Good freeware backup software?

JohnB47

Hi.

I've just read a thread about someone who has had a ramsomeware attack and I really must arrange a backup on my new W10 laptop. Previously I was using a free backup software program on my old laptop, so it's really only a few files that I've created recently that are at risk. I don't want to use the old program (Allway sync) - it worked but was bit OTT.

So, anyone got any good, relatively simple ones that they would recommend? Just two of us have user profiles and I want to backup the documents, pictures and music folders, for each of us so a fairy simple requirement. Google Chrome favourites backup would be a bonus.

I've looked at the built-in W10 backup program but this seems to want me to permanently connect a hard drive and set a scheduled backup time. I want to connect the hard drive and do the backup when I feel like it.

Thanks for any ideas.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

I would arrange Internet security first!

takman

Just copy and paste the files onto the portable HDD. That really is the easiest way to do it!

esuhl

takman wrote: »

Just copy and paste the files onto the portable HDD. That really is the easiest way to do it!

If you're going to do that (rather than use partition imaging software), have a look at FreeFileSync. It simplifies the process of copying large numbers of files. You can tell it what to do with duplicate files, different versions, and errors, then it batch processes the lot. It's dead easy to use.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/
http://www.freefilesync.org/

And I had a quick scan of this wiki page, which explains how to backup Chrome bookmarks:

http://www.wikihow.com/Backup-and-Restore-Google-Chrome's-Entire-Settings

Andy_L

You can back your chrome shortcuts up to a gmail account. If you only want to backup documents, rather than your whole hard drive you could you can also sync your documents with google drive

Lorian

Win10 has backup built in

JohnB47

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

I would arrange Internet security first!

So would I and I have! On that subject - would having good security (in my case Avast) have stopped the ransomeware attack? Or would it still have gotten through by clicking on a link in an email (something I avoid). Ta.

JohnB47

Lorian wrote: »

Win10 has backup built in

Yes but have you tried it? Seems a bit clunky to me and seems based on having a backup drive permanently connected to the laptop, something I don't want to do.

JohnB47

esuhl wrote: »

If you're going to do that (rather than use partition imaging software), have a look at FreeFileSync. It simplifies the process of copying large numbers of files. You can tell it what to do with duplicate files, different versions, and errors, then it batch processes the lot. It's dead easy to use.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/
http://www.freefilesync.org/

And I had a quick scan of this wiki page, which explains how to backup Chrome bookmarks:

http://www.wikihow.com/Backup-and-Restore-Google-Chrome's-Entire-Settings

Thanks. That looks pretty good - certainly worth a try. Oh and to ask again, would having good security (in my case Avast) have stopped the ransomeware attack? Or would it still have gotten through by clicking on a link in an email (something I avoid)?

Cheers.

Fightsback

JohnB47 wrote: »

Thanks. That looks pretty good - certainly worth a try. Oh and to ask again, would having good security (in my case Avast) have stopped the ransomeware attack? Or would it still have gotten through by clicking on a link in an email (something I avoid)?

Cheers.

Antivirus is no substitute for being security aware, AV isn't bleach and does not kill all known germs dead.

It's a constant battle just like the immune system with pathogens, clever bloke Mr Darwin.

An old computing maxim that still rings true, security is a process and not a product.

anotheruser

I don't use any security, apart from what Windows supplies.
But then I would happily have none at all.

Find someone who really does know about computers and ask them to partition your drive. Keep Windows on one drive, documents and things on another.
Most ransomware will encrypt Windows folders but won't bother looking at others, although it's only a matter of time before they change.