Security breach at DivShare

Posted by Caitlin on June 17th, 2008

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DivShare, a free, ad-supported online backup and file sharing service, experienced a security breach yesterday. Last night the company announced on its blog that user e-mail addresses and other basic information had been accessed by a “malicious user,” and advised users to change their passwords. Some stored files were unavailable for up to 18 hours as DivShare rolled out new security measures following the breach. While DivShare stated that no financial information had been compromised, this breach demonstrates the importance of security in online backup services. In order to safeguard important files, it is crucial to choose a secure and trustworthy online backup service.

DivShare is not one of the online backup services we have reviewed and recommended. As we posted a couple of weeks ago, Mozy and Carbonite, two of the services that we do recommend, were recently found to be the two most secure online backup services according to Heise, a German computer security publication. Both successfully thwarted attempts by all testers to gain unauthorized data stored on either service. To learn more about Mozy, Carbonite and other online backup services we have reviewed, view our online backup service comparison.

• Mozy and Carbonite receive high marks in security
• Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta
• Wake up and backup!
• 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
• Carbonite agrees- online backup services are good for the environment

Mozy and Carbonite receive high marks in security

Posted by Joe on June 2nd, 2008

A recent test of online backup services by a German computer security publication Heise found that Mozy and Carbonite were the two most secure services with extensive protection against many types of common hacker attacks.

Heise concluded that each of the six online backup services tested did use fairly complex security measures but, in some cases, they left elementary loopholes open to curious criminals. As stated in the Heise report:

[Online backup services] say they store customer data safely, some of the elementary security measures they take are implemented so carelessly and unprofessionally that they can easily be overcome.

Mozy and Carbonite, the only two services that we have reviewed which were included in the Heise testing, both successfully thwarted all attempts by testers to gain unauthorized data stored on either service. Heise gave the slight edge to Mozy as the test team preferred the companies handling of certain types of hacker attacks.

While we already think very highly of both these services, we are glad to see some additional independent verification of their quality from a security perspective. You can learn more about Mozy, Carbonite and other online backup services by viewing our online backup service comparison.

• Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta
• Wake up and backup!
• Top rated online backup service continues international expansion
• Carbonite agrees- online backup services are good for the environment
• Mozy online backup discount promo codes for March 2008

NextAdvisor reviews new online backup service ElephantDrive

Posted by Joe on May 8th, 2008

ElephantDrive is a relatively new entrant into the online backup space but they have a solid offering that competes quite well with some of the more established providers in this field.

We found ElephantDrive to be easy to use and with a simple interface for automating backups and accessing documents. They also offer a free account with a maximum of 1GB of storage so that new users can familiarize themselves with ElephantDrive and make sure the service fits their needs before they buy.

ElephantDrive is built on top of Amazon.com’s web infrastructure meaning that they use Amazon’s web servers to store their customer’s data. While it may seem strange of an online backup company to outsource their storage services to another storage company, we actually see it as a big plus. ElephantDrive customers can rest assured that they data they backup through the service is being stored safely and securely by a well established company like Amazon.com. This is actually a trend in this online backup service space as BeInSync also uses Amazon.

At $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year, ElephantDrive is almost two times the cost of Mozy or Carbonite. Additionally, ElephantDrive has file size limits of 1GB and maximum monthly file transfer of 1000GB. While the vast majority of users will have no problem staying within those limitations, we would prefer if they weren’t enforced especially given the premium price of the ElephantDrive service.

Like Mozy, ElephantDrive offers Mac support although the services offered to Mac users are more limited than those offered to PC users. So, if Mac support is important to you you may want to evaluate Mozy as well.

Since ElephantDrive does offer a risk free unlimited trial of 1GB of storage we strongly suggest that any consumer in the market for an online backup service test it for themselves. In fact, it would be pretty simple to test ElephantDrive head to head with Mozy (who offers 2GB of free storage in their trial) to determine which is the preferred service for a given user’s needs.

We have written extensively on the benefits of using an online backup service to secure your important files like music, videos or documents. It is great to see new services like Elephant drive entering the space as this will ultimately mean more innovation and more value created for consumers.

To learn more about online backup services read our recently updated online backup service reviews and comparison.

• Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta
• Users report bugs on Apple’s backup solution
• Mozy- if its good enough for the worlds largest corporations, its good enough for your laptop!
• NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
• Wake up and backup!

Is online data storage the secret to eliminating many data breaches?

Posted by Joe on May 6th, 2008

We cover many different types of service providers at NextAdvisor which gives us a unique insight into how some of them may intersect to provide even more consumer value than an individual service may provide as a standalone product. One such trend may be the use of online file storage to help prevent the impact of data breaches and identity theft.

There is an alarming trend in the data breaches of personal information that we cover. A significant portion of these data breaches are caused by the loss of some sort of computer storage device, whether it is a USB drive or a laptop hard drive.

