Solutions for Sending LARGE Files Over the Web by Kara Mueller Primary Help Desk Tech

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1 8814 Fargo Road, Suite 105 Richmond, Virginia Computer Forensics IT Support Security ediscovery Internet Archive: Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine by the Internet Archive at archive.org is a fun tool which will allow you to view a website as it looked on different dates in the past. A description from their website says: "The Internet Archive Wayback Machine is a service that allows people to visit archived versions of Web sites. Visitors to the Wayback Machine can type in a URL, select a date range, and then begin surfing on an archived version of the Solutions for Sending LARGE Files Over the Web by Kara Mueller Primary Help Desk Tech June 2013 If you've ever attempted to a large file (such as a video file) to a friend or colleague and it failed because it was "too big", you're not alone! Many computer users often find it difficult to transmit large files to others over the web. This month's article will explain why an electronic file might be too large for and we'll explore a few other ways to deliver your data to its destination. 1 of 5 8/8/13 9:48 AM

2 Web. Imagine surfing circa 1999 and looking at all the Y2K hype, or revisiting an older version of your favorite Web site. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine can make all of this possible." While not all websites may be available, the archive is reported to contain "over 240 billion web pages archived from 1996 to a few months ago." To try it out, visit their website, enter a web address and hit enter. You'll be presented with a calendar of dates on which previous versions were archived. One example, can be viewed all the way back to November 1998! Visit the Internet Archive: Wayback Machine here: archive.org Articles of Interest What is your obsolete tech worth? - Infoworld Patent Trolls - cnet Apple Moving to Improve iphone 5 Repairs - The Street What does it mean when a file is "large"? Think of your computer as a sort of "storage closet" in which you place "boxes," or electronic files such as pictures, videos, and documents. These boxes occupy a certain amount of space, and of course, large boxes require more space. Ten years ago, the standard size for the "storage closet" (or hard drive) of a new computer was around 40 gigabytes. Today, new computers generally come with anywhere from 320 gigabytes to 1000 gigabytes of storage space, sometimes even more. But as technology evolves and these storage closets expand, the boxes, or electronic files, are increasing in size, too! Many items factor into the size of a file on your computer. New digital cameras and video recorders are able to capture the high quality HD images. But in order to capture and display a high definition picture, a lot of data about that image needs to be stored. The same is true for large PDF files with a high number of pages (especially if they contain photos) and Powerpoint presentations which contain many slides. The more information a file contains, the more storage space it requires. And it follows that the larger the file is, the more difficult it is to transmit it over the internet! Why can't we always send large files 2 of 5 8/8/13 9:48 AM

3 Stay Connected over ? Often times you may find that unusually large pictures, PDF files, powerpoint files and video clips are too large to be sent via . has size limitations which differ between providers (check with your IT or provider to find out the exact amount if you're not sure). Company A might be capable of sending and receiving files that are 20 megabytes in size, while Company B might only be able to send and receive files that are 2 megabytes in size. Attempting to send or receive an with an attachment that exceeds the size limit means it will not be sent successfully. What are some other options for sending large electronic files? Depending on the type of file you need to send, there are some alternatives to for sending files. Please note that if the file contains sensitive data, make sure you are comfortable with the level of security offered by your chosen service. Cloud Storage and Sharing Dropbox, Google Drive, RapidShare, Apple icloud and Microsoft Skydrive are just a few of the many companies that allow you to store files in the cloud. Once a file is uploaded to one of these services, it can be retrieved from another computer or device, or a link can be shared with a friend or colleague so they may download or view the file. You can also control which files are 3 of 5 8/8/13 9:48 AM

4 viewable and which are private. A free account with one of these services will allow for storing/sharing a limited amount of data, starting at around 2 gigabytes (GB). Paid accounts allow for additional storage space. One-Time Sending Solutions Yousendit.com, streamfile.com, and pipebytes.com are a few examples of free, one time sending solutions. The maximum file sizes are smaller than that of the cloud storage solutions, but still larger than what most providers allow for. Most one-time sending solution providers generally allow you to upload a file and choose a recipient to send the file to. The file will then be available for download for a certain amount of days. Video Stream For large video files, why not upload it to a streaming video service such as YouTube? Once uploading a video to a YouTube channel, you'll be given the option of setting the video to private or unlisted, which allows only users with the link to view the video. An unlisted video won't appear in searches or on the main page. What's next? As technology evolves and file sizes continue to grow, it will be interesting to see what other types of secure methods of securely transferring large files will become available. For now, remember that although the above mentioned service providers may state they cannot access your personal files, keep in mind storing or sending files in the cloud means you'll be storing them on another company's server, however temporarily. As Adam Pash from lifehacker.com says, "[when you place a] copy of your sensitive files on someone else's servers...you have to place a lot of 4 of 5 8/8/13 9:48 AM

5 trust in that service and its security." I would recommend transmitting any files containing highly confidential or sensitive information the old fashioned way - hand delivery of a password protected CD, DVD or portable drive. Seltek x13 [email protected] Fargo Road Suite 105 Richmond, VA Copyright All Rights Reserved. 5 of 5 8/8/13 9:48 AM

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Smart Ideas for Smartphone Security Page 1 of 6 8814 Fargo Road, Suite 105 Richmond, Virginia 804.360.4490 www.seltekinc.com July 2013 Computer Forensics IT Support Security ediscovery Security Apps for your Smartphone Smart Ideas for Smartphone