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cloud_storage_options

This page last changed 2023.09.26 09:32 Visits: [3 times today, 21 times yesterday, and 8413 total times]

Cloud Storage Options

Notes as of 12/17/2019, comparison info in table compiled by smi.
I'm always looking to add more storage options, comments on any of these, and help expanding this info

Why Use Cloud Storage?

  • Back up files off-site
  • Access files from multiple devices (all of your PCs, Macs, phones, tablets)
  • Share files with trusted humans (e.g., spouse, heirs)

What Is Cloud Storage?

  • Disk space stored on the Internet and accessed via your connection to the Internet
  • Provided by several companies
  • Usually some space is offered for free and if you need more space there is a cost
  • The space (and its files) are protected by your login credentials
  • Some providers offer file encryption

details - enterprise storage forum

Is the Cloud Secure?

What Constitutes Data Security

  • Passwords. Can be hacked; so choose a password hard to hack with dictionary attacks, change it often to reduce exposure to brute force attacks
  • Data can be captured en-route.
    • Most storage services encrypt data while it's traveling back and forth
    • Look for “https” in the browser, means “secure http”
  • Don't give your password to anyone
    • Except your heirs
    • Not someone claiming to be from technical support, real tech support won't need password
  • Most hackers want best bang-for-the-buck; so use provider with good history of keeping data secure
  • Your data is not immune to search and seizure by local government entities (e.g., subpoena)

Safe Cloud Storage Options

  • Consider what you plan to store and how you need to access it
  • Consider how important it is to keep that information secure (medical history & home finances vs music files)
  • Safety features
    • Company with reputation for physical and network security
    • Multiple level redundancy (multiple copies of data prevent SPOF)
    • Redundancy across geographic locations (multiple locations prevent SPOF from nature)

details - how stuff works
SPOF: Single Point of Failure

Best Practices

  • Use hardcore passwords
    • KISS is bad, complex is good (KICS?)
    • Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Which will be safer and harder to guess: cgKZdxUhh4Bq (entropy 66.79) or Th1$C0mpu73rGr0up (entropy 24.17)
    • Use unique passwords for data in the cloud
    • Consider storing the first part of the password in a password manager and adding a set string when you enter it.
  • Use two factor authentication if possible
  • Backup files in different cloud accounts (don't put important data in just one place)
    • Best if you can store files offline as well as online/cloud (immediately puts data in two places)
  • Practice smart browsing (if you're accessing the cloud – files, email, etc – remember to log out and never save password to browser)

details - malwarebytes

Selected Cloud Storage Options

Also see these sites, they may have bargains:

Here are some, do you know of others?
Do you have good or bad experiences with these?

Provider free under $2/mo under $3/momore space optionsnotesas of dateencryption
Dropbox 2GB 2TB($9.99/mo) https://www.dropbox.com
shared and 3TB and larger options available for added $\
8/9/2023in-transit & at rest
iCloud 5GB50GB($0.99/mo) 200GB($2.99/mo) 2TB($9.99/mo) https://www.icloud.com
Can share storage with your family
also can manage iPhone contacts etc
in-transit & at rest
pCloud ? 500GB ($49.99/yr
or $199 lifetime)
2TB($99.99/yr
or $399 lifetime)
https://pcloud.com
offer annual or one-payment-for-lifetime options
offer family sharing option for extra $
Crypto option available to automatically encrypt files on the cloud
Starts at 5GB free. Invite friends and get 1GB for each invite (to max 10GB),
with chance to win 500GB for a lifetime.
8/9/2023in-transit & at-rest
OneDrive 5GB 100GB ($1.99/mo or $19.99/yr) https://onedrive.live.com8/9/2023end-end
Google Drive 15GB 100GB($1.99/mo
or $19.99/yr)
1TB($6.99/mo
or $99.99/yr)
https://drive.google.com
For gmail messages and files
larger capacities available
8/9/2023
iDrive 10GB100GB $2.95/year
500GB $9.95/yr
1TB $19.95/yr
5TB ($59.62 first year or $119.25/2 yr)https://www.idrive.com
They have many plans, best to visit them
Tom's has link for 10TB at $3.98/yr first year
8/9/2023end-end
Mega 20GB 2TB €10/mo ≈ $10.57, €100/yr ≈ $106 https://mega.io
Free forever with limited download transfer; earn achievements +5GB good for a year
9/26/2023end-end
Box 10GB $60/yr for 100GBhttps://www.box.com
Free has max 250MB/file upload limit
100GB plan max 2GB/file upload
8/9/2023
MediaFire 10GB 1TB ($70/yr)https://www.mediafire.com
Ad-supported downloads
8/9/2023
Internxt 10GB 20GB $.99/mo or $10.68/yr 200GB $41.88/yrhttps://internxt.com
has lifetime option
8/9/2023
IceDrive 10GB 10GB $1.67/mo or $19.99/yr 1TB $4.17/mo or $49.99/yrhttps://icedrive.net8/9/2023
Degoo 20GB https://degoo.com/techradar
files deleted if you don't use the account for 90 days
8/9/2023
NordLocker 3GB 500GB $35.88/yrhttps://nordlocker.com/special/8/9/2023
Backblaze 10GB https://www.expressvpn.com/go/backblaze
tied in to VPN
8/9/2023

2FA: Two Factor Authentication, id and password and code texted to phone.
reference 1

Notes

cloud_storage_options.txt · Last modified: 2023.09.26 09:32 by Steve Isenberg