The Rapid Expansion of the Cloud Space infographic

From gigabytes to terabytes to petabytes, the cloud is expanding and F-Secure is a leader in with 5 data centers on 3 continents. We secure content for millions of customers around the globe and our cloud is expanding every minute of every day.

We’ll be at the 2013 GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from February 25 through 28 to show off all of our solutions including F-Secure Content Anywhere, our flagship solution for mobile and broadband operators. F-Secure’s Personal Content Cloud enables consumers to store, sync, access and share their photos, videos, documents and other files safely anywhere, from any device.

68% of consumers are concerned about third parties gaining access to their content due to vulnerabilities in cloud storage providers’ technology, and 42% feel they are losing control of their content.*

That’s why over 100 operators around the world turn to F-Secure for security and content cloud solutions. They know they with us customers private content stays private and protected.

The content we store is scanned only for malware — never for marketing analytics and profiling.

We believe that by providing the safest personal cloud possible, F-Secure will help millions more of the 61% of broadband users who looking forward to being able to store, sync, access and share their digital lives through the cloud.

Cheers,

Sandra

*The F-Secure broadband survey covered web interviews of 6,400 broadband subscribers aged 20–60 years from 14 countries: France, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Canada, Brazil, India and Japan. The survey was completed by GfK, 25 May–1 June 2012.

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If you’re on the Internet, you’re probably being monitored. If you’re using a free service, you’re giving up some of your privacy as a payment. If you post something online, you have to assume that it could easily be shared with anyone with an Internet connection.

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your privacy when you turn on your PC or phone. Here are 5 basic resolutions that will help you make sure that prying eyes can’t get easy access to your data online.

1. I will have a strong, unique password for every account that contains private information.
If you’re super concerned about protecting your privacy, you’ll use unique, unguessable passwords for all your accounts and update them 3-4 times a year. For your most important accounts, this is essential. But for your webmail, banking and Facebook accounts, if you have them, good password hygiene is a must. Here’s a system to create strong passwords you’ll remember.

2. I will go “Friends only” on Facebook.
Sharing your digital life with your friends only won’t guarantee your privacy — ask Randi Zuckerberg. But it will help limit your potential leakage from private to public. Facebook isn’t completely private, of course, ever. But if you want to share everything, Twitter or a blog are probably better options.

3. If I use Gmail, I will turn on two-factor authentication.
If you use your Gmail for business, the extra-layer of security of two-factor authentication is essential. Just make sure that your phone also has some sort of anti-theft or Find My iPhone app installed in case a thief gets ahold of your device. You may also want to clear your Google history, if you’re not interested in that existing.

4. I will log out of any account I’m not using and lock my PC and phone when it’s not in use.
This is just good common sense that I personally ignore on a regular basis. Not in 2013! It reduces how you’ll be tracked, it makes it less likely your own accounts will be used against you.

5. I will keep my software updated.
Our smartphones and PCs are actually quite secure if we keep them patched and protected with update system and security software. This, as you know, can be time consuming, so I’ll update as they come up and for my PC, I’ll use F-Secure’s free Health Check.

Happy 2013,

Jason

[Photo by Triple Tri]

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Here are a few suggestions to help you get off to a safe start from the moment you’ve got your system up and running.

PC–Laptop or Desktop

1. Make sure you’re running the most up to date software.
There have likely been several system updates since your hardware was packaged and you opened it. Hopefully your system updated itself or prompted you to update as you installed. But it’s always a good idea to double check. You can do go to Windows Update for your Windows machine. On a Mac, just click on the apple in the top left of your desktop and select, Software Update. You also want to make sure your other software is current and isn’t leaving some hole that can be exploited by an online criminal. You can update each program one-by-one or use our free Health Check.

2. Install security software.
Of course, as company that’s been protecting computers for 25 years, we believe security software including anti-virus is crucial. But don’t just take our word for it. Most, if not all, law enforcement agencies, governments and experts agree that you need security software if you’re planning to use the Internet. So if you aren’t going to use our award-winning Internet Security–which we invite you to try for free–please use another.

