Device faults and hacker attacks can wipe out our data: the only way we can save it is to back it up
Let’s start with a fundamental consideration: it doesn’t matter what device and how, but you need to back up frequently. Always. The reason is simple: in case of problems with your device, no matter if it’s a PC, a notebook or a smartphone, you don’t risk losing your data.
And yet, a part of users, out of laziness or because they ignore the danger, continue not to make any backup. A very high risk, especially in a historical period where computer security is put to the test by hackers. Someone might also wonder what the connection is between the need to save one’s data and hackers. Again, the answer is obvious. A computer, as well as a cell phone, hit by malware may no longer be accessible. Have you heard of ransomware? They are infections that encrypt the hard disk, obscuring everything that is contained inside. In these cases, if you haven’t backed up beforehand, you risk saying goodbye to your memories forever. Understood?
How to backup
Backup requires another “item” on which we are going to create a copy of the data. It can be an SD card, an external hard disk, a USB key. Alternatively, we could also decide to make the backup on a cloud storage service.
SD cards and USB sticks are very convenient because, given their size, they are easily transported, but in the long run they can suffer the effects of wear and tear. And then there is another element not to be neglected: they are of limited size.
If, in fact, you need to save “heavy” files it is advisable to resort to external hard drives, which allow you to back up a lot of data. But they have some weaknesses: they are bigger than SD cards and USB sticks and they are also much more delicate. One fall and your information will go up in smoke.
Let’s move on to the cloud. Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s one of the most viable systems for backing up. In fact, the cloud allows you to save a lot of data using online storage systems. This means that, compared to previous drives, we don’t have to carry any devices around with us – all we need is an internet connection and an account to save and access the data. From anywhere. But there is a problem to take into account: security. Be careful, in fact, to use only reliable cloud computing platforms and make sure to choose complex passwords. Considerate che potenzialmente un malintenzionato potrebbe anche violare il vostro profilo.
Un’alternativa meno pratica – e soprattutto poco economica – è utilizzare i Network Attached Storage, ossia memorie di massa collegate in rete, che potremmo anche chiamare server.
Su quali file effettuare il backup?
Non ci resta che spendere qualche parola sul tipo di file da salvare e su quali dispositivi effettuare il back up. Come anticipato, quello che conta è mettere in sicurezza i propri dati, qualsiasi sia il device. Computer, tablet, smartphone, console: conservano molte informazioni che non vorremmo mai perdere. L’unico modo che abbiamo per non rischiare di dire au revoir ai nostri dati è eseguire una loro copia. Cosa è possibile salvare? Praticamente quasi tutto, come ad esempio immagini, video e documenti.