Hello everyone! Today we will embark on a fundamental journey into the realm of digital security. In an age where our data has become as precious as treasures, it is essential to protect it from the unexpected and loss. Whether it is unforgettable photos, important documents or creative projects, every byte counts.
In this guide, I will walk you through the process of creating a safe and reliable backup step by step. You will discover practical strategies, useful tools and valuable tips to ensure that your data is always safe, ready to be recovered at any time.
For example, I compressed all the important information of the JoS projects in portable format so that it would fit into my backup without any problems, but in case you also want to make a backup of JoS, sermons etc.. I will introduce you to a very safe method to protect data for very long periods.
Storing data (if possible) in paper format and in a sterile, hermetically sealed environment is definitely the best way to ensure the permanence of the information. However, there are some things that we would like to keep digital in case we need to save entire web projects, codes, animated gifs, videos and other things that cannot be easily saved on paper (for videos and gifs you would have to save every frame, it would be horrible).
So in summary focusing on the information there are the most common methods of saving, first of all if you have an SSD (Solid State Drive) unfortunately in these memories the data are quite volatile, they are not very stable and tend to break easily, for example after 10 years my SSD broke, so we can estimate that the average life of these types of mass storage is 10 years. As for HDD (Hard Disk Drive) the data is a little more stable, even if they can be easily subject to breakage given the problem that their disk if in motion and in use is very delicate, the magnetic storage system is one of the most used and could theoretically guarantee a life of even 20 years. The problem with SSDs is that if they are not powered sooner or later the electrical voltage inside the bit containment cells ceases and the data is lost, for HDDs there is not this problem, but the very frequent problem of failures.
We can try to solve the problem then by trying to store on a tape storage system (much less frequent), but it could guarantee a theoretical lifespan of 15 to 30 years, but unfortunately none of these storage systems are immune to the phenomenon called: "Magnetic Decay".
Unfortunately we are not yet in the era of quartz glass hard disks that can last billions of years and therefore we must necessarily find concrete and alternative solutions.
Let's now analyze a possible storage system using a CD/DVD/Blu-ray, CDs:
Compact Discs (CDs) and Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) have been among the most widely used optical media for storing data, music, and video. Although they are now largely superseded by more modern technologies such as SSDs and cloud storage, it is interesting to analyze their data persistence and the characteristics that distinguish them.
CDs are composed of a polycarbonate disk covered with a thin layer of aluminum. Data is written in the form of small indentations on the surface of the disk, which a laser reads to retrieve the information. DVDs, on the other hand, offer greater storage capacity than CDs, thanks to a higher data density and the possibility of having multiple layers, allowing up to 8.5 GB of data to be stored on a single dual-layer disk.
Regarding data persistence, CDs and DVDs can retain information for a significant period of time, generally 10 to 30 years, depending on storage conditions. However, their lifespan can be affected by various factors, such as exposure to light, humidity and extreme temperatures. Discs should not be scratched or damaged, as this can compromise the ability to read data.
Another important aspect is the writing technology. CDs and DVDs can be "writable" (CD-R, DVD-R) or "rewritable" (CD-RW, DVD-RW). Writable discs can be used only once, while rewritable discs can be erased and reused. However, rewritable discs tend to have a shorter lifespan than writable discs, as the writing and erasing process can wear out the material.
And here we come to the best data persistence system: "Blu-ray M DISC"
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Blu-ray discs represent a significant evolution compared to traditional CDs and DVDs, offering significantly greater storage capacity and better video and audio quality. Blu-ray uses a blue-violet laser, which has a shorter wavelength than the red laser used in CDs and DVDs. This allows for data to be written more densely, allowing up to 25 GB to be stored on a single-layer disc and up to 50 GB on a dual-layer disc. This increased capacity has made Blu-ray especially popular for high-definition film distribution and for archiving large amounts of data.
An interesting aspect of Blu-ray is its durability and data persistence. Under optimal conditions, a Blu-ray disc can retain data for 20 to 50 years. However, the actual lifespan can vary based on factors such as exposure to light, humidity, and temperature, as well as the quality of the disc itself and storage conditions.
M-Disc Blu-rays, on the other hand, are designed to offer a long-term storage solution, with a claimed lifespan of up to 1,000 years. M-Disc technology uses a mineral glass recording material, which is much more durable than the organic materials used in traditional Blu-ray Discs. This material is designed to withstand adverse environmental conditions, such as humidity and extreme temperatures, and is not subject to degradation over time like conventional discs.
Data is written to an M-Disc using an etching process, which creates a permanent physical structure in the disc. This means that, unlike rewritable discs, M-Discs cannot be erased or overwritten, but they do offer a secure solution for archiving critical data, such as historical documents, photographs and important videos.
After this "short" text I will now illustrate my backup method that I have classified in my "paranoid" category.
First of all for the really important and not too heavy data like my projects etc.. all in a single .zip file (including the portable JoS).
