April 11, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Value of Your Personal Data
April 12, 2017 at 12:24 am
I bought a new computer for the family recently. The likes of Cryptolocker and Windows 10 convinced me that it is not a good thing to have a device connected to the Internet permanently.
As a compromise, I beefed up our old machine (a 8-year HP running a 3.3GHz Core2Duo) and made this the Internet machine. I have given explicit instructions that nothing important be left on this machine. There is no Office on this machine. There are no apps other than what came with the user-friendly version of Windows that was installed on it. I intend to regularly reinstall the system on this machine based on an image taken from it. I should really learn Linux and, no doubt I will, once Windows 10 requires a permanent Internet connection. RedGate is heading this way with SQL Monitor v7, btw.
Our main machine is deliberately not on the Internet. I have put in a 4-port Icy-Dock enclosure and each use of this computer has its own SSD. There is strict separation of usage. Video and photos have one SSD and their own NAS. My home SQL Server has its own SSD. Files for home and Office have their own SSD. When the children need computer access, they will get their own SSD.
It is, by no means, an ideal solution. The transfer of files from the Internet machine is done by sneakernet. Many new programs require activation over the Internet and this requires, albeit brief, online exposure. A backup-routine is now harder. However, I am now of the opinion that a permanent Internet connection is detrimental to our wellbeing, unless you happen to have someone well versed in Systems Administration protecting you.
April 12, 2017 at 1:17 am
For backups I have a mixed online and local device solution. Online there are plenty of options and I only chose the one I currently use because at the time of choosing there was much less choice. Would I choose the same supplier again if I were choosing today? Maybe not but they would be a contender and that is why I am comfortable staying with them. I use Lima devices for my offline solution (see MeetLima.com). I have two devices that replicate to each other, are encrypted but are connected to the internet and can be accessed from anywhere with the right software.
As for ransomware, I am terrified that my backups will be full of encrypted copies. Is this likely to happen? I don't know. I only know it is possible.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
April 12, 2017 at 4:34 am
All my data is on an external harddrive, which is not backed up nearly as often as it should be. Nothing important lives on my devices. Saying that if Gmail decided to hold my account to ransom I'd probably pay to get it back.
April 12, 2017 at 8:24 am
Ransomeware. One of those scary realities. I hope it doesn't happen. I've got most of my important personal documents and source code backup up, either to an external HD or OneDrive. My concern is that my external HD is getting old and I'm concerned about its giving out sometime soon. Been thinking about getting a NAS for home. Their prices keep coming down and I've seen NAS's with 2 to 5 TB of storage. This article makes me think about that more.
Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.
April 12, 2017 at 10:14 am
Sean Redmond - Wednesday, April 12, 2017 12:24 AMAs a compromise, I beefed up our old machine (a 8-year HP running a 3.3GHz Core2Duo) and made this the Internet machine. I have given explicit instructions that nothing important be left on this machine.
good luck with that.
April 12, 2017 at 10:54 am
I have a USB drive with any documents I consider absolutely critical, but ultimately my most important information is my contacts and my password. Contacts I back up multiple places and passwords I simply don't write down, other than that the few documents I consider important are backed up to a USB drive. It's more important to me to identify things that actually are important and hang onto those than come up with some elaborate solution to back up my pictures or movies.
April 12, 2017 at 2:12 pm
If you want to know how much your personal data is worth, then ask your cell phone or internet service provider; they could give you the exact dollar amount they last sold it for.
:Whistling:
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
April 13, 2017 at 1:29 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor - Wednesday, April 12, 2017 10:14 AMSean Redmond - Wednesday, April 12, 2017 12:24 AMAs a compromise, I beefed up our old machine (a 8-year HP running a 3.3GHz Core2Duo) and made this the Internet machine. I have given explicit instructions that nothing important be left on this machine.good luck with that.
Thanks. I am expecting tears [1] after the realîsation that I have wiped the hard-drive with a previous image.
[1] well, expletives and unpleasant words, more likely.
April 13, 2017 at 8:40 am
Sean Redmond - Thursday, April 13, 2017 1:29 AMSteve Jones - SSC Editor - Wednesday, April 12, 2017 10:14 AMSean Redmond - Wednesday, April 12, 2017 12:24 AMAs a compromise, I beefed up our old machine (a 8-year HP running a 3.3GHz Core2Duo) and made this the Internet machine. I have given explicit instructions that nothing important be left on this machine.good luck with that.
Thanks. I am expecting tears [1] after the realîsation that I have wiped the hard-drive with a previous image.
[1] well, expletives and unpleasant words, more likely.
Another solution would be to install a VirtualBox or VMWare image with a minimal locked-down Windows installation and use that for browsing the web.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
April 18, 2017 at 3:13 am
Hi Eric,
This approach has been recommended to me by more than one person and I have to spend a couple of wet weekends trying it out. I haven't created a VM in over 20 years (back when Connectix allowed Windows on a Macintosh in the days before SJ's Second Coming...).
Thanks for the recommendation,
Sean.
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