Back up

Introduction to Backup

  • Backup importance emphasized through student and general population trends.

  • Many people neglect data protection despite awareness of potential data loss from hard drive crashes.

Data Loss Risks

  • Common horror stories shared; personal experiences of losing vital data.

  • Importance of regular backups to protect personal files (tax documents, media, etc.)

Backup Methods

  • Two main methods discussed for data backup:

    • Cloud Backup:

      • Uses services like Carbonite.

      • Automatic backups occur after file modification.

      • Access from any location with Internet connection.

      • Data encryption before leaving the user's computer.

    • External Hard Drive Backup:

      • Manual backup process, less flexible than cloud.

      • Requires physical transfer which is less practical in emergencies.

What to Back Up

  • Critical items for backup prioritized:

    • Data: More difficult to replace (e.g., family photos).

    • Programs: Less critical since they can typically be reinstalled.

    • Settings, Accounts, and Profiles: Recreate if needed, but backup is still beneficial for time-saving.

    • External hard drives need to be securely stored away from primary location to prevent loss in case of disasters (fire, flood).

Decision Making for Backups

  • Emphasis on the need to decide what data is essential to back up.

  • Backup Options:

    1. Cloud storage (e.g., Carbonite) offers automated and remote backup.

    2. External hard drives are faster but require regular physical management.

    3. Synchronization of handheld devices to cloud or hard disk discussed.

Recovery and System Maintenance

  • Advice on creating system repair disks and recovery drives during initial PC setup.

  • A system image is suggested for regular use to allow fast recovery via external hard drive.

  • Need for automated file history setups to simplify regular backups.

    • Time Machine (Mac): Automatically restores system and filesystem states.

Security and Privacy in Backup

  • Evaluation of iCloud as a heavily encrypted system after past breaches.

  • Discussion of privacy vs. security: how personal data is protected from unauthorized access.

  • Considerations for users on their own data security preferences.