Comments for Is an online backup service a good idea?

Comment from lovol on 2011-08-23

2011-08-23T20:14:32Z

Leo you do have some good points, and I totally agree, you can't back it ALL up (my friend said it took him over a month to backup is whole computer, and he didn't turn it off (think of the electricity!)

I think you missed one obvious positive that perhaps overrides many of the negatives though, online backup is a very simple, hassle free way of having a reliable 2nd copy of you most important files. Cost is an issue, but some services (I use {link removed}) allow you to backup 5 computers for the price of one. So now, even my mums 'my documents' and 'my pictures' are safe, which for most, is the only thing people care about!

It still takes time for just the pictures, but I know for a fact if my mums computer were to break right now, I can say , 'well, you've lost everything from the last week, but the rest is ok', vs, 'You've lost everything since you last ran that backup application I told you about'... you know what the answer would be; 'what backup application you told me about'. So it's online backup all the way for our family, and many of my friends have started using it since I pointed it out, it's not the best, but it's simple and automatic, which is the best!

I actually agree with you, but the problem is many people don't distinguish between backing up a few important files and backing up their computer. Using an online service is a fine way to backup important files, but when the computer dies many people are then very surprised to find out that they need to reinstall everything, and have lost all their customizations.

24-Aug-2011

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Comment from Chris Smith on 2011-06-15

2011-06-15T21:44:57Z

Realistically businesses should backup, for example my Uncle Tom recently had two drives in a four hard drive RAID10 Windows server fail, He spent $2500 recovering his data and some of it was corrupt! I recommended to him to order [an online backup service] because for $10/month he was covered!

People often question security but most backup companies offer three tiers of security, you can read more about this on most of their websites.

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Comment from Jack M on 2011-05-17

2011-05-18T04:28:09Z

I don't think the backing-up of viruses is a realistic concern. Viruses are not likely to be contained in the type of files that one saves in their "Documents" folder. They have to be executable and, therefore, have to be hidden someplace in the operational part of the hard drive structure - probably in the "Programs" folder.

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Comment from Linda C. on 2011-04-27

2011-04-27T21:25:04Z

I thought, that, I had a good back up service, which is part of my Security service that I pay a lot of money for, but I recently had a BOOT problem and in the end had to do a clean install. When I had everthing back in place and upgraded all of the original stuff I went to my Security service and with a technician tried to find my backed up Document Files to restore them to computer, this took two days and Three Technicians and when all the Files had so called been restored I couldn't find them and when I finally did my Photos which I just new were part of my Document file were gone and I have no way of finding them or even know where are they? my heart is broken since they were my babies new born pic, family gatherings, friends vacations and much more. I will never trust a back up online system again. Linda C.

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Comment from Bruno on 2011-04-11

2011-04-11T13:02:38Z

I use safecopy backup to backup multiple computers on a single account.And this backup service is so compatible with my mac and windows computers and inaddition,it is also cost effective.

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Comment from Dropbox User on 2011-01-27

2011-01-28T01:50:53Z

I use Dropbox to sync files between multiple computers. It syncs my files automatically. It's something that I need, and that's why I started using Dropbox. I didn't start using Dropbox for backup, but if anything catastrophic happened to my computers, I'd have my most important files.

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Comment from Maxi on 2011-01-14

2011-01-14T11:12:06Z

I too use and online backup service that backups continuously and that is Safecopy backup but i have nerver got a virus.Actually it is great.But any way it depends.Everyone has a choice to make to choose an online backup service that suits his or her needs.Thanks for the post.

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Comment from Sheryl S on 2010-08-15

2010-08-15T20:41:02Z

I'm curious if a person wants to use an online backup service and they choose one that offers a continuous backup, if they get a virus or rogue program on their computer, won't the continuous backup also backup that virus, or is it somehow setup to recognize viruses and these new rogue programs?

Good question, but I have no idea. It would depend on the specific service you're using.

