Lockbox Aims to NSA-Proof the Cloud

Fewer words will have as much import in the coming months and years as encryption. In the post-NSA-leaks world, encryption isn't just a buzzword, it's a necessity. Even more, it's a political statement that makes friends of partisans. So it's no surprise that Lockbox, a tech startup founded in 2008, just received $2.5 million in seed funding for its end-to-end encryption cloud service, Client Portal.

So, how does end-to-end cloud encryption work? Lockbox encrypts and compresses files before they are uploaded to the cloud. Only a person in possession of the corresponding key can unlock, or decrypt, the files. This means that the NSA, malicious hackers, business competitors, and even crazy girlfriends and boyfriends won't be be able to peer into users' most sensitive and private files.

The startup has done it for NASA and Coca-Cola, and now they're looking to expand their reach.

Lockbox's Client Portal, like Least Authority's encryption service, lives on Amazon's S3 servers. The secure file-sharing service puts customers in control of their data, Lockbox CEO Peter Long said in a press release. "Businesses that have stayed away from the cloud in the past are excited by the global opportunities that Lockbox technology has opened. The close of our seed round is another sign of our incredible momentum over the past few months—signing new partners, customers, and expanding the business."

The company is also set to unveil its iOS apps, which will allow users to securely view encrypted files on iPhones and iPads. The cheapest plan is $500 per year (or opt for $50 per month), and users can share the service with 20 other people.

Leave it to business to create a privacy industry to handle consumer demand. But, you really can't put a price on personal secrecy, can you?