BeInSync, Laplink avoid Google Desktop's alleged security threat

- Gary Thayer, editor

Feb. 22, 2006 -- (MobileVillage) -- Google recently introduced controversial new features to its Google Desktop application that not only allow users to search and access data on their own computer, but also to search across multiple computers and share data remotely.

Such convenience, however, may have security risks, since Google Desktop stores copies of the user's files on Google's own servers. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Gartner analysts and others have voiced concern over the new feature.

Remote web based data access software companies including BeInSync and Laplink Software have rushed to distance themselves from this risk, claiming that their data is never stored on remote servers. The companies' software allows users to retrieve files and email from local desktop or notebook PCs, handheld PDAs or smartphones.

Laplink added remote Google Desktop Search functionality right into its Laplink Everywhere 4 software last year. However unlike Google's latest remote search feature, Laplink and BeInSync say that their remote file access programs keep all searchable data safely on the remote PC, rather than on a server.

BeInSync, for example, relies on Peer-to-Peer communications to create personal, private networks of user PCs and data, eliminating the need for storing customer files -- including file listings -- on BeInSync's servers, or on any third-party server. When accessing or sharing a file using BeInSync, the file content is sent directly from the peer PC.

With both Laplink and BeInSync, files are retrieved using a web interface, and streamed to the local computer via an encrypted channel. Once the files are retrieved and the remote session is terminated, no trace of the files remain on the local device or local PC, since no client or application is installed on the device or PC, according to the companies.

For more information about BeInSync, see beinsync.com or the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

For more information about Laplink, see laplink.com or the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

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