3. Choose a backup.Yes, we’re also in the backup business because we believe it’s essential to safe, smart computing. But if you aren’t going to use our Online Backup, you can use an external hard drive, DVDs or some other backup solution. But as our Mikko Hypponen demonstrated in his TED Talk, a reliable backup can save the day.

You may also want to: Uninstall all the programs that came on your PC as promotions if you know you won’t be using them. If you’re super security conscious, you should also disable all your Java plug-ins or make sure they never get enabled–unless you need them.

Smartphone or Tablet

After you’ve registered your accounts and synced your phone when possible, your mobile device is a lot like your PC.

1. Install mobile security.
We also offer Mobile Security for Android that protects your smartphone and tablet from bad apps and scams that are even more tricky on mobile browsers. Some say Android is replacing Windows as the number one target of online criminals–if that happens, it will be the result of too many people not protecting their phones.

Sorry, there’s no iPhone mobile security available yet because Apple isn’t allowing anyone to develop such apps and is relying on keeping bad guys out with its well-policed app store. But if you do not jailbreak your iPhone, it will likely be safe from bad apps.

2. Choose a backup.
You can choose from a variety of backup services for your smartphone, which as you know soon fills up with irreplaceable content. You can also backup by dragging and dropping your content to your backed up PC whenever you dock your phone.  Set up your Android to save your settings regardless of what happens to your device. Just go to Settings > Privacy, and make sure that “Back up my settings” and “Automatic restore” are checked off.

3. Install Anti-Theft.
It just makes sense that you’re more likely to misplace your phone or tablet than your PC. But it’s also simple to track your device and protect your data if it falls out of your hands. We offer free Anti-Theft. Apple offers a Find My iPhone app for free.

4. Stick to Official App Stores.
If you get your apps from the official Google Play or ITunes store, you will likely never deal with a malicious app. Be sure to check user reviews and stick with software that has a proven record.

Enjoy your new toy!

Sandra

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I love this grainy, quirky picture. I emailed it to my wife. I Facebooked it. I tweeted it.

I love it so much that I brought it to my local photo lab to be blown up so I could frame it and put it on my wall. Unfortunately, the resolution is so low that it’s hardly worth the print, let alone the frame.

The picture was taken with my iPhone, which is handy to catch perfect poses like this. This method is great for capturing digital images to share but they just don’t transfer into the real world all that well.

So here are two quick tips to make sure the irreplaceable images you create this holiday season.

1. Make sure you capture the images you want to turn into actual printed images on photo paper are taken with a high-resolution camera, meaning NOT your smartphone.

2. Keep a backup of all your images–high quality or not–somewhere outside of your home in case damage to your equipment and even your storage disks.

Facebook is probably better than nothing but you probably don’t share every image you want to keep. You can try our Online Backup for free.

Cheers,

Jason

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About 8 out of 10 people, 77%, believe that the videos, pictures and data on their phones are more valuable than the phones themselves. Our phones have replaces so many devices it’s nearly impossible to count. They’re our constant companion and probably hold more secrets about us than our best friends.

Here’s how to protect the content on your phone.

1. Always lock your phone.
Whether a friend or a stranger finds your phone, you’re better off if they can’t access it. The iPhone has an option to erase your phone if someone tries to unlock it unsuccessfully too many times. If you use your phone for work, this is something you may want to consider.

2. Back up your data.
Your digital memories are irreplaceable so you owe it to yourself to make sure they exist in more than one places. Back up your phones as often as you can remember to do so. If you know an image or video is especially invaluable, email it to yourself immediately.

3. Use an Anti-theft app.
We all lose our phones. It may be gone for a few minutes or forever. Luckily you can install an app on most phones that allows you to lock the phone no matter where it ends up. If you know you’re not getting the phone back, you can then erase it. Our Anti-Theft for Mobile is free and you can get it here.

Of course, your phone is valuable, too. Keep it safe by always storing it in the same pocket/section of your purse. Put a unique case on it that you’ll quickly recognize. Only take it out while walking or on public transit when you really have to.

