Steve Wozniak, renowned for co-founding Apple with another infamous Steve, describes the future of cloud computing as “horrendous”.

“I think it’s going to be horrendous”  were his exact words. 

It’s not that Wozniak doesn’t see the benefits of cloud computing; rather, he’s torn in two by the underlying risks associated with handing over control of your personal information to companies who will fall victim to hackers.

“I really worry about everything going to the cloud,” begun Wozniak. “I think there are going to be a lot of horrible problems in the next five years.”

The mainstream adoption of cloud computing is a recent phenomenon and creating personal security methods that evade hackers could take 5, 10 or even 20 years to develop. CNet’s Chris Matyszczyk compares cloud security to athletes who dope: although they’re tested for drugs, they always manage to stay one-step-ahead of the authorities.

Wozniak explained how the legalities with cloud computing will make things more complicated: “With the cloud, you don’t own anything. You already signed it away.”

“The more we transfer everything onto the web, onto the cloud, the less we’re going to have control over it.”

The ‘transfer’ of personal data to the cloud has happened subtly. It started by opening an email account, synchronising your contacts and calendars with it, and then buying into the Microsoft/Google/Apple ecosystem with your smartphone or tablet. Before you even contemplated relying on the cloud, you were already 12 steps deep.

These big companies create the illusion of control, but the reality is they often evaluate the stored data and sell it to the highest bidder, putting its audience into categories so they can be targeted by relevant advertising.