Online backup

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wavinwayne

wavinwayne

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I am considering using one of the online backup sites for the files on my home PC. Carbonite and Mozy are two names that come to mind. Do any of you guys use any of the online backup/storage sites? Recommendations are welcomed. Thanks. WW
 
I like a USB HD or two, which can be rotated and easily installed/disconnected. Since I can easily remove them, they can easily be fully isolated from the rest of the world.

I then take one someplace else, as I figure once I get past viruses, fire and theft are the other two biggies.

I can smash the drives when they are obsolete, do not work, or for any other reason. No change of a hacker finding my files when they are manually disconnected from a computer. Not that I really have anything to hide on my home computer, but they are easy to hide too.

Depending upon your internet connection, upload can be VERY slow, especially if you have a lot of files...
 
Although I am retired I have some important files and backup to an external USB Hard Drive using the free backup software mentioned here in a different thread.

I too keep a copy of my important files like family pictures, documents, etc., on DVDs in my safety deposit box at the bank.

I agree that having some method of off-site backup is a must as if you have a fire, etc., and have everything in one place, it is gone.

While I was still working before retirement 6 years ago having an off-site backup saved our operation and business.
 
Off site backup is essential, however I wouldn't trust anything to the internet. I don't care how safe they claim it is, the fact is your data is being stored at a location outside of your control after traveling across the world on a wire. USB Hard drive or Archival DVD stored in a truly secure location is a better way to go.

I wish I could still find the paper I wrote about this topic 2 years ago for a class.
 
Originally Posted By: wavinwayne
I am considering using one of the online backup sites for the files on my home PC. Carbonite and Mozy are two names that come to mind. Do any of you guys use any of the online backup/storage sites? Recommendations are welcomed. Thanks. WW
WW, Why do you want to do an "off-site" online backup? What kind of data and backup needs do you have? An external HDD might be the cheapest backup you can do and you can hide the drives in your house between backups in case you get broken into.

If you don't have a lot of data, you could get a 64GB USB key that you can backup all your data on and keep on your keys and will always have with you wherever your go. I got one of these to backup my Dentists office when it was on sale for $55!
 
I always have three copies of everything: My working copy on my primary computer, an on-site backup on a USB drive, and an off-site copy on my Amazon S3 account. Amazon's S3 storage is what most of the online "cloud storage" companies use; they just simplify it.

Dropbox is another *excellent* solution, especially considering that you can use it to sync multiple computers across multiple OS's.
 
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10270701-68.html

If using online or USB stick backup, encryption is a must. Thieves don't try to pick the lock of a door in a neighborhood of unlocked houses.

Carrying around a 64Gb stick of your life is a recipe for disaster.

I'll look around for an OSS package, I generally don't trust proprietary solutions.

Let me know when the apocalypse is coming.
27.gif
 
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10270701-68.html

If using online or USB stick backup, encryption is a must. Thieves don't try to pick the lock of a door in a neighborhood of unlocked houses.

Carrying around a 64Gb stick of your life is a recipe for disaster.

I'll look around for an OSS package, I generally don't trust proprietary solutions.

Let me know when the apocalypse is coming.
27.gif


I hope when you loose the backup for your dentist office that my or any other of your client's personal information isn't on it! The USB key isn't a bad idea, but I hope that you are not carrying around your clients data on your key chain.
 
Originally Posted By: StevieC
An external HDD might be the cheapest backup you can do and you can hide the drives in your house between backups in case you get broken into.



How well would that protect the data in the event of a fire or tornado?

Originally Posted By: StevieC
you could get a 64GB USB key that you can backup all your data on and keep on your keys and will always have with you wherever your go. I got one of these to backup my Dentists office when it was on sale for $55!


I'm glad none of my medical professionals have copies of my medical records dangling on their key chain.
 
Late last week I found a 8 GIG USB out in the parking lot @ the local coffee shop.

By the nature of the files and information on it I figured who lost it.

