| I am going to start this article with a simple, yet | | | | Online backups are the way to go. Anytime your |
| extremely powerful statement: backup your data or | | | | computer is connected to the Internet, which is almost |
| you will lose it at some point. If there is one piece of | | | | all of the time for most of us, your backup software |
| advice you must take to heart, it's that statement. | | | | will automatically be backing up any chants you have |
| Even having an anti virus program is not as important, | | | | made. Storage space is abundant, data is encrypted |
| because if you have your data backed up then even | | | | for security purposes and you have piece of mind. |
| a virus will not be the end of the world. | | | | This is hands down the best way to backup your data. |
| So the first fact we have is that we need to backup | | | | There are two great options out there that I highly |
| our data. The question is, what is the most effective | | | | recommend. My first choice is The free version of |
| way to backup your data. | | | | Mozy which offers a 2 GB free or if you really have a |
| You could easily go out and buy a thumb drive or | | | | lot of data, an incredibly cheap solution for just a few |
| external hard drive and backup your data on to that | | | | bucks a month and it has saved me personally on |
| drive. This is a little tedious as you need to select the | | | | numerous occasions. All it takes is a simple installation |
| files each time. A bigger concern is the fact that you | | | | and the program takes care of the rest for you, |
| need to remember to do this on a daily basis and if | | | | automatically backing up pictures, documents and data |
| your drive dies or computer gets lost in between | | | | files on the background while you're working or your |
| backups then you are in deep trouble. Another issue is | | | | computer is sitting idle. If you need to restore one or |
| that if your computer is stolen or lost or damaged | | | | more files, it's as simple as selecting them com a list of |
| (fires do happen) then the chances are your external | | | | backed up files. Even if your computer dies and you |
| drive could be lost along with it. External drives are also | | | | buy a new one, you can simply restore all your files to |
| prone to getting lost themselves. | | | | the new machine. I can't speak highly enough of this |
| So what's the alternative? | | | | program. |