobiles heading to market. Many states simply defer to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its already existing rules and regulations related to buying and selling the data of internet users. Clearly, this is insufficient. Many similarities exist between internet data and the telematic information collated by a private vehicle. Still, the degree to which drivers rely on their personal vehicles is entirely unlike the relationship they may have with their smartphones. It should also be noted that the collection and distribution of this private data, in many cases, may not be as simple to opt out of as data collection on the internet. Insurance companies and their massive lobbying power are also incentivized to obscure these oversights and push for legislation that will give them broader access to a driver’s private data than they already have. 

Citizens, privacy-minded or not, should push for legislation that covers these holes in privacy law. Telematic data belongs to more than just the driver of a vehicle. Passengers, family members, and children are inextricably tied to this data once they step foot in a car. Their privacy should not be waived simply because they decided to travel inside a vehicle. 

Protecting Your Privacy

AXEL understands that privacy comes first. Without privacy in the modern era, people are subjected to undue scrutiny from bad actors. Hackers, corrupt authority figures, and competitors always look for data that will give them a leg up on their perceived enemies. Any privacy oversights left unaddressed by legislation will inevitably turn against civilians and their best interests. 

When insurance companies offer customers discounts on premiums in exchange for unfettered access to private location data, eyebrows should be raised. Massive insurance companies act to maximize their profit by any means necessary. The overreach into their customers’ personal lives is not simply a business practice that trades the right to privacy for an opportunity to deny their customers’ claims. This represents a broader trend towards the unacceptable commodification and reduction of privacy.

AXEL Go is committed to protecting the privacy of its users and the interests of the internet at large. Our end-to-end encryption, password-protected secure fetch, and decentralized server structure are engineered to provide personal privacy from every angle. AXEL Go will never request access to private data in exchange for discounts, and our servers are designed to keep prying eyes out of our client’s storage no matter what.

Create a Private Space Online

AXEL Go is an incredibly versatile tool in the fight for cyber security. Implementing our decentralized, encrypted storage into a workplace will create a robust bulwark between sensitive workplace data and any clever exploits hackers can slip through the cracks.

AXEL Go is a file storage and sharing service designed to revolutionize how we think about security online. Our user experience design is focused on handing top-of-the-line security to any size business. Our AES-256 bit encryption and decentralized server structure thwart cyber attacks on big businesses as competently as it protects local operations. No matter how tight the budget for your practice may be, we are the perfect fit for secure, intuitive storage file sharing. You can try AXEL Go premium for free for 14 days. See what security backed by our $10,000 guarantee can do for your business.

Citations

“Research Shows Data Privacy Concerns For Telematics Policies”. 2022. Actuarialpost.Co.Uk. https://www.actuarialpost.co.uk/article/research-shows-data-privacy-concerns-for-telematics-policies-18317.htm.

Leefeldt, Ed. 2022. “The Witness Against You: Your Car”. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/telematics-data-privacy/.

“The Surveillance State Has Invaded Our Cars. Why Don’T We Care?”. 2022. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90389104/the-surveillance-state-has-invaded-our-cars-why-dont-we-care.

Why IPFS is the Future of Internet Storage Systems

Let’s demystify IPFS

IPFS is a new and growing technology that underpins some of the most exciting innovations in tech since it took the stage in 2015. AXEL Go and its decentralized server structure takes full advantage of IPFS to secure your data, but how does that work? Why does AXEL Go use the IPFS protocol over something more familiar like HTTP or FTP? IPFS holds several advantages over these protocols of the past and protects our clients like nothing the internet has seen before. Join us as we take a trip into IPFS 101.

What Should You Know about IPFS?

IPFS is a distributed peer-to-peer file-sharing system that is used online to store and access anything from the most basic bit of data to personal documents and websites. It is easy to think of the InterPlanetary File System as an over-complicated, difficult-to-grasp protocol with no practical applications in the real world. This couldn’t be further from the truth. IPFS is simply the next evolution in a rapidly growing and changing internet.