What other tips do you have for keeping your content and your phone safe?

Cheers,
Jason

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1. It’s taking over

In less than two years, Gartner expects millions of users to transition from the personal computing, hardware-centered ecosystem of the last two generations to a cloud computing experience that is virtually the same on all devices. Billions of people already use cloud services like Facebook and Youtube. But soon, many experts think, the cloud will be the primary way you interact with digital media.

2. Your smartphones/PCs/Macs already support it.
For years, experts assumed computers, phones and wallets would merge into one super device. Some thought the tablet might be the technology they’ve been waiting for. But what has actually happened is that many users now rely on up to three devices– a PC, a smartphone and a tablet.

Any Internet-connected device connects you to the cloud. Apps are already making the experience on each of smart device more and more similar on all devices.

Steve Kleynhans, research vice president at Gartner, said, “Emerging cloud services will become the glue that connects the web of devices that users choose to access during the different aspects of their daily life.”

3. The cloud will only win if it is awesome.
Imagine having any photo you’ve ever taken instantly available on any on phone, tablet, laptop or even TV. Access any video you have at any time. Move a teleconference from a phone to a tablet and taking all the related files with you. And then back again.

Eventually, you’ll be able to save frame of every image, every document created or collected from birth on will be available on any wirelessly connected through one interface that always works the same.

“Many call this era the post-PC era, but it isn’t really about being ‘after’ the PC, but rather about a new style of personal computing that frees individuals to use computing in fundamentally new ways to improve multiple aspects of their work and personal lives,” Kleynhans said.

The meme “Content is king” has been around since the birth of broadband. But the true innovation of the cloud is that it will make users king. The services that provide the best, most useful tools will compete for billions of customers. And they will also compete when it comes to security.

As the cloud absorbs your computing life, keep in mind that your content is your kingdom. Store and share it wisely.

[CC image by fairytalelights]

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F-Secure Labs has covered the recent discovery of the Flame malware, a cyberweapon that is being used to target very specific users for surveillance purposes. Unless you’re a nuclear scientist or the system administrator of a weapons developer, you’re not likely to be targeted by such advanced malware.

Still regular, everyday cyber criminals will take advantage of any sloppy mistakes you make while relaxing. So let’s get a few security precautions out of the way so you can have a good time.

1. Update your devices before you go.
Make your system software is updated on your PC, smartphone and tablet at home on your safe and secure network. A patched and protected system along with updated security software is your best protection against threats. (Our free Health Check makes that easy.) Avoid taking software updates while on the road, especially while using hotel Wi-Fi. Criminals have used faked updates on hotel Wi-Fi to infect users with malware. If you follow Krebs’s Number One Rule for Staying Safe Online–“If you didn’t go looking for it, don’t install it!”—you’ll be fine.

2. Back up your hard drives and put a remote lock on your phone.
Traveling with the only digital copy of irreplaceable data or media is not a wise choice. Before you leave your house, back up your devices hard drives. (If you don’t have a backup option, you can try our Online Backup for free.) You should also put a software on your phone that gives you the ability to lock a lost phone and erase it if necessary. (Our free Anti-Theft for Mobile does this for Android and Symbian phones.)

3. Use direct DSL or cable connection when you can; if not, use encrypted Wi-Fi with a VPN.
If free public Wi-Fi is your only option and you do not have a VPN, consider yourself watched. Try to use one-time passwords for services that offer them such as Facebook and Hotmail. Using free Wi-Fi or a public computer for shopping and banking is definitely not recommended.

4. Don’t click on links or attachments in email, especially from email you were not expecting.
This is a piece of advice from the Labs that we keep repeating because everyone knows the attachment but the link part is new. Links can lead to scams, which on your phone especially may look as official as any bank website.

5. Be careful about sharing your location.
Most of the fear about sharing location online comes from a very few examples of people being robbed by Facebook friends. The basic rule is don’t tell anyone online that you’re not home who you wouldn’t tell in real life. So you probably don’t want to broadcast your vacation on your public social networks. Why not use email—like we did in the olden days?

