Data backup
Your personal data — photos, messages, documents, passwords — lives on servers you don't control. Before exploring alternatives, get a copy of everything you own.
Why bother
- Account compromise or forgotten password = permanent loss
- Services shut down or become regionally unavailable
- Accidental deletion with no local copy to restore from
- A geopolitical or technical event cuts off access overnight
The two-copy rule
Keep at least two copies of your backup:
- One external hard drive at home
- A second copy stored elsewhere (family, second location, encrypted cloud)
This protects against drive failure, theft, or a house fire taking out both at once.
What to export
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Photos & videos | Camera roll, Google Photos, iCloud |
| Documents | Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox |
| Email & chat | Gmail, Outlook, WhatsApp, Signal |
| Contacts & calendar | Google Contacts, iCloud Contacts |
| Passwords | Browser passwords, password manager export |
| Bookmarks | Chrome, Firefox, Safari |
| Music & media | Purchased iTunes/Google Play content |
| DNS records | If you own a domain |
How to download
Go to takeout.google.com. Select all services and request an export. You'll receive a download link by email.
Apple
Go to privacy.apple.com. Request a copy of your data.
Facebook / Instagram
Settings → Your Facebook information → Download your information.
Open a chat → tap the name → Export chat. Do this for important conversations.
Other services
Look for "Download your data", "Export", or "Data portability" in account settings. Most services are required to offer this under GDPR.
Choosing a hard drive
- Capacity: 1 TB or larger
- Connection: USB (USB 3.0 for speed)
- Brands: WD, Seagate, Toshiba are reliable
- Type: HDD is fine for backup (cheaper per GB than SSD)
Encryption
Encrypt your backup drive so a lost or stolen drive doesn't expose your data:
- Windows: BitLocker (built-in, right-click the drive)
- macOS: FileVault or encrypt when formatting in Disk Utility
- Linux: LUKS via
cryptsetup
How often
- General use: every few months
- Active photographer or content creator: monthly or after big events
- Critical documents: immediately after creating them
Next steps
- Self-hosted alternatives — replace cloud services with European or self-hosted ones
- Offline preparedness — what to do when the internet itself goes down