How do you guys protect your data?

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Batman

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#66427 19-Aug-2010 00:15

Got 3 laptops and one eSATA external HDD .... moving to Oz - crime rate higher than halswell chch ... how to protect data? no i'm not paying a cent sorry

codyc1515

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#369650 19-Aug-2010 08:00

TrueCrypt: Free & Open-Source

Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.
Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot authentication).
Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.

rscole86

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#369652 19-Aug-2010 08:11

Unless you are going to do offsite backups, then one fire/flood/burglary and it does not matter if its encrypted... its gone! Unless your concern is solely to prevent people from looking at your data?

xpd

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#369656 19-Aug-2010 08:20

Whenever I go away for more than 2 days, I backup my "wife says you lose those files, god help you" files onto a 160gb external 2.5", and occasionally back them up at work on a drive there. Also have a 1TB external that gets backups put on it occasionally.

XPD / Gavin

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redjet

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#369664 19-Aug-2010 08:31

joker97: Got 3 laptops and one eSATA external HDD .... moving to Oz - crime rate higher than halswell chch ... how to protect data? no i'm not paying a cent sorry

Amazing, you'll happily spend money on multiple laptops and an external hard drive but don't want to pay anything for protecting your data?

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Batman

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#369680 19-Aug-2010 09:24

amazing isnt it! yeah i just dont want thugs to get hold of our family photos, videos mainly. it's a hassle if they turn up on the internet or on a czech billboard for example! other than that there are no nuclear silo secrets. in terms of back up - 3 copies of everything sentimental!

redjet

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#369704 19-Aug-2010 10:09

TrueCrypt whole disk encryption is the way to go then.

You should also seriously consider using a service like Jungle Disk: https://www.jungledisk.com/personal/ which stores the files at Rackspace or Amazon for backing up those precious family photos - it's only a couple of dollars a month and in my mind is a no-brainier. Also you can encrypt the data that you upload as well.

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Linuxluver

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#369706 19-Aug-2010 10:12

joker97: Got 3 laptops and one eSATA external HDD .... moving to Oz - crime rate higher than halswell chch ... how to protect data? no i'm not paying a cent sorry

I use Gmail for mail.
I use Google Docs for spreadsheets, word processor documents and presentation files.
I use Flickr and Picasa for photos.
I keep a lot of other stuff on my Nexus One (Android) phone. If I need to, I can ftp into it (using the "SwiFTP" server app on the phone) from anywhere on the Internet and access files from another device or PC. The phone is always with me.

Take my PC.....I still have all my data.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

Buttonmash

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#369713 19-Aug-2010 10:29

I know you said free but we use Mozy home. $4.95 US a month is $85 kiwi a year or thereabouts and they discount longer time periods.

For the price of an external drive every couple of years we get unlimited offsite storage, unlimited data transfers and it's seamlessly automated. Can't go wrong.

simon14

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#369714 19-Aug-2010 10:37

I use Mozy to backup all our data off-site - that's the safest way to protect your data.

If your Windows PC has a password to login, if someone steals your PC, is there a way they could hack in and get access to your files? (without simply guessing the password)

mattk

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#369723 19-Aug-2010 10:55

2.5" 500GB drive locked in my top drawer at work =) offsite backup!

I consider it all volatile though, i've already come to terms with the loss in the event it happens.