Kettle of fish? Why do I want my fish in a kettle? Am I going to gently simmer my dead salted cod, or am I going to viciously boil my pet goldfish?1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv00TIKqG00
I wonder where that figure of speech comes from. Anyway.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIbHnNLBcD
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If you're suspecting I plan to send my pet fishies to fish heaven, you're both wrong and right. After all, I don't own any pet fish at time of writing, but the clouds are a place we're headed for. Not the literal clouds, but how we refer to "cloud storage" - not literally in the sky, but on the ground on someone else's computer. Now that I'm practically done making text file copies of everything I've written, it's time to start investigating where to store it all, and where better than the cloud?
But beware! There be danger ahead!
1. Privacy1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4MTTfvhTB
Some are concerned that big companies (for example. Google) are perhaps snooping your data and perhaps have more info on you than you'd think. I'm pretty sure this is a whole debate in itself that I'm not willing to discuss right now, but be aware.
2. Security1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZmor45sE8
Not to mention, despite being heavily guarded by this point, they're still massive targets for scary hackers. You want your data to be safe and secure, wherever you want to keep it.
3. Copyright1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqrilefq5a
Having taken a GCSE in Computer Science that has now been cancelled, sad boi hours, hope I get a nice grade because I put a lotta effort into learning the course I was taught that anything you upload to cloud storage no longer is yours. In some cases, this is a myth. (For example, read the terms of service; for Google, they shouldn't be able to claim anything you upload as theirs.) Still, be aware of where your cloud service is based, because data protection laws vary from country to country. Your data is subjected to different laws based on where it is physically.
So, things to bear in mind when choosing a cloud service. It's also worth remembering that you'll be signing up for an account as well, so if that service goes out of business or your account gets suspended, it's worth having a back up plan.
Once you have all the text files in one place, it's time to choose where to save it. I'm planning to keep a copy on an external drive (I have a few USBs) as well as one secure cloud location.
Onwards!
For convenience purposes, I'm keeping everything in one compressed folder, a zip file. To do this simply:*1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGb6KLVxVy
1. Open file explorer. Move everything you want into a folder.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8UC4vnI4S
2. Single click on/highlight the folder and click on the "share" button at the top.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5ETI9xc8v
3. Click on "zip". It looks like you're closing up the folder with a little zipper.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnJAr6LZzi
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* assumption - you're on Windows. This assumption continues.
Before I continue, gonna define the word "encryption" because it pops up quite a lot. It means "to convert info or data into a code so people can't read it without decoding it first". Encryption is good. It keeps your data safe from people who want to steal your personal info.
In order to access the files inside, you'll need to unzip the folder. It's easily done in file explorer, though. For extra security, you may also want to password-encrypt your zip file.
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1. You'll need a separate program to do this. I recommend 7-zip, which you can get from here. Choose your version and install; generally, check your computer, but most computers these days run x64. .exe installations are pretty basic, so download that and run it.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovv7k2dNRX
2. Find your (original, unzipped) folder and right-click. Hover over the "7-zip" option, then click "add to archive".1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltJGIPGNaf
3. A new window should pop up. Change "archive format" to zip. This is the first option below the file name, on the left.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQN9IjcSXZ
4. Now look on the bottom right of the window. Handily labelled "encryption", you can enter your password here. Enter it twice, remember it and press "ok" at the bottom.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtRG3cUNRY
(Source because this is a new process for me too.)
Something I noticed when doing this myself is the "encryption method" dropdown box that offers ZipCrypto or AES-256 when you add a password. I've done a bit more research, and my conclusion is:1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg0yP3GMRm
- AES-256 is the superior method (more secure, much harder to crack) BUT requires 7z or another zip program to open the package.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hjzo1y9e1
- ZipCrypto doesn't need a zip program (handier) BUT is not solid protection, and attackers can crack this more easily.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xbsBFpRw9
- SO, if the zip contains sensitive data and you're planning to put it on the cloud or somewhere it could be intercepted, don't risk it and use AES-256. Just in case.
Now that's done, all that's left is to scatter this file in a few places in case one place fails. I, for one, still squirm at the thought of my USB one day being unusable... hhh
Let's end this with a few comparisons of some cloud services based on my loose research. These are all free because I am a Broke Boi and cannot afford paid services, although those are worth looking into if you have the funds.
Google Drive:1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncrdqWW5lh
Pros: Big space (15GB free with your Google account!), easy to use, compatible with many platforms, can access from web browser, easy sharing, autosave, search function1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi1bYFUNV4
Cons: privacy?, big company which puts it at risk (see DropBox).
DropBox:1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7asaf0r84
Pros: 2GB free, easy to use, automatic sync, easy to share files, wide compatibility with devices, can access from web browser1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs353IcUHRv
Cons: No search function; account suspension. If you don't log in for a while, you run the risk of losing your account. The limit's set at 12 months though, so logging in once a year's enough.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunTk9XW6Mg
In 2016, the company was seriously hacked. The problem with using popular cloud storage sites is that they're targeted a lot. However, fret not, for they've since improved their security.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeTkE1ZuJv
Just remember to take your own steps to keep your accounts safe by using a secure password with uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers. You could even add symbols if you're feeling like it.
SpiderOak:1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgYbf9W46m
(Sorry, arachnophobe trigger warning.)1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrajWeUFKSZ
Pros: very very secure with its strong encryption. 2GB free, unlimited computers, wide compatibility1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9PPqVHwU7
Cons: no website access, so you need an app or program. (No phishing attacks at least, but still a bit more hassle.) Advanced features that aren't so helpful for the non-techspert.
Jottacloud1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7xBM2BWFG
Source1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hbaUMGjMO
Pros: your data's in Norway, protected by tight data protection rules! so good privacy, 5GB free, fast transfers, COMMAND LINE TOOOLSSS1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG8zkKPpce
Cons: no block-level file copying (if you're uploading the same file with changes made to it, only the changes are sent up). Can't backup individual files, can't backup to a local device, less security
Sync.com1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqN1tXfvIA
Source1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rdi0e1oGi
Pros: 5GB free, +1GB for completing all the startup missions. Zero-encryption privacy (your files are encrypted at the source). Everything's really secure!; can access from web browser, easy file rescue (revert to previous versions or revive deleted files), easy sharing...1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CPE1Yil7h
Cons: because of this zero-encryption policy, DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSWORD. The company can't reset it for you. Also, "no third party app access" which means you can't preview files, you'll have to download them first. Slow upload/download speed.
Other cloud services I encountered include Syncthing and Nextcloud, but we're nearing 1,300 words and I've,, gone on for long enough. I highly recommend doing your own research if the prospect of cloud storage interests you. Stay safe!
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