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Ask HN: Secure automated backup?

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Re: Ask HN: Secure automated backup?

#16
post #9

I used to use Crashplan which had unlimited storage and was fairly cheap(like 4$/month or something) for a family plan. You might want to check it out. https://www.crashplan.com/en-us/features/ Also it was one of the few services that had a client that worked on Linux

I've been using Crashplan for my extended family as well, you get 10 machines with unlimited storage for something like $120 per year. Linux client has been working great, I'd definitely recommend them.

Re: Ask HN: Secure automated backup?

#17
Here are some options that I have experience with:

- Time Machine with offline disks: Since Time Machine supports multiple backup destinations, you can use a Time Capsule or hard drive that's always connected to your Mac, and also have one or more additional hard drives which you connect periodically and otherwise leave in a drawer.

Pros: Free, built into macOS, can browse file versions directly from many apps.

Cons: Needs ongoing manual intervention (i.e. plugging in the offline drives). Some reliability issues… but I've experienced the most problems backing up to my own SMB/AFP shares, so a Time Capsule might be OK.

- Backblaze (https://www.backblaze.com/) or CrashPlan (https://www.crashplan.com/): Both of these online backup services have $5/month unlimited plans, and both let you specify your own encryption key (in the form of an additional password), which isn't shared with the backup provider. Note: In my experience, Backblaze's client is much lighter on system resources/battery on Mac.

Pros: Inexpensive, off-site storage, low-maintenance.

Cons: Ongoing cost, requires trust (In theory, the client software could be sharing the encryption key with the company/the NSA/your nemesis).

- Arq (https://www.arqbackup.com/): Paid desktop software which can back up to many different destinations, including S3, Google Drive, or your own server via SFTP. You specify an encryption key for each destination.

Pros: Full control. Option to back up to another machine that you own (so no ongoing cost for hosting).

Cons: Up-front cost. Support is less straightforward than hosted solutions since Arq doesn't provide storage.

Re: Ask HN: Secure automated backup?

#19
post #9

I used to use Crashplan which had unlimited storage and was fairly cheap(like 4$/month or something) for a family plan. You might want to check it out. https://www.crashplan.com/en-us/features/ Also it was one of the few services that had a client that worked on Linux

Second CrashPlan; even allow you to encrypt with your own key (just don't lose it!) Linux client is fantastic.

Re: Ask HN: Secure automated backup?

#20
post #15

I'm surprised that no one mentioned Tarsnap yet, it's run by a well known HNer (cperciva): http://www.tarsnap.com/ It's not exactly noob friendly though.

Well it's quite expensive compared to other solutions.

It really isn't. I mean it looks expensive, until you take into account all the dedup and everything it does to reduce the cost. I put in $10 dollars a few years ago, I still have almost a $4 balance ($3.91).
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