This is a research topic that I’ve really been wrestling with to the point where I’m so worried about making a bad choice that I don’t want to make any choice at all!
I need to choose a backup app to backup my data. I bought Windows 10 Pro in the hope that it’d come with a local backup solution and it does have a “backup feature” but even Microsoft doesn’t recommend it…
I searched the “Recommended Tools” and the “Forum” but it definitely seems that a definitive backup app hasn’t been chosen yet.
I know there are so many cloud storage options available but I just want to backup locally: to USB HDD’s.
To me, it seems that choosing a backup app that respects user privacy and personal user data is the most important app to choose since we’re literally giving it access to ALL of our files on multiple devices. Perhaps more important than choosing a web browser or email client or VPN app that respects user privacy.
In my research I’ve come across these open source options that have the best reviews:
There are so many closed source backup apps out there and I hate these yearly subscription apps as much as anyone but it definitely seems like it’s worth it to preserve the security of all of our files!
I’m aware of this but even Microsoft discourages people of using this as their backup solution.
This isn’t a backup app per se but it does seem useful as it does have some great features like being able to check that data was successfully copied over to external USB HDDs and it also provides a log of the files that were backed up. I have so many small size files to backup that it’s getting hard to keep track of everything! Does anyone think this is worth using?
Otherwise — I’ve never tried this on Windows myself so YMMV, but…—you could try out this: https://restic.net/ - it’s sort of similar to Borg which you linked to.
Unfortunately Restic’s encryption hasn’t been audited and it seems unlikely to happen anytime soon: Code audit for restic · Issue #1515 · restic/restic · GitHub. I’d recommend using rsync to copy all important files to Cryptomator’s FUSE mount. Unlike Restic, Cryptomator has been audited (as shown on its section in PG). This results in all files being transferred to your HDD while still using common tools which are secure/reliable and available on Windows.
Yes, well it should go without saying that if you’re backing up to a USB hard drive you should use full disk encryption on that hard drive. But maybe it doesn’t and it’s good to point out anyways
However, I’ve looked at this and even Microsoft recommends a 3rd party app for local backups. Microsoft recommends their cloud storage for backup, but I’m only wanting a local backup solution.
I’m aware of Macrium and it seems really popular, but there’s so little talk about it in this community.
It’d be great if there was more discussion about safe backup apps simply because backup apps have access to ALL of your files.
GitHub - gilbertchen/duplicacy: A new generation cloud backup tool has some advantages over other solutions, for example cross-device deduplication. Haven’t used it yet, but will eventually switch to it, because managing backups for the same files on multiple devices is a bit cumbersome.
I’m using veeam agent for microsoft windows free. Its a free software that allows file and system image backup. It’s probably not private thought, works fine for me. For this use case, the ease of use and reliability of the software is more important than absolute privacy. The backups are made encrypted on the client side, and done to another computer in my network, so data and metadata stay with me. The software does not require an inline account to install and execute, so if its sending data, its less targeted to me. You can review their privacy policy if you’re brave enough.
I appreciate your replies but I’m still struggling on choosing a trustworthy open source backup app.
I nearly had a heart attack earlier because my HDD wasn’t booting and I spent ALL night trying to get it working and I eventually did but because no open source backup app has garnered much support from this community that I trust more than any other community I couldn’t make a choice so the only backups I had were of me right clicking and copy pasting….
Oh my God, I was in a bad state with the anxiety from losing my work in addition to the anxiety from the coffee I needed to keep myself awake to make the HDD boot…
I’m not worried about cloud backup as local backup to an external USB HDD is enough for me.
I just wish there was a “go to option” like how we have Firefox as the “go to option” for a safe and secure e browser.
I now realise I need to choose something because no choice equals death!
This seems like the best open source backup solution I’ve found that’s multi-platform:
I forgot to mention that the Seagate USB HDD comes with its own backup app. Could I trust something like this with my personal information?
In this specific case, you should lower your requirement for the privacy aspect and install a backup software and make a full system backup.
Chiise a backup software that can produce encrypted backup with a password and you should be good.
It is worth it to lose your data because you cannot find a backup software that is very private ? No, its not.
Also, don’t confuse sync and backup. Sync might not keep all file versions or might not allow you to restore your entire machine in case of a crash.
@Average_Joe hi again, sorry for the tone of my previous message.
I thought that you could get some help from one of the youtube channel I watch and trust, ask leo.
His video target beginner and intermediate user of computers and are straight to the point and very well explained. He also does a lot of video about backup, and always say the same thing, you must backup. He released one recently here, but you can find other video in the past, as well as the text article. I havent watched that video, but he previously used the paid macrium backup and free easytodo or similar name.
Best of luck to your data recovery, dont forget to backup.
@Average_Joe not sure if you have already explored it, but when I setup Windows for a friend a year or two back, I used Kopia. It is open source and you can probably disable access to the internet if you are saving locally (I set it up for a NAS, so not entirely local). It has some nice features (encryption, de duplication, etc.). I cannot guarantee privacy and security (no one, not even FLOSS apps can), but my friend has not faced any problems so far. I personally can endorse BorgBase, but that’s cloud and off topic here I guess.
You’re entirely correct about me needing to lower my requirements for privacy.
It just seems so incredibly important for when an App will have 100% access to all of a user’s files and could easily have a backdoor to someone on the Internet where the user’s files will be transmitted without the user knowing anything has happened.
I hope the community can appreciate me for worrying about this issue so much!