In 2015, IPFS was born. At this time, a team at a company called Protocol Labs began working on a decentralized method of storing and accessing files. CEO Juan Benet and his developers worked tirelessly on the protocol, taking inspiration from other decentralized methods of sharing information, such as the BitTorrent protocol, which had been growing in popularity since 2001.

When Protocol Labs set out to develop IPFS, it initially had very little to set it apart from something like BitTorrent or similar decentralized methods of collective data storage and sharing. With time, however, IPFS set itself apart from the file sharing protocols it took inspiration from by aiming to create a decentralized global network.

How IPFS Works

IPFS is a set of rules that govern how data is shared and stored across a set of servers. A server, as defined by the IPFS protocol, can be something as complex as a server warehouse or as humble as a smartphone. What matters most to the IPFS framework is the ability to house a fragment of data for later retrieval. How does this basic framework scale up to create the framework for a distributed internet? How does IPFS differ from your standard internet protocol

The internet, as we currently understand it uses the familiar HTTP protocol. This is, at its core, a method of storing and distributing data to users, similar to how IPFS works. When a client wants to access a site or the data held on a single server, their machine sends a request, and the server on the other end replies by granting or denying access to the data requested. This method has been acceptable enough for the early days of the internet. Still, as the technology available to the layperson has grown in sheer power and accessibility, HTTP has shown its age in recent years.

Decentralization

A single server acting as a digital air traffic controller creates a great many shortfalls. The massive point of failure is most glaringly sitting right in the middle of this model. If a centralized server goes offline, be that through nefarious or benign methods, clients all over the planet will be denied access. Bad actors will take advantage of this fact when executing DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks or regular infiltration attacks. When a single server is in charge of crucial data, it necessarily becomes a gleaming target for bad actors.

By taking advantage of a distributed structure, IPFS becomes exponentially more stable and secure. IPFS stores the information on multiple servers, or nodes, all around the world. This distribution increases stability by creating numerous points of access that can act as backups no matter the state of a single node. Decentralizing data in this way makes it practically impossible for bad actors to fall back on their old tricks. DDoS attacks simply will not find a foothold on a distributed internet, and grabbing ahold of the data in a single IPFS node will not give hackers enough information to decrypt.

IPFS is an internet protocol that strives for more than simply reinventing the wheel. Its structure acts as a protective layer for clients online and the internet at large. 

The Benefits of IPFS 

Beyond additional security and a significant boost to privacy, IPFS mainly sets out to do precisely what the internet does in its current state. To the average user, it may seem like nothing has changed on the surface. Still, their essential experience and expectation of the future will fundamentally change the more we as a digital community can fold IPFS into our lives.

IPFS promises to put more control into the hands of the people. In Turkey, for example, Wikipedia was blocked across the country. With the help of IPFS and decentralized storage, the people of Turkey could visit a fully-featured archive of Wikipedia’s entire wealth of knowledge. This marvel of community was made possible by IPFS and the inherent benefits of a decentralized server structure.

By creating spaces on the internet that can not be removed by knocking over a single server, millions of users can gain access to data that would otherwise fall victim to privacy overreach. Decentralized structures make it impossible to wrangle all of an entity’s data in a single place, making IPFS nodes safe to store private information. Comparing centralized servers to IPFS node structure shows us the clear advantage that IPFS has when it comes to protecting privileged information from bad actors and any interested parties for which they may be gathering this data.

Why AXEL Go Uses IPFS

AXEL Go is a decentralized storage and security service that believes in privacy above all else. AXEL Go rides the cutting–edge of technology by employing several of the most exciting innovations in computer science and data transfer protocols.

For AXEL, the InterPlanetary File System represents the next step in privacy and security online. AXEL Go uses end-to-end encryption to protect and obscure data when in transit to clients and from the decentralized nodes that make up its server structure. However, the distributed nature of these nodes provides a sizable bulk of the security and privacy once data is sitting safely on these servers.

