Originally Posted by
myfrogger
I've never quite understood the point of using online backup services:
- The data is transferred to a 3rd party with unknown/unverified privacy controls
- It is relatively slow to backup data via the internet
- Who has only 2gb of valuable files?
- How do you know the backup company is going to exist in X years?
I use my own website for temporary file storage and even for files that I need to access multiple times from multiple computers. But I would never consider putting my secure data out on the net for who knows who to access. Even encrypted I would still be concerned.
Does anyone find online backup services useful? If so, what purpose do you use it for and why do you like it verses the alternatives?
The same argument can be said for those of use who have free email accounts from Google, Microsoft, etc. There is always a certain amount of risk associated with keeping a medium that is valuable. You always run a risk of putting your valuable info. data onto a third party computer. Encryption nullifies the issue of it being broken into because the encryption key and token makes it secure. Again there is no system that is bulletproof but the algorithm use in the encryption engine needs to be strong.
The first backup is slow and takes a lot of time, but when the file(s) are updated and changed at a smaller level, the updates are fast and pretty much set it and forget it as far as I am concerned. This is true of any medium you use.
I agree that 2GB is pretty small but for $4.95 per month for unlimited it is pretty good.
The only time I see remote being critical is if there is a flood, fire, earthquake, etc. that physically wipes out your data where you reside. Ask those companies that had disaster strike from 9/11 or Katrina. That's why companies pay thousands of dollars just to take their data off-site. Remote backup and companies like Iron Mountain saved their day. By being remote you add another factor.
Just my two cents.