Using your devices to improve your vacation is not a problem as long, as you take a few precautions. You earned the chance to rest and relax so enjoy it.

Cheers,
Jason

[CC image by gavdana]

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Here are a few precautions that will help protect you on all the laptops, desktop or mobile devices you use.

1. Keep your system and security software updated
This is a tip we always recommend for PCs. But it’s especially important on mobile devices and Macs too. Several important security updates have been included in recent updates of OS X. Our Mobile Security is available for Android, Symbian and Windows Phones. Research to find the best security for your device and keep it up to date.

2. Back up your device
A piece of content that exists only on one local hard drive is a piece of content at risk. Use some method of backup for your computers. If your phone has a backup capability enable it. If it’s available for your mobile, we recommend you use some remote lock software. Our Anti-Theft for Mobile is free. This way even if your device is out of your control, you can still protect your private data.

3. Get your software from a reliable source
For mobile phones, use official markets or vendors you know and trust. Never install software that suddenly appears on your computer or a mobile. You can give a criminal full access to your computer with the wrong click so take downloading and installing seriously. So don’t be afraid to take to cancel and research a product before installing it

4. Watch where you click, especially in emails
Most of us know never to open attachments we don’t expect in an email. But the links in an email can lead to a malicious site or a scam. Phishing scams have new power on mobile phones where we expect web pages to look strange and unfamiliar. Avoid clicking the links in emails you receive, especially from your bank. Go directly to the site you need to use or even call your bank directly if you have a question.

5. Keep your devices and accounts secure
Lock your computers and devices when you aren’t using them. And use a strong, unique password for all of the accounts that matter to you most.

The good habits you’ve picked up from being a smart PC user will benefit you however you connect to the web.

F-Secure’s new Safe Anywhere gives the world’s leading operators and ISPs the ability to protect PCs, Macs and mobile devices with one award-winning solution. Find out more about Safe Anywhere here.

Jason

CC image by LGEPR

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So why worry? I didn’t, not until my home laptop started to crash. I was sure my unfinished thesis work and all the pictures of my loved ones were gone for good. I just wished I had been smarter and backed up my personal files. But I was lucky.

I was able to start my computer one more time and I copied all most of my files to a new external device. That’s the most common way to backup your files; according to another F-Secure survey* 54.4% people backup their important files to external hard drives.

External hard-drives may be good for transporting files but they aren’t the most reliable backup. My house could be robbed or I could lose my device. Even though unexpected things tend to happen to only other people, the other person could be you.

My good friends recently learned this lesson the hard way. One night they woke up to a sound of fire alarm and flames roaring inside their home. They had less than one minute to get out—no time to take anything with them other than their loved ones. Their house was gone for good. So were all of their belongings.

Later, I asked my friend what she misses most from that lost house. The answer was simple: pictures. Especially pictures of her child’s first year, the first steps and first birthday party. These memories were all in digital format, but not shared nor stored anywhere. The computer went up with the house.

Pictures, videos, the work you’ve done–you value them all. But you value them most when they are gone.

You should act before anything happens to you. We at F-Secure are very pleased to announce an effortless way to make backups and also share content with our new F-Secure Online Backup. It automatically makes backup copies of pictures, music and other important content saved on your computer and stores these backups on our secure servers.

You can get F-Secure Online Backup now at or through our global operator partners.

Cheers,

Anna

CC image by jsome1

* F-Secure broadband subscriber survey, April 2011 (Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, 3,000 respondents in total).

** The survey was carried out by F-Secure via SurveyGizmo during April 2011. A total of 609 respondents were solicited from around the globe through F-Secure’s Safe and Savvy blog.

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In 2009, an F-Secure survey revealed that 44% of Internet users failed to do any sort of backup whatsoever.  But times have changed. A new F-Secure poll of 609 Internet users finds that only 14% of users do not make regular backups—a 68% decrease in less than two years.

New methods of backup are catching on—especially online backup. (Full disclosure: Hopefully, you know that F-Secure offers a Online Backup solution.) In 2009, only 5% of those surveyed were using online backup. That number is now 24%—a 380% increase.