IPFS gives AXEL the freedom to protect our clients as fiercely as possible without compromising our customers’ privacy and autonomy. The decentralized nature of our server structure means that AXEL has no control over the data our customers store on our nodes. IPFS also gives our customers peace of mind in the form of robust data backups and drastically reduced chances of server failure. The sort of centralized blackouts that would bring a service like Dropbox or Google Drive to its knees would need to happen dozens of times over before AXEL Go would feel a similar effect. 

IPFS is the server structure of the future, and AXEL is happy to take advantage of this rapidly growing technology’s security, privacy, and reliability. Together with our end-to-end encryption, secure fetch, and password-protected file-sharing sessions, AXEL Go is bringing privacy and security to the workplace one file-share at a time.

Try AXEL Go Today

AXEL Go is an incredibly versatile tool in the fight for cyber security. Implementing our decentralized, encrypted storage into a workplace will create a robust bulwark between sensitive workplace data and any clever exploits hackers can slip through the cracks.


AXEL Go is a file storage and sharing service designed to revolutionize how we think about security online. Our user experience design is focused on handing top-of-the-line security to any business of any size. Our AES-256 bit encryption and decentralized server structure thwart cyber attacks on big businesses as competently as it protects local operations. No matter how tight the budget for your practice may be, we are the perfect fit for secure, intuitive storage file sharing. You can try AXEL Go premium for free for 14 days. See what security backed by our $10,000 guarantee can do for your business.

Q&A With The Developers Of AXEL IPFS

We sat down with AXEL’s development team to discuss their AXEL IPFS Pinning Facility.

Q: What inspired you to develop AXEL IPFS?

The next evolution of computing is distributed. IPFS or something very similar is going to be the basis of distributed storage. The AXEL IPFS integration into our ecosystem has given us a worldwide public distributed storage system to build practically anything on top of including AXEL IPFS Pinning, AXEL IPFS Search, and many other services to come. AXEL is building a very strong foundation in distributed storage and will be a leader in the next evolution of Web 3.0!

Q: What excites you the most about AXEL IPFS?

AXEL IPFS will allow our users to immediately and securely distribute their data around the world for personal or business use. AXEL will be fostering the movement from centralized to decentralized computing and AXEL IPFS is the start of the process. For AXEL users, they can share files or even distribute website information with IPFS. It is very exciting to bring Web 3.0 technology to the masses. AXEL has made it super easy to use, which is very important when you want to increase the adoption of complex technologies like IPFS.

Q: Do you see a future for IPFS and what industries will adopt it first?

Web 3.0 will be distributed. IPFS seems likely to be a core technology of Web 3.0 and the distributed Internet. Right now archivists, service providers, researchers, developers, and content creators have begun to adopt IPFS to address many problems caused by centralized computing. IPFS also addresses many issues around high-latency networks found in developing countries. Even NASA is using similar systems to address the high-latency involved in space communications. So there is a lot going on in this field. With that said, though, it is still very new. AXEL is bringing this technology to users today by making it secure and easy to use so anyone can take advantage. I think it will be interesting to see how IPFS develops and is integrated into more and more consumer products. 

Q: What industries will IPFS be the death blow for? Is there a future for cybersecurity in a distributed web?

I do not think we are talking extinction but evolution. Current centralized systems will evolve into decentralized/distributed systems as users demand the flexibility, security, and efficiency of decentralized/distributed systems. The only companies that will go extinct are those that fail to evolve or evolve without taking into account customer needs. And as far as cybersecurity goes, as long as we use computers and the human condition remains as it is, cybersecurity will also be a lucrative and in-demand career.

Q: How much will AXEL IPFS cost to use?