We have previously written about the many benefits of online file storage for backing up important files on your computer. We are now starting to wonder whether or not online file storage could be a major step that consumers and corporations could take to prevent the impact of data breaches involving the loss of laptops or other offline file storage devices.

The primary function of online backup services such as Mozy or Carbonite is to securely store a copy of important files you also store on your computer. However, these services also provide direct access over the Internet to files that are stored secure on these services. It would be possible for an individual to store all of their sensitive files, such as those that contain personally identifiable information, remotely and only access files from the Internet as they need them.

This would likely prevent many of the issues associated with losing a laptop or a portable file storage device because it would eliminate the need to store large amounts of personal data or financial data locally on your hard drive or storage device.

There are some logistical issues, such as the fact that you would need to be connected to the Internet in order to access files. However, it seems like there may be something to this given advances in online storage technology coupled with the increasing risks of identity theft.

Have any thoughts on the use of online file storage to help prevent identity theft? Let us know in the comments below.

• Wake up and backup!
• NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
• 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
• NextAdvisor reviews new online backup service ElephantDrive
• Users report bugs on Apple’s backup solution

Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta

Posted by Joe on May 2nd, 2008

Our top rated online backup service, Mozy, announced this week that their Mac OSX version of their service has moved out of its beta testing mode and into general release. This means that Mac users will have the same level of stability and support as PC users.

Mozy is the only online backup service that we have reviewed which offers a Mac client, although Carbonite is reportedly working on a Mac version of their service which should be available sometime later this year.

While estimates of the number of Mac users in the United States greatly vary, the number is clearly growing. It is excellent to see that Mozy, and eventually Carbonite, are working to ensure this population has access to world class online backup service.

To learn more about online file backup visit our online backup service reviews and comparison.

• Users report bugs on Apple’s backup solution
• NextAdvisor reviews new online backup service ElephantDrive
• Top rated online backup service continues international expansion
• Wake up and backup!
• Mozy and Carbonite receive high marks in security

Top rated online backup service continues international expansion

Posted by Joe on April 29th, 2008

Carbonite, one of our five star rated providers of online backup services, recently launched a Portuguese language version of their online backup service targeted to consumers in Portugal and Brazil. Carbonite has previously launched versions of their file backup service in English, German, French, Italian and Dutch.

“The Portuguese version is another important step to continue Carbonite’s growth in the European market,” said Floyd Bradley, Carbonite’s EVP International. “The Portuguese localization also is a major step toward our entry into the Brazilian market. This presents a big opportunity for Carbonite, since Brazil has the highest number of broadband subscribers of any country in South America.”

Portuguese speakers should realize the many unique benefits of online backup services that major corporations and consumers across the globe have already discovered. To learn more about online backup services like Carbonite please visit our online backup service provider reviews and comparison.

• Carbonite agrees- online backup services are good for the environment
• Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta
• Mozy and Carbonite receive high marks in security
• Wake up and backup!
• 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions

5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions

Posted by Joe on April 23rd, 2008

We have previously discussed the many core benefits of online backup services and provide an extensive comparison of the leading online backup services on our site. But, we have never covered the many reasons that online backup services are superior to the various offline options that are available for consumers.

That is, until now! Below is our list of five important reasons that online backup services are superior to offline home storage. To learn more about online backup services please visit our online backup service comparison guide.

1) Online backup services are value priced

Online backup services like Mozy and Carbonite offer unlimited storage for a low monthly or annual fee. This means that the more data the store the cheaper these services cost per giga bite. For example, if you store 50 giga bites of data on the Mozy online backup service which costs $4.95 per month, then you are paying about $0.10 per giga bite. However, as the amount of data you store increases your costs actually decrease; 100 giga bites of storage would cost about $0.05 per giga bite. With offline home storage, which requires external hard drives to store your data, have recurring costs that are always fixed. If you need more storage you have to buy a bigger drive. Additionally, external hard drives do not last forever (see point four below) which means you will have even more costs when you need to replace old drives.

2) Online backup services scale to meet your needs

Whether your are looking to store a few MP3s and digital photos or you want to store hundreds of gigabits worth of information, online backup services will fit your needs. Unlike offline storage solutions, online backup services offer unlimited amounts of storage on demand. As mentioned in point one above, both Mozy and Carbonite offer unlimited storage for a fixed fee. This means that you don’t have to wrangle with the decision of how much storage you need in your laptop or external hard drive. Online backup services will grow with you.

3) Online backup services offer a higher level of security

With online backup services your files are stored in facilities that leverage the best practices in data security. For example, Carbonite utilizes the same intensive security measures that major financial institutions use to store account information. Offline storage options, on the other hand, are only as secure as you make them. For example, if you use an external hard drive to backup your data and that drive is lost or stolen, all the information you have stored there is in jeopardy.

