So…are you backing up your computer?

In late 2017 Microsoft released Windows 10 Update 1709.  If you’re a Windows 10 Home user, you were not given a choice to install the update, and may have been subject to some of the issues that this latest update caused.

In the that followed the update we had numerous calls of crashed PCs.  All of them had two things in common.  First, they were Windows 10.  Second, they had just been updated.

In all cases the user data was not accessible.  Although we were able to fix all of them, it was only because we had installed imaging software on them.

Which brings us to the topic of this post:

Are you backing up your computer?

One of the first questions that we ask clients when it comes to their computers is “Is there anything on this computer that you absolutely, positively cannot live without?”.  If the answer is “yes” (which is usually is), we ask how they are backing up.  Most don’t have a plan.

There are several ways to backup a computer, and we’ll discuss each one of them in detail here.

Before we do that, though, let’s break down what your PC consists of.  Whether you’re running a Windows or Linux based PC or a OSX based Mac, your computer has three basic software items:  The Operating System, Programs, and Data.

The Operating System (OS) is what makes it go.  When you push the power button on your computer, the OS starts up.  Programs can’t run without it.  Peripherals couldn’t be installed without it.  Everything depends on the OS.

The Programs are what allow you to do things, like create documents, spreadsheets, edit photos and videos, listen to music, watch music, and thousands of other things.

Data is what you create with programs.  It’s your documents, your spreadsheets, your pictures, your videos, your music, your stuff.  It’s the only item of the three that cannot be replaced, because YOU created it, not the OS creator or the program vendor.

If a computer crashed, we could recreate everything using the OS DVD (or USB) and the program disks.  If your computer didn’t come with a restore DVD, then you will have a problem if the hard drive crashes.  Either way, bringing back the data will be impossible.

So data is probably the single most important thing to back up.  If you do need to reinstall the OS and the programs, be prepared to spend some time with it.

When we setup a backup plan, we offer several different options.

Option 1 – Image Backup – An image backup is just as the term implies.  It’s an image, or picture, of the hard drive.  Using a backup program (for Windows 10 Home we recommend EaseUS Home Backup , for Windows 10 Professional, we recommend EaseUS Workstation Backup – either will work for their Windows 7 or 8.1 counterparts).  EaseUS Backup will allow you to create several different types of backup, including an image backup.

You will need a destination for the backup.  If you have more than 1 computer, we recommend a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device.  This is basically an external hard drive that is accessed via your network.  It allows multiple computers to backup to is, as well as store additional data, like music, pictures, videos, that can be accessed by anyone on the network who has the right credentials.  You can also use a USB external hard drive, but that limits the number of computers that can use it as a destination to only one.

EaseUS will prompt you to create a WinPE rescue USB when you first install it.  Make sure you do this, and put the USB thumbdrive in a safe place.  If your hard drive crashes, you’ll need this to restore your PC.

Option 2 – Data Backup – A data backup is a backup of all of your “stuff”, but not your OS or your programs.  EaseUS does offer an option to backup only data, which we recommend in addition to the image backup.  This lets you restore just a single file or folder if you accidentally deleted it.  An image backup restores the entire computer.  Data backup just restores files and folders.

Option 3 – Cloud Backup – The cloud has become part of every computing environment, from enterprise, or business level, to home level.  You’re already using the cloud, whether you realize it or not.  Most smartphones use the cloud to store data, with iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive being some of the more popular cloud applications and storage sites.

In a nutshell, the cloud is storage space on someone else’s network that is accessible only via the internet.  You can’t get to your stuff unless you’re online.  If something happens to your computer your data is not lost because it’s on the cloud.

Our favorite cloud backup system is iDrive.  It’s relatively inexpensive ($79 per year), fully automated, and gives you plenty of storage space (2 terrabytes, which equals 2000 gygabytes, which is more than enough for all of your photos, videos, music and documents).

Once you install the program, it backs up on a schedule that you determine (ours runs at 10:30pm daily) and, once the initial backup has been done (which could take days, depending on how much data you have, and what your upload speed is), it only backs up what has changed since the last backup.

Oh, and it’s not limited to just your computer’s data.  You can backup as many computers as you have, your tablet or iPad, and your smartphone, as long as the total of all the data is under 2 terrabytes (you can always buy more space, but it’s unlikely you’ll need it).

What method should you use?

