{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T07:41:55+00:00","modifiedTime":"2021-12-13T19:52:14+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:18:53+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Internet Basics","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33587"},"slug":"internet-basics","categoryId":33587}],"title":"Back Up Your Files Online","strippedTitle":"back up your files online","slug":"back-up-your-files","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you use computers, sooner or later your computer or hard disk will go west and you'll lose a ton of work, photos, email messages, or whatever else you hold d","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"If you use computers, sooner or later your computer or hard disk will go west and you'll lose a ton of work, photos, email messages, or whatever else you hold dear. Learn this lesson before it's too late: Make backups! Better yet, make backups that are stored somewhere other than at your home or office, so your files will be safe in case of fire or flood. Here are some online backup services to consider.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 500px;\">[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"500\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/479803.image0.jpg\" alt=\"[Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/kirstypargeter]\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /> © iStockphoto.com / kirstypargeter[/caption]\r\n<div class=\"imageCredit\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.carbonite.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Carbonite</b></a> is not cheap, but it's very convenient. You run a Carbonite program on your computer (Windows or Mac), and Carbonite automatically uploads backup copies of your files to its online storage. 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You can upload and download files from the Dropbox website or install an app on your computer, smartphone, or tablet to access your files.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.onedrive.live.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>OneDrive</b></a> is Microsoft's equivalent to Dropbox.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"If you use computers, sooner or later your computer or hard disk will go west and you'll lose a ton of work, photos, email messages, or whatever else you hold dear. Learn this lesson before it's too late: Make backups! Better yet, make backups that are stored somewhere other than at your home or office, so your files will be safe in case of fire or flood. 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Back Up Your Files Online

By: John R. Levine and Margaret Levine Young and

Updated: 12-13-2021

From The Book: The Internet For Dummies

The Internet For Dummies

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If you use computers, sooner or later your computer or hard disk will go west and you'll lose a ton of work, photos, email messages, or whatever else you hold dear. Learn this lesson before it's too late: Make backups! Better yet, make backups that are stored somewhere other than at your home or office, so your files will be safe in case of fire or flood. Here are some online backup services to consider.

[Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/kirstypargeter]

© iStockphoto.com / kirstypargeter

Carbonite is not cheap, but it's very convenient. You run a Carbonite program on your computer (Windows or Mac), and Carbonite automatically uploads backup copies of your files to its online storage. If something happens to a file, you can log on to the Carbonite website and get it back.
Google Drive is Google's online storage system. You log in with the same account as Gmail (if you use Gmail for your email). You can open your Google Drive documents in Google Docs (an online word processor), Google Sheets (a spreadsheet program), and Google Slides (a Powerpoint-like presentation program) — all for free.
Dropbox enables you to store files online. A free account gives you 2GB of storage. You can upload and download files from the Dropbox website or install an app on your computer, smartphone, or tablet to access your files.
OneDrive is Microsoft's equivalent to Dropbox.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

The Internet For Dummies ,

About the book authors:

John R. Levine is a recognized technology expert and consumer advocate who works against online fraud and email spam. Margaret Levine Young is a technology author who has written on topics ranging from the Internet to Windows to Access.

This article can be found in the category:

Internet Basics ,