Why are so many people choosing to backing up their files in the “cloud”? Here are the three reasons why I’m one of the 19% who switched to online backup.

1. Online backup is easy and automatic.
Once installed and running, Online Backup doesn’t require the discipline that tape/disk/CD/DVD backups do. The backup occurs without interruption as you work. Most importantly, it doesn’t require me to remember to do it.

2. I can’t step on it, spill anything on it or leave it out in the sun.
Any backup system that works for you is better than no backup at all. But having backup disks and drives around always made me nervous. My concern wasn’t that external drives and discs can fail. That’s a fact of life. My problem is that these drives and discs were always potential victims of my lack of organization and/or clumsiness.  Online backup saves my files in a location that’s not on my computer and not anywhere in my office where I can mess it up. It also organizes my files in a way that makes sense—my important files, Office files, pictures and videos, music and E-mail are automatically saved in my own little corner of the cloud using the same file system as on my laptop.

3. New online threats require constant backups.
Have you heard of ransomware? It’s malware that encrypts your files and holds them hostage unless you pay a ransom for their release. If you’re hit by this obnoxious threat, you only hope is that you have your files backed up somewhere not on your computer recently. Online backup greatly increases my chances of having a current version of my files safe and sound if the worst case scenario becomes a reality.

Why do you think online backup is becoming so popular? Which method do you prefer?

Cheers,

Jason

CC image by Peter Kaminski

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At the time, I was confident I could restore all my important files, and especially my precious digital photos, because I did actually do a backup (sometime last year). Unfortunately, as it turns out, I couldn’t find most of my backup CDs. Of the 3 disks I could find, 1 turned out to be corrupted. That one rotten CD happened to contain my only copies of all the photos taken during my college days.

To say I was upset would be putting it mildly. Still, you might as well profit from my sorry experience, so let me offer a few thoughts for your consideration when you’re next backing up your files (with special reference to digital photos).

1. Be Aware of shelf lives

Until someone figures out how to code data onto diamonds, there are no incorruptible, impervious digital storage mediums. HDDs, CDs and DVDs will all eventually die. Keeping in mind a storage medium’s ‘probable expiry date’ can help you avoid a nasty shock and prepare to replace it when necessary.

Sadly, there’s no real consensus on how long a HDD in a home user environment could realistically be expected to last, though there’s a lot of anecdotal ‘evidence’ and some studies in business environs, such as Google’s 2007 study (here in PDF). Still, a useful rule of thumb would be to expect a HDD to be usable for about 5 years or so, and plan your computer maintenance/upgrades accordingly.

CDs and DVDs, though by far the most popular external storage medium for most consumers, are also more prone to failure, since they can be exposed to more physical damage than an HDD (humidity, direct sunlight, clumsy handling, a frisky cat, etc).  Like HDDs, there are no major studies conclusively stating how long they should last in a home environment (though there are informal studies, such as this one from Tech Arp). In fact, with so many variables to be taken into account, the most that can be said for a CD’s or DVD’s shelf life is: It will last a few years, unless it gets damaged or you’re just plain unlucky.

2.  Occasional housekeeping is still needed.

I’ve learned the hard way that it’s a good idea to spot-check my backups from time to time, just to make sure they’re still readable, rather than wait until I need to recover the files. Ideally, backups would be checked for integrity every few months. In the messy, stressed-out real world however, once a year would probably be more realistic. Whatever your personal schedule, this is the time to go through all the files saved to check they can be read, and to replace any storage media that starts acting up.