Obviously I also use the Cloud, (small note, I recommend you encrypt the backup archive to prevent external services from rummaging through your personal things, you would not want for example the services of a nosy company to check your things related to JoS since it would also be dangerous.).
The most famous cloud services used by me are:
- Google drive
- Mediafire
- 4Shared
- Mega
- Onedrive
- Dropbox
But I also use Archive . org or github in case I wanted to save some of my projects for everyone and make them immediately available to the public.
And yes, I have at least one backup copy of my archive all these Cloud services and even additional ones.
As for offline saving:
Backup on my brother's computer.
Backup on my girlfriend's computer.
Backup on my father's computer.
Backup on my computers of course
About 3 external hard drives (HDD) that contain the same file, the hard drives are of different brands.
And now as for the method of physical storage and security of digital data, the hard drives are inserted inside a Faraday fabric that resembles a case, which contains the hard drive inside a Faraday cage.
This ensures better safety even from EMP pulses, coronal mass ejections (solar flares) that can fry electronics, even ionizing radiation, since the devices are located inside a reinforced concrete Bunker.
The welded wall safe is also contained in turn in a medium door structure of reinforced aluminum that is surrounded by metal bars and a barbed wire fence (in this way it is also very protected from break-in attempts).
In addition, an anti-flooding system with sandbags has also been installed around the structure to increase its safety against natural disasters (and yes the sandbags are also resistant to explosions).
And now I will explain in more detail what a Faraday cage is and what it is used for:
A Faraday cage is a device designed to protect the objects inside from electric fields and electromagnetic radiation. The operating principle of a Faraday cage is based on the distribution of electric charges on a conductive surface. When an external electric field strikes the cage, the free charges inside the conductive material redistribute in response to this field. This process creates an internal electric field that cancels the effect of the external field, thus protecting the objects inside the cage.
The Faraday cage can be made of various conductive materials, such as copper, aluminum or steel, and can take different shapes, from simple boxes to more complex structures. The key to its operation is that the cage must be completely closed and without significant openings. Even small gaps can compromise the effectiveness of the cage, allowing electric fields to penetrate inside.
This device is particularly useful in a variety of applications, such as protecting sensitive electronic equipment from electrostatic discharges, radio waves, and electromagnetic pulses (EMP). For example, in industrial settings, Faraday cages can be used to shield electronic circuits from external interference, ensuring stable and safe operation.
In addition, the Faraday cage is a key design element in laboratories and research facilities, where sensitive experiments need to be isolated from external interference. Even at home, some people use Faraday cages to protect their electronic devices from potential threats, such as electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices.
Hello everyone! Today we will embark on a fundamental journey into the realm of digital security. In an age where our data has become as precious as treasures, it is essential to protect it from the unexpected and loss. Whether it is unforgettable photos, important documents or creative projects, every byte counts.
In this guide, I will walk you through the process of creating a safe and reliable backup step by step. You will discover practical strategies, useful tools and valuable tips to ensure that your data is always safe, ready to be recovered at any time.
For example, I compressed all the important information of the JoS projects in portable format so that it would fit into my backup without any problems, but in case you also want to make a backup of JoS, sermons etc.. I will introduce you to a very safe method to protect data for very long periods.
Storing data (if possible) in paper format and in a sterile, hermetically sealed environment is definitely the best way to ensure the permanence of the information. However, there are some things that we would like to keep digital in case we need to save entire web projects, codes, animated gifs, videos and other things that cannot be easily saved on paper (for videos and gifs you would have to save every frame, it would be horrible).
So in summary focusing on the information there are the most common methods of saving, first of all if you have an SSD (Solid State Drive) unfortunately in these memories the data are quite volatile, they are not very stable and tend to break easily, for example after 10 years my SSD broke, so we can estimate that the average life of these types of mass storage is 10 years. As for HDD (Hard Disk Drive) the data is a little more stable, even if they can be easily subject to breakage given the problem that their disk if in motion and in use is very delicate, the magnetic storage system is one of the most used and could theoretically guarantee a life of even 20 years. The problem with SSDs is that if they are not powered sooner or later the electrical voltage inside the bit containment cells ceases and the data is lost, for HDDs there is not this problem, but the very frequent problem of failures.
We can try to solve the problem then by trying to store on a tape storage system (much less frequent), but it could guarantee a theoretical lifespan of 15 to 30 years, but unfortunately none of these storage systems are immune to the phenomenon called: "Magnetic Decay".
Unfortunately we are not yet in the era of quartz glass hard disks that can last billions of years and therefore we must necessarily find concrete and alternative solutions.
Let's now analyze a possible storage system using a CD/DVD/Blu-ray, CDs:
Compact Discs (CDs) and Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) have been among the most widely used optical media for storing data, music, and video. Although they are now largely superseded by more modern technologies such as SSDs and cloud storage, it is interesting to analyze their data persistence and the characteristics that distinguish them.
CDs are composed of a polycarbonate disk covered with a thin layer of aluminum. Data is written in the form of small indentations on the surface of the disk, which a laser reads to retrieve the information. DVDs, on the other hand, offer greater storage capacity than CDs, thanks to a higher data density and the possibility of having multiple layers, allowing up to 8.5 GB of data to be stored on a single dual-layer disk.