4) Online backup services have a longer shelf life

A recent Google study found that about 8% of all hard drives will fail within the first two years of service. This means that one in every twelve hard drives, including internal and external drives, will fail in as little as 24 months from when they are put to use. We don’t like those odds when it comes to storing your important files and documents. Online backup is superior because the service providers themselves manage the hardware and have advanced contingency plans for any issues that may arise. In most cases, online backup service providers securely store multiple copies of the files that you upload to their service which nearly eliminates the likelihood that you will lose any of your backed-up data.

5) Online backup services are more environmentally friendly

As we discussed in our Earth Day post, online backup services are much more environmentally friendly than the hardware based alternatives because they cut down on the number of home storage devices that have to be produced and shipped all over the globe. The folks at Carbonite also pointed out that online backup services eliminate the need for storing information on other media such as CDs or reams of paper which are much more damaging to the environment.

Visit our online backup service reviews and comparison to learn more.

• Users report bugs on Apple’s backup solution
• Is online data storage the secret to eliminating many data breaches?
• Carbonite agrees- online backup services are good for the environment
• NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
• NextAdvisor reviews new online backup service ElephantDrive

Carbonite agrees- online backup services are good for the environment

Posted by Joe on April 23rd, 2008

The folks over at Carbonite, one of our top rated online backup services, picked up on our Earth Day post and added some great points about why online backup services are more eco-friendly than many of the alternatives.

Here is an excerpt from their post on the Carbonite Blog:

With online backup, you don’t have to save hard copies of documents and you don’t have to store stacks of plastic disks or CDs with all your backups on them. And, online backup cuts down on home storage devices that have to be produced and shipped around the globe. So, if you don’t use online backup for any other reason… do it for the planet. It is, after all, “Earth Week.”

You can learn more about online backup services by reading our reviews and comparisons of online backup services.

• 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
• Top rated online backup service continues international expansion
• Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta
• NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
• Mozy and Carbonite receive high marks in security

Wake up and backup!

Posted by Joe on January 22nd, 2008

It is often said that there are two types of computer users; those that backup their computer’s hard drive and those that will! The point is that everyone should be backing up their computer’s files to prevent losses of import documents, music files, photos, emails and all the other import things that you store on your laptop or desktop computer.

Processing a file backup used to be an arduous, manual task that was better suited to technical professionals and uber geeks. But, a wave of very easy to use and mostly automated backup services have been released into the market over the last few years that make backing up your hard drive easier than ever. Today we are launching our comparison of online backup services that you can view at NextAdvisor.com.

There are two types of online backup services that we have reviewed. The first are services that will process automated backups of your computer’s hard drive everyday, or at whatever schedule you set, by taking advantage of downtime on your computers processors- this largely occurs anytime your computer’s screen saver would be turned on. These services, including Mozy, Carbonite and BeInSync, are all very easy to set up and maintain. Each of them stores a secure copy of all your important files and allows you to access them in case of file loss or, in some cases, if you want to get your hands on files but are away from your computer.

Mozy is our favorite of these services because it is extremely flexible and has lots of great features including access to your files anywhere and support for both Windows and Mac machines (all the other services we reviewed only support Windows based PCs). While each of these services have a free trial component, Mozy actually gives you 2GB of free storage that you can use forever. Although, it is likely that you will eventually need to upgrade over time as your files grow.

Carbonite is a great Mozy alternative in that it is slightly easier to set up and truly “set it and forget it”. The downside to Carbonite is that it is fairly “no frills”. For example, you can only access your stored files when you need to restore your computer’s hard drive as a result of data loss.

Edit: Len from Carbonite was nice enough to stop by with some additional information to clarify the original post. You CAN access individual files through Carbonite by processing a restore of just the files or folders that you would like to access. Additionally, according to Len, Carbonite will be releasing the next generation of their product later this year which will include some key expanded functionality. They also have plans to provide Mac support in 2008. Check out Len’s comment below for more detail.

The second type of service we came across in our review were those that allo wyou to store certain important files online and access them from anywhere. Box.net is a great example of this type of service.

Box.net is not a great tool for storing all of your computer’s files because their file storage limits are much lower than Mozy or Carbonite (each of which offer unlimited storage). But, you could use Box.net as a tool to store some files, such as financial documents or photso, that you want to be able to have remote access to and share with others. Box.net’s collaborative features are much more robust than those of Mozy or Carbonite.

Ultimately, our research found that today’s online backup solutions are truly made for all consumers so there is really not any excuse not to be using one. We would strongly suggest Mozy to most consumers and Carbonite is a very close second. As always, we encourage our readers to read our full free online guide to online backup services to find the service that is right for them.

• Is online data storage the secret to eliminating many data breaches?
• NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
• 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
• Mozy Mac support moves out of Beta
• Users report bugs on Apple’s backup solution