We use all three.  We have a NAS, and we backup an image and data, and we use iDrive.  We can restore an entire computer, or just a file.

You should use whatever will prevent you from ever having to say

To sum it up…

It’s really pretty simple to get your system backed up, especially if you use the methods we listed.  However, if you need help, or if you didn’t backup and now you need to get your data off your hard drive, contact PCMDX today.  We’ll come to you and get your “stuff” back.

 

 

 

What exactly is “the cloud” and why should you care?

So many of our clients have heard of “the cloud” buy don’t know what it is, how it works, and why they should care about it.

Let’s take a look at the answers to these questions.  First, what is “the cloud”?  When a network diagram is drawn, one of the items on the diagram is the Internet.  The Internet is represented on the diagram by a basic drawing of a cloud.  So, anything that is not on the local network, inside the building(s) is considered to be on the internet, hence the term “the cloud”.  Anything not local (on the PC, or on a server located in the building) is on “the cloud”.  We can have software running on the cloud (Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, Adobe applications, etc.).  We can also have storage on the cloud (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud).

How does it work?  Simple.  You install the client software from the cloud provider, enter a user name and password and you’re on the cloud.  Now, whatever you place into the folders on your cloud drive is on the cloud.  If your computer were to stop working, anything stored on the cloud would still be accessible from another computer.  If you have more than one device (a device is anything that can access the internet including a computer – PC or Mac, smartphone, tablet, game console, etc.) you can access your cloud data from any of these, provided you have the user name and password.

So is it safe to store things on the cloud?  It’s probably safer on the cloud than it is on your local device.  Malware Bytes just wrote an exceptional article outlining the safety of storing things on the cloud, which is well worth the read.

Here are some tips from the article:

If you’re ready to store data on the cloud, we suggest you use a cloud service with multi-factor authentication and encryption. In addition, follow these best practices to help keep your data on the cloud secure:

  • Use hardcore passwords: Long and randomized passwords should be used for data stored on the cloud. Don’t use the same password twice.
  • Back up files in different cloud accounts: Don’t put all your important data in one place.
  • Practice smart browsing: If you’re accessing the cloud on a public computer, remember to log out and never save password info.

What’s multi-factor authentication?  Probably one of the very best methods of protecting yourself.  If you own a smartphone, you give the cloud provider the number.  If someone logs into your account from an unknown device, and you have two-factor authentication enabled, before it allows them to log in, a code is sent to the smartphone via text.  Prior to gaining access, the code must be entered.  If the code is wrong or not entered, no access is granted.  It can be done via e-mail also.  Two-factor authentication should be used for any and all sensitive data and sites, including banks and credit card sites.

What’s encryption?  Encryption is where the data stored is encrypted, meaning that it’s useless unless the public and private keys are used to decrypt it.  Anytime you see the “https://” before a web site URL, the data is encrypted.  This prevents the bad guys from taking a hard drive containing data and simply hooking it up to a computer and reading it.

Hardcore Passwords:  In Alabama the most popular password is : rolltide.  Second most popular is: wareagle.  If you’re using either one of these, or variations of them, change them.  Now.  Don’t use your spouses name, your child’s name, your pet’s name, your birthday, or any word that can be found in the dictionary (combining words is OK).  Your password needs to be at least 8 characters long, contain both upper and lower-case letters, at least one number and one symbol.  The longer, the better.  We prefer passphrases instead of  passwords.  RedDog12! meets the minimum security, however it won’t take long to crack to an expert.  “The red Dog was running on the land with 12 friends!” won’t be cracked anytime soon and meets all of the requirements.  Yes, a space is considered a character.

Different Cloud Accounts:  We use all of the major cloud accounts.  We don’t store all of our data on each.  Some data on one, other data on others.

One neat thing that some cloud providers, like Dropbox, provide is sharing capabilities.  Person A can grant access to a folder in their cloud account to Person B.  Both A and B can look at the files in the folder, but only those files. Person B cannot see anything else on Person A’s account.  This is very useful for parents who have kids in college.  Instead of e-mailing something as an attachment, simply place it in the cloud folder and within microseconds the other person has the file.

This post only touches the very surface of the capabilities of the cloud.

Should you ever need help with your cloud account, or just need help setting one up, contact PCMDX today at pcmdxal@gmail.com or via phone at 205-201-0389.  We’ll service both business and residential accounts, and specialize in security.  And don’t forget to like us on Facebook so you can get updates on important computer and security information.