Internet - social media - update

[Dave2002]

Words of warning - based on experience - here - https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...=pocket-newtab

Despite promises to the contrary, the only way to keep your data is to manage your own storage and backups.

Note also the only way to keep your data private is to never share it with anyone. Don’t send it through email, don’t upload it to websites which promise to look after your data and keep it safe, etc. If you can’t get your data back from a “trusted” website, you’ve lost it.

See also https://www.archiveteam.org/index.php?title=Deathwatch

[gradus]

Words of warning - based on experience - here - https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...=pocket-newtab

Despite promises to the contrary, the only way to keep your data is to manage your own storage and backups.

Note also the only way to keep your data private is to never share it with anyone. Don’t send it through email, don’t upload it to websites which promise to look after your data and keep it safe, etc. If you can’t get your data back from a “trusted” website, you’ve lost it.

See also https://www.archiveteam.org/index.php?title=Deathwatch

I'd assumed that uploading photos to say Amazon, was a good way of backing up but is this a way of unwittingly affording access to one's computer files?

[Dave2002]

I'd assumed that uploading photos to say Amazon, was a good way of backing up but is this a way of unwittingly affording access to one's computer files?

Not necessarily. You mention backing up - if you’re not worried about any other aspects then that can be (very) useful. The points that the article makes are that even quite large outfits may fail, or merge with other companies, or change the way they do business over time, so you can’t rely on them. I do use some of these sites, but some people trust them so much that they don’t keep the original data. That’s OK if they’re prepared to take the risk, but backing up should be a safety net - not something to be “relied” upon as a data store. Some people are seduced by the notion of having all their data “in the cloud” - and some get bitten as a result - or will, in future.

Does storing data in third party sites seriously compromise your computer data, and increase threats significantly? Probably not on the whole - if you take sensible precautions.