Data Backup

An over-the-shoulder close up of a Corgi looking at his PC's computer screen displaying the Thunderbird About screen.

Back Up Your Email Using Thunderbird

If your email only lives in your inbox online, it’s not backed up. I’ll show you how to use a free program to download a full copy of your email to your own computer, plus how to save your contacts. That way, a hacked account never means losing everything.

A Corgi weighing two options held up in his paws. On one side a cloud representing cloud storage, and in the other a NAS. The Corgi looks thoughtful.

What’s Better, NAS or Cloud Storage?

NAS or cloud? Each has real strengths and real risks, and a recent story about a broadcaster losing 50TB of archives shows what can go wrong. I’ll detail pros and cons for each and show how combining both keeps your data safer than relying on just one.

If It’s All Digital, Won’t You Lose It Anyway?

Can digital photos and files really be lost forever? Yes, but it’s almost always easily avoidable. I’ll describe two simple habits that keep your precious files safe for decades, perhaps even centuries, to come.

two computers on a desk with a cloud between them. The computers are symbolically syncronizing files between themselves and the cloud.

How Does Cloud Storage Work?

Cloud storage sounds mysterious, but it’s really just your files living on someone else’s online computer. Let’s look at how synchronization moves your changes between devices, why it can feel like backup, and the big catch: deletes spread everywhere too.

How Microsoft Extortion Can Lead to Data Loss

OneDrive’s “backup” can quietly move your Desktop and Documents into the cloud, fill your free 5GB of storage, and start pushing you to “free up space.” Here’s the scary part: the wrong click can delete files everywhere.

A cheerful desktop computer tucked inside an open emergency kit (like a first aid box), surrounded by flashlights, batteries, a USB drive, and a hard hat

The Big One Is Coming. Are You Tech-Ready?

Disaster planning includes thinking about your technology and online access.

A close-up of a Corgi paw connecting a USB cable to an external hard drive, the cable glowing faintly blue to suggest USB3 speed. Clean, modern desk setup, warm natural light.

What External Drive Should I Get?

You should have an external drive for your backups. Capacity, USB speed, SSD versus traditional hard disk, portable versus desktop, can all be confusing choices. I’ll review actually matters when picking a backup drive, plus a few current picks worth considering.