3. Sharing your photos as ‘social backing up’

Though the cost of storage media has been steadily dropping, buying all the necessary storage space can still put a dent in  your wallet. Plus, you still have to deal with physically managing and maintaining them. If  you don’t have too many photos you need to save, and don’t mind sharing them with others, you might consider trying the following:

• Give copies to friends
  This only really works with group or event photos (because even close friends probably won’t want your private family snapshots), but sharing group/event digital photos with your friends is a nice way of sharing the memories – and if something happens to the photos on one computer, you can always ask a friend for another copy of the set.  Incidentally, this was how I managed to recover most of my lost photos.
• Upload to free online services, e.g., Flickr, Picasa Web Albums or Facebook
  A friend of mine who works as a flight attendant saves many of his best photos onto Flickr, so he can access them even when traveling. Another uses Picasa Web Albums to share photos with faraway friends and save space on his HDD. Of course, there are privacy  and security issues involved in doing this, so uploading private photos may not be wise. But if you want a storage source that’s accessible online, don’t want to pay for physical or online storage and are willing to live within the limitations, then this may be for you.

4. Multiple backups aren’t just for the paranoid.

Backing up your most important files is good. Making multiple backups is better, if you’re concerned that something might happen to the backups.

How far you take this is really up to you. One of the Quality Assurance analysts in our Response Lab set up multiple hard drives in a RAID array on his home PC, and also has backups on a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system (more about that below); plus he’s contemplating keeping another copy of his important files in an external HDD at the office. 3 backups in 3 different locations, in multiple media types.

OK, so maybe you don’t have to go that far. But having multiple backups in multiple media types in separate locations give you the option of recovering your photos if something happens to the stuff on one medium, or in one location.

As an example, in my case, I originally had my photos saved on 1 HDD and 1 CD – and both went kaput. After enduring the trouble of retrieving my photos from friends, I’ve now upgraded my backup ‘strategy’ to 2 separate HDDs (though both in the same computer), with one for frequent access and one for long-term storage; 2 DVDs (stored safely elsewhere) as a separate long-term storage – and a copy on a USB Flash drive, just in case….

So What Are My Options?

If money is no concern, or you have a lot of data, or you want more features than are offered by free services, it’s time to think of Your Backup Strategy. Figuring out a backup strategy is actually a rather personal task, since it has to take into account:

• How much data (digital photos, or whatever) you need to back up
• How much time you you can dedicate to backing up on a regular basis
• Your finances, and to some extent, your lifestyle (backing up can be more of a hassle if you travel a lot, for example)
• Your tech-savviness, or whoever’s savviness you can call on (e.g., a neighbour’s nephew amiable friend who can help you)
• What storage medium is available in your area, or is easily obtainable

Since all the above can vary from person to person, the best backup strategy is really whatever works best for you in keeping your stuff safe. Here’s a few last thoughts on the various storage choices available:

• Hard disks (HDD)
  Whether external or internal, a HDD is often the first choice for people wanting to backup backup their digital photos.  The disadvantage of using HDDs is their comparatively high price. Still, as prices of HDDs continue to drop, you could consider treating them like (unwieldy) DVDs. For professional photographers, who typically shoot hundreds of photos at an event (with each photo of a gigantic size), an article on All About Photography suggests getting a separate HDD for each major function, rather than putting all the photos on a single large drive. The HDDs for each event can subsequently be archived. Also, to help you gauge a HDD’s lifespan, there are utility programs that track the HDD’s health, so that hopefully you can replace the HDD before it takes a swan dive.

• CDs & DVDs
  CDs and DVDs (whether it’s CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R or DVD-RW) are cheap, easy-to-use and portable, making them the most popular external storage media. The main drawback of CDs (and to a lesser extent, DVDs) is that they require the most care in handling, and probably the most frequent maintenance to replace corrupted disks. On the other hand, they’re are so cheap that for some users it can be more cost effective to make multiple copies of files on CDs and just periodically replace any faulty ones.

• USB flash drives
  USB flash drives (aka thumb drives, USB drives, etc) have a slightly suspect reputation at the moment, with their persona non grata status at many offices and their role in recent malware outbreaks (Worm:W32/Autorun). Still, when  proper precautions are taken, a USB flash drive can be most convenient for frequent backups. As a caveat, USB flash drives only became popular within the last five years and I can’t find any studies about how long they ‘normally’ last under real-world use, so keep in mind this medium may also have a shelf life to be accounted for.

