Is It Really a Good Idea to Store Images on a Wireless Hard Drive?

Pop Photo has a brief article today on Western Digital's new wireless hard drive. 

My question: Is storing your images an a wireless device really a good idea?


Wireless devices like this can be hacked by someone within communications range.  While the dangers are fairly obvious while traveling, it also poses a danger within your home or studio.  The wireless signals can easily pass beyond the walls of your home or office.

(As an example, there have been times when I've had to reset my laptop's wireless connection to my home wireless router.  Doing so shows all wireless networks within range.  There have been times when four other wireless networks show up on the list of available networks while I am sitting in my house.  These belong to my neighbors and I could conceivably hack into any one of them.)

Keeping the hard drive stationary may actually pose a greater danger than using it when traveling.  Hacking a wireless network becomes easier when you can analyze large amounts of traffic. 


Anyone using a wireless hard drive should keep the potential security threat in mind.  This means using strong passwords to protect access to the network the device creates.  Otherwise anyone within range of the device will have access to the network and to all devices connected to it.  (Your laptop and smartphone are potential targets.)

Any files stored on the device should be protected as well.

Encryption is a good idea for any files that contain sensitive information, including those embarrassing photos of yourself.   (Wireless hard drives pose similar security issues as those that stem from Cloud Computing.)


Learn from the recent problems encountered by some Hollywood actresses.  Either don't put those photos where someone else can access them or encrypt them so they can't be opened if someone does access them.


Wireless hard drives are great when it comes to convenience.  They allow files to be easily shared between multiple devices and are one way to address storage issues with certain smartphones. 

They're not that great when it comes to security.


Best advice: If you don't want someone else accessing a computer file, don't put it on a wireless hard drive.