Regarding data persistence, CDs and DVDs can retain information for a significant period of time, generally 10 to 30 years, depending on storage conditions. However, their lifespan can be affected by various factors, such as exposure to light, humidity and extreme temperatures. Discs should not be scratched or damaged, as this can compromise the ability to read data.
Another important aspect is the writing technology. CDs and DVDs can be "writable" (CD-R, DVD-R) or "rewritable" (CD-RW, DVD-RW). Writable discs can be used only once, while rewritable discs can be erased and reused. However, rewritable discs tend to have a shorter lifespan than writable discs, as the writing and erasing process can wear out the material.
And here we come to the best data persistence system: "Blu-ray M DISC"
|
V
Blu-ray discs represent a significant evolution compared to traditional CDs and DVDs, offering significantly greater storage capacity and better video and audio quality. Blu-ray uses a blue-violet laser, which has a shorter wavelength than the red laser used in CDs and DVDs. This allows for data to be written more densely, allowing up to 25 GB to be stored on a single-layer disc and up to 50 GB on a dual-layer disc. This increased capacity has made Blu-ray especially popular for high-definition film distribution and for archiving large amounts of data.
An interesting aspect of Blu-ray is its durability and data persistence. Under optimal conditions, a Blu-ray disc can retain data for 20 to 50 years. However, the actual lifespan can vary based on factors such as exposure to light, humidity, and temperature, as well as the quality of the disc itself and storage conditions.
M-Disc Blu-rays, on the other hand, are designed to offer a long-term storage solution, with a claimed lifespan of up to 1,000 years. M-Disc technology uses a mineral glass recording material, which is much more durable than the organic materials used in traditional Blu-ray Discs. This material is designed to withstand adverse environmental conditions, such as humidity and extreme temperatures, and is not subject to degradation over time like conventional discs.
Data is written to an M-Disc using an etching process, which creates a permanent physical structure in the disc. This means that, unlike rewritable discs, M-Discs cannot be erased or overwritten, but they do offer a secure solution for archiving critical data, such as historical documents, photographs and important videos.
After this "short" text I will now illustrate my backup method that I have classified in my "paranoid" category.
First of all for the really important and not too heavy data like my projects etc.. all in a single .zip file (including the portable JoS).
Obviously I also use the Cloud, (small note, I recommend you encrypt the backup archive to prevent external services from rummaging through your personal things, you would not want for example the services of a nosy company to check your things related to JoS since it would also be dangerous.).
The most famous cloud services used by me are:
- Google drive
- Mediafire
- 4Shared
- Mega
- Onedrive
- Dropbox
But I also use Archive . org or github in case I wanted to save some of my projects for everyone and make them immediately available to the public.
And yes, I have at least one backup copy of my archive all these Cloud services and even additional ones.
As for offline saving:
Backup on my brother's computer.
Backup on my girlfriend's computer.
Backup on my father's computer.
Backup on my computers of course
About 3 external hard drives (HDD) that contain the same file, the hard drives are of different brands.
And now as for the method of physical storage and security of digital data, the hard drives are inserted inside a Faraday fabric that resembles a case, which contains the hard drive inside a Faraday cage.
This ensures better safety even from EMP pulses, coronal mass ejections (solar flares) that can fry electronics, even ionizing radiation, since the devices are located inside a reinforced concrete Bunker.
The welded wall safe is also contained in turn in a medium door structure of reinforced aluminum that is surrounded by metal bars and a barbed wire fence (in this way it is also very protected from break-in attempts).
In addition, an anti-flooding system with sandbags has also been installed around the structure to increase its safety against natural disasters (and yes the sandbags are also resistant to explosions).
And now I will explain in more detail what a Faraday cage is and what it is used for:
A Faraday cage is a device designed to protect the objects inside from electric fields and electromagnetic radiation. The operating principle of a Faraday cage is based on the distribution of electric charges on a conductive surface. When an external electric field strikes the cage, the free charges inside the conductive material redistribute in response to this field. This process creates an internal electric field that cancels the effect of the external field, thus protecting the objects inside the cage.
The Faraday cage can be made of various conductive materials, such as copper, aluminum or steel, and can take different shapes, from simple boxes to more complex structures. The key to its operation is that the cage must be completely closed and without significant openings. Even small gaps can compromise the effectiveness of the cage, allowing electric fields to penetrate inside.
This device is particularly useful in a variety of applications, such as protecting sensitive electronic equipment from electrostatic discharges, radio waves, and electromagnetic pulses (EMP). For example, in industrial settings, Faraday cages can be used to shield electronic circuits from external interference, ensuring stable and safe operation.
In addition, the Faraday cage is a key design element in laboratories and research facilities, where sensitive experiments need to be isolated from external interference. Even at home, some people use Faraday cages to protect their electronic devices from potential threats, such as electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices.
