NOVEMBER 2012: If you don’t have a great backup plan for the data on your home computer, we’ve got you covered! Here are seven top-rated cloud providers with security features that make us frogs jump with joy.
All are also reasonably priced (or free), work automatically behind the scenes and backup both PCs and Macs. Two also work with Linux and one with Solaris. Check them out and see which is the best for you and your family. Then hop up to the cloud already! Safely, of course.
1. Carbonite: 15-day free trial. Subscriptions start at $59/year for unlimited GB. 128-bit Blowfish encryption, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) during transfer. Bonus: US-based support.
2. Mozy 30-day free trial and free for 2GB storage. Subscriptions start at $5.99/month or $72/year for 50GB storage. 448-bit Blowfish encryption key or 256-bit AES encryption, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) during transfer. Bonus: Stash file sync for most active data.
3. Norton Online Backup Subscriptions start at $49/year for 25GB storage. 256-bit AES encryption, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) during transfer. Bonus: Up to five PCs or Macs on a single subscription.
4. SOS Online Backup 30-day free trial. Subscriptions start at $79/year for 50GB storage (up to five devices), encryption before and after Secure Socket Layer (SSL) during transfer. Bonus: Use the same account to back up your iPad, iPhone and Android.
5. MyPCBackup Free for 15MB storage (yes, megabytes). Subscriptions start at $4.49/mo (or $54/year) for 75GB storage. 256 Bit Encryption, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) during transfer. Bonus: Linux.
6. IDrive Free for 5GB storage. Subscriptions start at $4.95/mo (or $59/year) for 150GB storage. 256-bit AES encryption, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) during transfer. Bonus: Can restore the last 30 versions of all files.
7. CrashPlan Subscriptions start at $24.99/year for 10GB. 128-bit or 448-bit Blowfish encryption, 128-bit encrypted communication for transfer. Bonus: Linux and Solaris. Plus up to 10 computers for $199.99/year.
