Over the last few months, I have watched as major sites have been hacked. These range from email accounts to larger data bases. As I am not a techie person, the idea of backing up my files seems like a daunting task. Thank goodness I have a partner who takes care of these tech matters on our site. If you don’t have someone to do it for you, then I highly recommend you learn how to do this NOW!
It seems like daily I hear news of something or someone who has had their site compromised. My partner, Jolynn, says back up your files on an external hard drive. I was listening in on a Skype conversation, by site owners, where Mr. D.A. Riley said “I do daily, weekly and monthly backups… on a separate disk.” D.A. is not only a site owner but a programmer, as well. I think his statement alone let’s you know the importance of keeping your sites safe by establishing current backups.
Another safety measure you can take – change your passwords regularly. Hey, this something even I can do!
Hi Catherine,
Great advice.
However isn’t it a pity that so many people want to put their efforts into hacking the sites of others rather than using their talents to actually do something useful online?
Patrick.
Patrick – It is a pity. If these people spent half the time on a legitimate project or developing a new idea, I would venture to say they would create much better results.
It is my theory that some people like to bring havoc to others.
Backup needs to be TOTALLY automated – if you ever have to do it yourself, manually, then there will be times when it won’t get done, and then you’ll lose something important. Apple solved this nicely by integrating totally automated backup into the Mac operating system. Connect a hard drive via cable or wireless, assign it to “Time Machine,” and you’re done… forever. On my MacOS servers, I use Time Machine for automated backup to both a local hard drive and to an off-site backup system. And there have been a few times over the years when I’m really, REALLY glad I have totally automated backup in place!
Hi Peter – ah techie talk, I will pass this information on to my partner.
Hi Cathy,
I couldn`t agree more. In fact, I bought a new PC in March 2011 and have had to send it back twice to get the hard drive changed…(lemon I guess) and
so I learned to back up every day.
Now since backing up my computer meant using 4 cd roms, I got fed up and went with an online back up instead. I use Norton but others are available.
Every time I do something major, I back up and the software backs up automatically each day in case I forget.
Now I can sleep well at night and not worry about having all my data lost again.
Caroline
Another great idea. Thanks Caroline, I will pass on this information.
Hi Cathy,
Great advice. It’s like you were reading my mind.
However, it’s not just viruses that can do you in. Sometimes, shared files on your local network can become screwed up. Just today, I’ve had to have the IT department at my dayjob recover critical files that had become corrupted (how, I don’t know).
If they didn’t back up regularly, I’d be toast (but then again, that’s why those files are saved on the network and not my PC).
I’ve been remiss in backing up my home computers, but I know it’s important. In fact, my Black Friday gift to myself was a 1TB automatic back-up drive.
I still have to finish installing the backup software (I had to get a cable in order to connect it to my network), but that’s my job for tonight.
After it’s set up, it will automatically will back up all new and changed files on both my computers and my external hard drive. It also has a self-diagnostic to verify that it is still working properly. The likelihood of BOTH my backup and my main storage becoming corrupted/broken simultaneously is low, and I like keeping control of my data.
So, in a matter of a few hours, I, like Caroline, can sleep well at night knowing that all my hard work is (more) secured.
Thank you for the reminder.
Karen Kuty (klkuty)
Wow – it is awesome to see my readers are diligent in keeping their information and files safe.
I think this is an area I have been quite lazy in myself. It looks like I got me some learning to do……
You are not quite done yet Karen; consider adding an offsite backup as well. Take into consider the unlikely case of a fire at or around your computer, where your computer and everything in its immediate vicinity is lost to you. Will you be able to recover from that disaster?
Even if a fire is unlikely it is possible and has happened to others. What about any other natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood.
And don’t forget about unnatural disasters such as simple theft. You come home from a great night out only to find that all of your computer equipment is missing.
After you stop crying or ranting (I know I would be doing one and or the other), what do you do then without an offsite backup?
William A. Miller II
webmaster SurfSkeleton.com