16-Aug-2010

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Comment from dorothy on 2010-05-04

2010-05-05T05:45:31Z

To me i think backing up online is good.Am saying so because am using SafeCopy online backup.I have never experience anything negative with their services.You can try it out if you really want an ideal site for backing up your files.
(http://www.safecopybackup.com

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Comment from Ken Amirault on 2009-10-06

2009-10-06T19:06:37Z

The internet "Cloud" has been around a long time. Internal corporate network "Clouds" also. Is just the Software developers have found a way to capitalize on this aspect, but in doing so have created a redundancy monster! You have a backup strategy, then you use online backup, who also uses online backup, who also uses online backup, etc., etc. Soon we will end up hosting someone's online backup that may be our own data. Makes my head spin.

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Comment from MarthaR4 on 2009-08-25

2009-08-25T20:49:30Z

I use Carbonite for online backup combined with fireproof waterproof external disk drives for local backup.

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Comment from Mike on 2009-08-12

2009-08-12T14:54:56Z

I've only recently started backing up my files, but I've been using Mozy and Acronis in tandem for about a month and loved both so far.

I just wanted to chime in and suggest using both a physical and online backup service. Backing up to physical media (an external hard drive, DVDs, etc.) does you no good if you are the victim of a housefire, flood, or theft...unless you diligently put your backups in a fireproof safe every night.

I use Mozy to backup my absolutely critical data, but the non-essential stuff (like mp3s) I only back up to an external hard drive. I figure if I have a housefire, then losing my mp3 collection will be the least of my worries. :)

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Comment from Freddy on 2009-07-29

2009-07-29T15:32:04Z

I use Mozy and works perfectly.
They have developed a web-based application called DECHO (still in Beta) that provides you with a web site where you can access all your data in a better organized way (photos, music, etc), even from your cell phone. I'm still testing it and so far so good.

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Comment from JustInspired on 2009-07-28

2009-07-28T22:36:55Z

I use Crashplan with good success. You can use it for free if you don't subscribe to their online storage facility.
You can backup to another remote location (e.g. family or friends computer) and this data is encrypted. Also nice is the fact that you can 'seed' your backup by taking it all to the remote location (e.g. on a USB drive), copy it to the designated backup folder then go back home and continue backing up changed and added files only.
Saves a lot of time and bandwidth on that initial backup.

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Comment from Buffet on 2009-07-28

2009-07-28T18:25:04Z

Backing up to any remote (online) location seems extremely unwise from a security standpoint. Leo, you mention turning a computer off, I always was led to believe that this was unwise?

Unwise to turn a computer off? Not at all. It really depends on how you use your computer in general. I happen to use my computers a lot and leave them on 24x7, but for someone who just uses it for an hour or two a day it's difficult to justify leaving it on all day long.

29-Jul-2009

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Comment from Deacon Ray W Allor on 2009-07-28

2009-07-28T18:05:27Z

After an unfortunate experience resulting in lost of all my data, at the suggestion of my attorney son, I began using the same service that he uses for his client data. That is: backup.com. To date, I have not had to test the results but I follow his recommendation as he has had positive results. Thank you for your services to all of us. Deacon Ray

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Comment from DT on 2009-07-28

2009-07-28T15:51:40Z

I don't really use Dropbox for online backup as much as I use it for convenient online storage. The idea is that I can avoid carrying my USB stick around all the time, and just save those web order confirmations (using PDFCreator) to my Dropbox folder from work, and when I get home, I have instant access to the file. Dropbox is like my cloud-based universal USB thumb drive, it works on Macs, Windows, and Linux. I save files to my Dropbox all the time.

Also, I use TrueCrypt to create an encrypted volume to hold my most sensitive information, then I store that file on Dropbox. When I mount that file to a drive letter in TrueCrypt, I mount it from the Dropbox location.

I also will soon be using KeePass and will store those files in my Dropbox as well.

I'm also thinking about trying to move my Firefox profile to my Dropbox folder. Then, for all machines I access that have Dropbox and Firefox installed, I should instantly have all my extensions and bookmarks.

The magazine MaximumPC had a recent article suggesting creative and useful combinations of Dropbox and other tools.

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Comment from Mark Jacobs on 2009-07-26

2009-07-26T07:32:15Z

I 've been using dropbox for a long time and so far I'm pretty satisfied. Here's a link: [link removed]

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