Carbonite

Bottom line: Excellent and comprehensive online backup with easy remote file access, exclusive discount
MyPCBackup

Bottom line: Unique combination of unlimited backup, file syncing across computers, cloud storage and external drive backup
Mozy

Bottom line: Great low-cost online backup with exclusive discount; can back up external drives
LiveDrive Backup

Bottom line: Simple and cheap backup that lets you use unlimited storage space for one computer; nice service for backing things up on the go
SugarSync

Bottom line: Best combination of online backup, cloud storage and multi-device sync; free 30-day trial
JustCloud

Bottom line: Easy to use unlimited backup for one computer, external drive backup and multiple-system syncing abilities
SpiderOak

Bottom line: Most secure, customizable, streamlined file backup for advanced users
SOS Online Backup

Bottom line: Packed with new features, includes 5 computers and local backup; nice interface, savvy mobile apps, and social media backup
IDrive

Bottom line: Solid backup with a lot of configurability; no mobile app access or file sharing
ElephantDrive

Bottom line: Solid online backup with file sharing and the ability to back up to 3 computers, though the interface is not the best
Norton Online Backup

Bottom line: Fast and transparent browser-based backup with file sharing; infrequent backup schedule
IBackup

Bottom line: Geared towards businesses; Exchange and SQL backups; compliance for financial, medical companies
Dropbox

Bottom line: Well-priced solution for file sharing and collaborative work; not true automated backup solution

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Are the backup services vulnerable to hackers?

January 5th, 2010 - Posted by Kent

The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question.

Q: Are the backup services vulnerable to hackers?

A: With the usual warning that anything is possible, online backup services are pretty secure. Of the many, many stories we see about web services getting hacked, it's not the online back up services that are getting hit. The online backup services employ encryption before your data is sent, and it's sent using SSL (Secure Socket Layer), the same technology that so many of us trust for banking and credit card transactions. Carbonite, for instance, boasts military grade encryption, and it encrypts your files "twice before leaving your computer." The files remain encrypted as they're stored.

Those who are particularly concerned about their data being unencrypted can choose their own encryption key. We talked about that a bit in an earlier blog post.

Of course the best software encryption is only as good as a user's own security practices. This includes choosing a good account password when you sign up, being alert to phishing scams, and having up-to-date Internet security software installed on your machine (to foil keyloggers that could steal your passwords).

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