Keatah #1 Posted February 18, 2009 Why is everyone switching to on-line backups?? And why is that garbage marketed?? Just get a usb stick, or hard disk. Then you do *NOT* have to worry about an internet connection or the slow speeds associated with that. Not to mention security and dependence on the server/company. And there are no accounts to pay for, or passwords to remember. Seems like online backups are fad, and a monkey-see-monkey-do type thing. Wouldn't you fell safer having all your stuff on a pocket sized usb drive - something like this? http://westerndigital.com/en/products/Prod...asp?DriveID=525 or two of them if you really want security; and keep one offsite like in a relative's basement or something.. And in a plastic baggie in case of flood.. Something like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolRetroGamer #2 Posted February 18, 2009 Totally agree but online backup is marketed by companies selling services based on fear to customers who do not know better. To bad for the uninformed consumer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rybags #3 Posted February 18, 2009 Flash and optical media are fine for non-critical data. Online backups are more oriented towards commercial applications where integrity is critical. They're a good alternative to something like having to pay for arrays of tape drives and/or having someone attending a backup process. You can in theory just automate the whole thing and upload overnight. Of course, you'd want to check the provider first, it's kinda pointless using someone unless they have their own backup and recovery procedures for the data they keep. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+David_P #4 Posted February 18, 2009 There's an added benefit of universal accessibility - if you can get online, you can access your data. Useful when you're half-way across the country and discover that your flash drive was left at home. Or that the CD-R just got scratched and the media is falling apart. As well, many people keep backups at the same site as the computer with the data - fine if the computer crashes, not so good if the house burns down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keatah #5 Posted February 18, 2009 Ahh yes of course, that would be the only time I might use an online filehosting or backup service. I would even be more inclined to have my own mini-ftp server and an online service for that purpose. You generally should have 2 copies of anything important. 3 if you have a vital presentation or irreplaceable content such as photos and videos and audio transcriptions.. I thought about an online service right after I posted the message. DUH!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
channelmaniac #6 Posted February 18, 2009 Online backups bring a lot of questions up... Who has access to the data? Is it encrypted? Who has access to the key management system? Is the company insured and are the employees with access to my data bonded? What is their system patch policy? When was the last time they tested their cyber defenses? What is their privacy policy? What is their policy on turning data over to authorities? What about "warrantless" searches of my data? Under whose law is my data protected? (In other words, what country is it stored in?) How are they protecting my data from loss due to their hardware failures? No thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rybags #7 Posted February 18, 2009 Encrypt before you upload - simple. The biggest worry would probably be someone intercepting it on the way up, rather than someone at the hosting company stealing it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord