This article's purpose isn't to toot our own horn and talk about how much we know about security. Above all else, what we're trying to do here is educate the public. If we were to go into too much detail on how Google Drive makes their site secure, it would fly over the heads of almost all the readers. What you want more than anything is to have the basic information in front of you so that you can make an educated decision as to what to do with your data.
The short answer is yes; Google Drive does encrypt data. If you're uploading or downloading files, the encryption used is 256 bit. The files that are being stored on Google Drive are protected by 128 encryption. Why the difference in the types of encryption used? The logic behind it is you're more vulnerable during the uploading and downloading process. The extra bit of protection is to ensure that your security isn't compromised in the weakest link of the chain.
What does server-side encryption mean? It means that Google Drive handles all the security certificates and all that stuff. You don't have to worry about the encryption on your end and that's a plus since it's done for you. Google Drive does all the work and makes sure that your information is encrypted. The encryption begins when you upload a file to their servers. After the file is uploaded, they continue to encrypt the data. Another level of protection is used when downloading the files to ensure that your privacy and security at no time is ever breached.
The short answer to that question is yes. Google hires the best security professionals in the business. Your information is safe with Google. Every company is vulnerable to hacks and attacks. Google is no different, and there will be security breaches in the future. The reason why Google and other companies have such a difficult time with security is that the threat is always changing. Technology is continuously evolving, and along with it, there are new vulnerabilities. None of this should deter you from Google Drive since it is one of the most secure cloud-based services in the industry. If you need files stored in the cloud, Google Drive is as good of a place to put them as any of its competitors.
We've written in detail whether it is a good idea to store your passwords in Google Drive. The short answer is not really, but you can go and see the details in the post - Store passwords in Google Drive
Especially when there is a plethora of password managers on the market, it is worth considering using one to safely store your passwords, bank account details, credit cards, and etc.
If you insist on storing your passwords within your Google Drive, then we have the perfect solution for you - Drive Password. Drive Password is a password manager entirely based on Google Drive.
Although it is a complex software, the way it works is pretty straight forward - you store a password in Drive Password, the software encrypts it and stores it directly into your Google Drive. Easy and secure.