OT: Dell Data Protection: Do I Need It?

Dunno about Dell, but sure as God made little green apples, you need some sort of data protection.

Start with running Linux, and using a VPN with an offshore exit point (Iceland or Sweden by preference).

If you have to run Windows, stick it in a virtual machine and don't allow it network access.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

(Posting from a scrubbed Linux laptop that I use when travelling abroad.)

Its Dell's cloud backup. And I think you can do local backups too. Obviously there might be a fee.

But the Windows backup is pretty good, you just need a external HD and a startupdisk.

FYI, The server here uses RD1000 disks and a nice fire proof safe.

Cheers

Windows back up is shit - unless they have fixed it. It used to be that a backup made on one drive could only be restored to that same drive - a total disaster when your drive crashes.

Sweeden has made deals with the NSA. As far as I know Iceland is still 'clean', but Jim is probably not after this kind of protection.

Jim,

if you want to use cloud storage remember that it is almost always unencrypted (90%) and it can be read by the service you save it too even when they say they can't.

Easy solutions are to save (on the cloud) password protected backups or use winRAR to compress and then save your data. You can use winzip too but it leave the file names readable which might/ might not be a problem for you.

If you mean the old NTBackup (Seagate Backup purchaced by MS) then I have used it to restore, and it didn't matter if the hardware was different.

windows backup as shipped with xp pro

No. DDP is a conglomeration of encryption, backup, VPN, and security tools, designed to protect your data from people like me. If you feel threatend by the likes of me, perhaps some protection might be useful. Mostly it's intended for businesses that don't have an IT staff to install, setup, and manage such tools and like the idea of getting everything from one source.

Dell needs it to keep its profitability up. Remember *WHO* profits from insurance... About as "good" as warrantee extension policies. Such things are almost never used during the policy life...

Yes!! Most urgently *ZERO* internet access,and extremes to *prevent* internet access, including but not limited to a hatchet on the Ethernet wiring (if there is a connector, then RIP out all of the wires inside that go to the connector). Removing the software that supports internet communications is a MINOR start, as any bozo can try to install drivers, cards, etc. So, use JB Weld on all PCI and PCIE connectors,leaving only ONE for the video!

The only (reasonably) reliable insurance policy is the one YOU write and enforce (like mentioned above).

Probably not provided that you backup your irreplaceable data onto some other form of secure media (and keep one fairly recent set offsite).

I am sceptical of cloud storage - too much of it seems to have been hacked already with pictures of naked celebs selfies the main targets.

Yeah, that's NTBackup, originally from Seagate. I've even restored multi-role servers with it. Restoring to another drive was no problem.

EXCELLENT advice! Also, backup your data every once in a while. I have an SSD as the main "disk" in my desktop, and back up to a rotating hard drive every night. I back up a few other machines periodically to that drive, too. Then, I make DVDs when I have the time with all user data backed up.

I'm starting to worry about backups of some of the major CAD apps that I use, in case their distribution CD were to go bad.

Jon

No, really, no need to go to such extremes. I have full net access AVAILABLE on my virtual Windows machine that I use for CAD. But, once I have all the apps set up with whatever update packages on them, I never access the net again, so it just isn't any risk. I do sit behind a firewall, with all Linux host machines, and the only Windows OS's are on virtual machines.

Not had any problem doing that for YEARS.

Jon

I understand your feeling that way, but most of us have a less conflicted relationship with our computers. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

you could also live on canned food inside an underground bunker for years

-Lasse

OK, I should clarify. Once the CAD apps are set up, I never access the net again FROM the virtual WINDOWS system. I've been boldly browsing the net and getting and sending email, as well as usenet for almost 20 years from Linux systems, and NEVER, EVER, had any problem. On two occasions I've had a blast of pop-ups take over the browser, and I have to shut down Firefox and restart. But, I've never had any malicious software do anything to the computer.

Now, I do also run a web, email, etc. server, and that is a constant target. A long time ago I did have two attacks on that system, also, but I now have the security tightened on that system, and not had any further trouble. I've been running a web store for over a decade on my own server.

Jon