Off Site backup is a good idea and a must where I worked. Thumb drives, cds, dvds, - any removable media are a no no where I worked before retirement.

For home use I USE the free version of Macrium Reflect to backup to an external usb hard drive. You can also use it to create an emergency boot disk and it has other features. I have used to to restore a backup a couple of times without issue. It supports both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows and Linux ext2/3 formats.

Link To Web Site

As previously mentioned too, keep a backup off site.
 
Thanks for all the responses. It looks like nobody here is using the online backup option. I did quite a bit of research after posting my original question. I've decided to go with Mozy online backup. The main reason I want online backup is because I don't want to be lugging around a portable HDD all the time, and risk it being stolen, damaged, lost(I'm a scatter-brain), etc.

As an added layer of protection, I plan to also back up all of my critical files to a portable hard drive, which will be locked in a secure off-site crypt.

The Mozy software encrypts the files prior to uploading to the Mozy site, so I'm not terribly worried about security. Heck, as far as security goes, my entire life history is already online, in other 'secure' online locations. If a determined hacker wanted my information, he/she could probably get it. Everything in life is a calculated risk.
 
Originally Posted By: tmorris1
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10270701-68.html

If using online or USB stick backup, encryption is a must. Thieves don't try to pick the lock of a door in a neighborhood of unlocked houses.

Carrying around a 64Gb stick of your life is a recipe for disaster.

I'll look around for an OSS package, I generally don't trust proprietary solutions.

Let me know when the apocalypse is coming.
27.gif


I hope when you loose the backup for your dentist office that my or any other of your client's personal information isn't on it! The USB key isn't a bad idea, but I hope that you are not carrying around your clients data on your key chain.


My dentists data is different. There are SIN numbers, and personal medical data on there. It is encrypted and he has one that is attached to the computer and one that he takes home. He swaps each one for the other day so he always has 2 copies that are just a day of data a part. (nightly automated backup)

I made the comments about the Apocalypse because 99% of personal computer users out there would be backing up pictures, documents and other data that is really not valuable to anyone but the owner so IMO there is no need for "Government Style" encryption versus proprietary encryption that comes with most USB keys or that a simple FREE application will provide. Simple encryption is to stop your average snooper from seeing whats on there if they find it. A true hacker isn't going to go through great lengths to uncover your documents/pictures etc. and if they do it's of no value to them anyways.

I don't think the OP's goal is to encrypt credit card numbers, tax data etc. I think it's to provide him with a feasible backup solution for his data. Unless he works for the CIA, CSIS (Canadian CIA) or MI-5 I don't think he needs more than a simple USB key that is big enough for his backup data.
wink.gif


If he does work for an intelligence agency then they most likely have self-destructing, way-cooler USB drives that will fit his needs and don't need encryption but a retina or bio-metric scan to use them.
LOL.gif
 
I ended up going with Mozy online backup. $4.95/month and my files are safe. I'm a happy camper.
 
you want to go with an online storage site - not an offsite or external device bc those are both still susceptible to natural disasters as well as man-made one. yup - mozy and carbonite are good, but so are sugarsync, elephant drive and idrive. most of there are offering free trials or up to 2GB of memory so you may as well try before you buy ... doesn't hurt.

here's a good article that shows you who is actually the best or offers the most bang for you buck:

http://www.techwizbackup.com/online-backup-review-whos-the-best/

and just a good resource for anything online backup:

http://www.techwizbackup.com/

good luck - online backup is KEY. i lost both my laptop and usb stick a couple years ago and it was such a pain all around to get my life back together.
 
I have a 300GB External drive and every month I go around and backup the important stuff on the 3 PCs we have.
 
Originally Posted By: wavinwayne
I ended up going with Mozy online backup. $4.95/month and my files are safe. I'm a happy camper.


Thanks for supporting a Utah company!
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cheers3.gif


(drive by it to and from work every day)
 
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