• Online Storage
  In the last couple years, online storage has become a viable option for most consumers, and there are plenty of online backup services available.  This type of storage is most suited for users who value accessibility and less physical management – and have a decent, reliable Internet connection. Of course, we’ve got one – our Online Backup service – but you can also search online; among the plethora of online storage services available, there will probably be one to suit your specific needs.

• Network Attached Storage (NAS)
  Once solely the province of corporations and now available to home consumers, NAS systems are a kind of off-site, centralized data storage unit that a computer can connect to for file saving and sharing. Some of the advantages of an NAS system is that it can be accessed by any computer in the home network; as a standalone, low-energy system, it might be more cost-effective to run than sticking multiple HDDs into a standard PC; and it can have multiple HDDs.  Personally, I haven’t tried this yet, but for users who particularly value accessibility and potential for file sharing, an NAS system might be worth researching.

And after considering all that, it’s just a matter of seeing what’s right for you, backing up regularly – and hoping you never accidentally lose your data. Or photos.

CC image by: Roman Pinzon-Soto

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Some moments, though, are not so delightful. But the difficult times teach me the most about myself. I learn how I ended up in the situation and how I can cope with it the next time I end up there. Somehow, my challenges always seem to walk hand-in-hand with my top priorities, forcing me to figure out what really is irreplaceable for me.

So what are the most valuable things that I would (or should!) protect?

Here’s my top 5 list:

Health
This can never be replaced. Yet, how much do I appreciate it when I’m healthy?

Family and friends
Those who support you through the rough times and are happy for you succeed.

Time
Once you use it, you can never have it back. What are you doing with your time?

My integrity
It’s about my own space mentally and physically.

Memories
Nobody can take them away from me.

Realizing how important these things are, I started thinking about how they relate to my online life:

Health
Having my laptop secured at all times keeps me healthy online. I take every step I can to prevent infections on the Internet. Why would I risk anything? Unfortunately there is no protection for not getting infected in real life, but at least there is insurance to help me get well.

Family and friends
I have them online and I have them offline. Mostly they are the same people. Connecting online gives me an easier and more detailed way to stay connected. It’s nice to know what the people I love are up to through social media. I’m also forced to consider with whom I trust to share my online life.

Time
I do not want my life to become consumed with techie stuff. Having to build up everything from scratch (computer crashes; you get a virus; you have to renew your accounts online due to scam; your credit card gets misused) is not an option. Making sure that I am safe at all time online is crucial. This is why I have to back up my hard drive. If my computer does crash, I can easily just mirror everything I had on to a new drive.

My integrity
I would hate to see my accounts hacked or my private information exposed to the world.  Browsing protection helps me to chose which sites I can safely surf around on.

Memories
All those digital photos! All those logs! All those SMS messages from my phone! I might be a bit like an old lady, but the warm feeling I get inside when I return to look at these digital jewels is priceless.  If I can just keep them, I wouldn’t mind losing a few memories on the way to the rocking chair.

How about you? What are the irreplaceable things are you carrying around both physically and digitally? How well do you protect yourself online?

Cheers,
Gia

CC image credit:  Tetsumo

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You know when you go on holiday and take about 450 photos? And then you download them from your camera onto your computer hard drive? Do you ever stop to think about what would happen to all those photos if your computer breaks down?

Or are you like some older relatives of mine? They keep buying new memory cards for the camera and haven’t even figured out how to download their pictures onto the computer.

We’ve all heard the horror stories: A house warming party where someone spilled wine on the laptop and a rocking (and rather expensive) music collection was lost. Or the school project that accidentally got deleted. You can even fall victim to a ransom trojan which takes your data hostage and demands that you pay a fee to get them back.

This is why we all should be making backups. There are various ways of doing this: you can use an external hard drive, or in the case of photos, you can go old school and take paper prints. But an easy and safe way is to use an automatic, online backup service such as F-Secure Online Backup.

Now we would like to know whether you back up and if so, how you do it. Please take a moment to answer our poll.

And happy backing up! It really is a relevant addition to your home or travel insurance: they can replace your computer but not your personal photos.

Cheers,
Hetta

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