skeptu
How to reduce the risk of losing data you have stored with Google
Run specialist backup software for Google applications
This kind of software runs on your computer and downloads in the background using your internet connection. It is cheaper to operate, puts the security of your data downloaded from Google in YOUR hands (as opposed to a 3rd party, like online services) and uses storage that you have available. Its disadvantages:
- It is less convenient - not really set it and forget it.
- You must use your own Internet connection.
- You must use your own computer's resources to download it.
- While your computer is switched off, it won't be backing up.
- There is a significant (but small) risk of your computer being compromised at the same time as your google account, possibly rendering your backup useless.
The following are applications which will run on your own machine:
Non-specialist software
You can additionally use non-specialized software to partially back up the data you have stored with Google. Thunderbird and Outlook can both back up your email.
How else do I protect myself?
Don't do anything that might trigger an automated switch that makes Google disable your account:
Limit the risk of your password from being stolen:
- Your password is at risk from phishing - be careful that if you are logging in to your google account that you actually are on the google website and not a disguised website (e.g. www.google.something.com). Even if the website itself looks identical.
- Your password is at risk from being stolen by malware installed on your computer -- be careful about the software you install. Try and ensure it all comes from trustable sources (e.g. www.firefox.com or OEM CDs, and not downloaded from bittorrent).
- Your password is at risk from being stolen by malware installed on other people's computers - try to log in on computers you do not fully control and trust as little as possible.
Limit the risk if your password is stolen and your account is hacked:
You can gather a bunch of information now, which will be asked by google when your account is hacked. Having some (if not all) of it will make getting your account access back much easier:
- Go this manage account URL, sign in with your gmail username and note down every service listed. Try and figure out for each service when you started to use it. So:
- Search for the welcome message in your gmail inbox and note down the date of the email.
- Look for the oldest document in Google docs and the date it was created.
- Look for the oldest photo in Picasa and note down the date it was uploaded.
- Look for your oldest post on blogger and note down its date.
- Try and figure out the dates of other services you started using similarly. Rough dates will do if you can't find the exact date.
- List all of the labels in your gmail account.
Also, giving Google your mobile phone number will make it MUCH easier to authenticate yourself and get your account back (they send you an SMS which you can use to reset your password).