The IPFS is the backbone for our private, secure file-sharing and cloud storage platform; AXEL Go. You can sign up for a free Basic account and receive 2GB of online storage and enough network fuel for hundreds of typical shares. Power users or enterprise customers have a choice of pricing tiers to accommodate their specific needs. 

Q: Is IPFS the death of HTTP?

In the computer industry, protocols die hard. As much as we want to criticize the problems with centralized computing, it has provided one of the greatest revolutions in mankind’s history. Never before have so many had access to almost the entire world’s knowledge. Individuals and entrepreneurs have tapped into this knowledge to develop some incredibly cool tech over these past 20 years. So, HTTP has been a great success, and it will not disappear quickly. But as 5G becomes more prevalent and developing countries increase their demand for data, decentralized and distributed technologies will be selected as the protocol over HTTP. It is also interesting to note that Tim Berners-Lee who created the HTTP protocol and the World Wide Web is now working on the next distributed/decentralized protocol. It is one of the greatest qualities of humans, we never stop creating.

Q: Do you have any concerns that content on IPFS can’t be removed or censored?

Yes, absolutely. There are clearly certain types of information that are not suited for publication anywhere at any time, such as child pornography or sex trafficking. Universally, this type of abhorrent information has no place on IPFS or anywhere else on the internet for that matter. When it is so universal and clear-cut like this, AXEL will do everything in its power to prevent this content from being listed on IPFS.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of developing AXEL IPFS?

The IPFS is still actively being developed and there are always difficulties with anything new and in-development. But otherwise, I have been developing technology for over 30 years and with that experience, you learn how to be diligent and get it done the right way.

Q: What does AXEL IPFS do that sets it apart from any other IPFS platform?

We believe our IPFS integration is the most easy-to-use, intuitive solution on the market. In the past, IPFS pinning required extensive technical knowledge or expensive third party services. We’ve eliminated both barriers and made utilizing this decentralized technology simple and affordable. For instance, with AXEL Go, the process isn’t any more complicated than using other popular cloud storage and sharing applications. And it doesn’t get much more affordable than a free Basic account! 

Q: How can someone help or participate in the project?

Join us on Discord or Telegram and get involved. Telegram has a lot of great community activity and Discord is where the Devs hang out. Come chat with us! There are so many ways to get involved, ask any of the channel admins and they’d be happy to help!

AXEL IPFS Is Out Now

Two weeks ago we released the AXEL Wallet, the window into our blockchain and the basis of everything we plan to do. And now, it’s only getting better!

Not only have we released one of the best-designed blockchains on Earth, but we also integrated it with the most advanced IPFS platform out there. You no longer have to make a choice between privacy or convenience, you can have both. There already are ways to stay private online, but privacy often comes at the cost of your experience and is inconvenient. AXEL IPFS is the best of both worlds, it’s secure and encryption-enabled, while still being fast and free!

But more important than just the technology of the distributed web is the team who built it. No matter how great their product is, would you really want one of those big-tech conglomerates, who have continually monitored you, sold your data and abused your trust, starting the distributed web? Do you really trust them to have your best interest at heart? While they may have the right technology, their past behavior should make you wary of trusting them with something as important as the distributed web.

Unlike most tech companies our business is not in advertising, we don’t host ads and we don’t sell data. Our business is privacy; specifically, your privacy. It has always been our business and it always will be.

That’s why we started this project. Our entire company is based around privacy and data custody. For over a decade, our team has been working on products to give you back your data, and give you the option to divorce yourselves from the surveillance-web that’s been forced upon us by big tech. Every product and project we’ve worked on has been building towards this moment.

The distributed web is no longer something to talk about as something that’s coming, it’s here. We built it, for you. AXEL IPFS is already the most advanced IPFS-integrated blockchain, and it’s just going to keep getting better with time! But now it’s your turn, show us what you can do with it, how you’d live your life, free from surveillance and censorship.

Welcome to the future of the internet, welcome… to AXEL IPFS.