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?710Please respect copyright.PENANA8zKFHJeEBj
I wonder where that figure of speech comes from. Anyway.710Please respect copyright.PENANAyRCNFPqPPx
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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. Privacy710Please respect copyright.PENANAfxBG6C0vu4
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. Security710Please respect copyright.PENANAyrvNAyMX5x
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. Copyright710Please respect copyright.PENANAptbuiqfmTq
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:*710Please respect copyright.PENANAyx6o3554Vk
1. Open file explorer. Move everything you want into a folder.710Please respect copyright.PENANAN5Lf8IoYLH
2. Single click on/highlight the folder and click on the "share" button at the top.710Please respect copyright.PENANA7OPaimdNXY
3. Click on "zip". It looks like you're closing up the folder with a little zipper.710Please respect copyright.PENANAcvlnFAqXkm
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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.
710Please respect copyright.PENANAowXXnNH9SP
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.710Please respect copyright.PENANA8hGCK3Po0z
2. Find your (original, unzipped) folder and right-click. Hover over the "7-zip" option, then click "add to archive".710Please respect copyright.PENANAbELfdyxayR
3. A new window should pop up. Change "archive format" to zip. This is the first option below the file name, on the left.710Please respect copyright.PENANAf0BaTYLyiE
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.710Please respect copyright.PENANA1FVGyT2wu3
(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:710Please respect copyright.PENANA2hlbDS54iU
- AES-256 is the superior method (more secure, much harder to crack) BUT requires 7z or another zip program to open the package.710Please respect copyright.PENANAW8GOhFowuQ
- ZipCrypto doesn't need a zip program (handier) BUT is not solid protection, and attackers can crack this more easily.710Please respect copyright.PENANAuc2OCKtMk9
- 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:710Please respect copyright.PENANAywjZWlY2wp
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 function710Please respect copyright.PENANAMRO0mBxejb
Cons: privacy?, big company which puts it at risk (see DropBox).
DropBox:710Please respect copyright.PENANAS9LwgsL4bj
Pros: 2GB free, easy to use, automatic sync, easy to share files, wide compatibility with devices, can access from web browser710Please respect copyright.PENANAfhac2itjh2
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.710Please respect copyright.PENANAgS3pWgFtgB
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.710Please respect copyright.PENANABhBa2p801F
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:710Please respect copyright.PENANAliE819EkuD
(Sorry, arachnophobe trigger warning.)710Please respect copyright.PENANAJNuTFFVxRo
Pros: very very secure with its strong encryption. 2GB free, unlimited computers, wide compatibility710Please respect copyright.PENANAcgBjOV4W1l
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.
Jottacloud710Please respect copyright.PENANAduUqxPaBdG
Source710Please respect copyright.PENANAqmDMmFyZAf
Pros: your data's in Norway, protected by tight data protection rules! so good privacy, 5GB free, fast transfers, COMMAND LINE TOOOLSSS710Please respect copyright.PENANAhYR7X7q8Vs
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.com710Please respect copyright.PENANAuWR0rI0RRd
Source710Please respect copyright.PENANA7NYULMi5s8
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...710Please respect copyright.PENANAgFFO2Z5eRE
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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