This is an excerpt from the Windows Guides PC Security Handbook. To learn more or find out other security-related tips, download the PC Security Handbook now.

Data backup is essential. If you’d like to explore local backup options, download my Windows pocket guides. I strongly recommend using online (off-site) backups. Backing up your data online prevents data loss if your computer is damaged or stolen—or if your data is wiped by malware.

Online Data Backup

By far my favorite solution for online backup is Mozy. Mozy offers free online storage (up to 2GB with paid options too.) I’ve had Mozy installed on my laptop for over two years and it has saved me on more than a handful of occasions.

Setup is simple and after downloading Mozy, you can specify what you want to back up and when. Mozy will automate your backups and let you decide when it backs up (specific times), what causes it to back up (low CPU usage), and how often (one, two, three etc. times a day.)

I just let Mozy run and it alerts me after a successful backup:

You can specify what types of files to backup or specify folders— it’s up to you:

Mozy even integrates into My Computer so you can browse and restore your backed up files (even ones you’ve deleted from your computer):

MozyHome Features

• Open/locked file support: Mozy will back up your documents whether they’re open or closed.
• 128-bit SSL encryption: The same technology used by banks secures your data during the backup process.
• 448-bit Blowfish encryption: Secures your files while in storage, providing peace of mind that your private data is safe from hackers.
• Automatic: Schedule the times to back up and MozyHome does the rest.
• New and changed file detection: MozyHome finds and saves the smallest changes.
• Backs up Outlook files: Disaster-proof email protection.
• Block-level incremental backup: After the initial backup, MozyHome only backs up files that have been added or changed, making subsequent backups lightning fast.

Download Mozy for Free

Download MozyHome Free

Further Reading

• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• PC Security Handbook Now Available
• IObit Security 360: Complete PC Tool-Suite for 2009 [Reader Review]
• PC Maintenance Handbook Now Available
• Security 360 is an Advanced Malware & Spyware Removal Utility

Windows Forums member, MSherwood spent seven days using Windows 7 and nothing else. In this two-part series, he shares his impressions, likes, dislikes, and recommendations for Windows 7. The second part of this series covers program installation and feature exploration.

Check the first of this two-part series.

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In this guide, you will learn how to set up a false proxy configuration so that any application that relies on the Microsoft Proxy (IE, Firefox, Opera, Office, Outlook) will not be able to access the Internet. This has obvious advantages and can be set for the whole system or all non administrator accounts.

Alternatively, you can unplug the internet cable/disconnect the router… but you didn’t need me to tell you that did you?

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Many of you may have mail quotas at work or you may simply want to keep on top of things. In this guide you’ll learn how to remove attachments from e-mails, while keeping the e-mail in your inbox.

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Information includes details about how Exchange Server and Outlook talk as well as how Office and SharePoint communicate with one another.

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) continued to release formerly closely-held application protocol documentation Tuesday, posting 14,000 pages of information for Microsoft Office 2007, SharePoint Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2007 at MSDN, a Web site for developers. The protocol information released includes protocols that allow Exchange Server to communicate with Outlook and those used by Office and SharePoint to communicate with one another and other Microsoft server products. Most of this information was available previously only under a Trade Secret license made available only to select partners.

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Internet related freeware; this list completes all your internet related needs without spending a penny.

Check out more freeware on mintywhite.com.

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The latest attacks targeting vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s software products have steered clear of Windows Vista Service Pack 1. And despite the fact that the Redmond company touted security advancements when it introduced SP1 for Vista, available as of March 18, the fact of the matter is that neither Windows Vista RTM is impacted by exploits targeting a buffer overrun vulnerability in the Microsoft Jet Database Engine. The security flaw can be exploited through Word, Microsoft informed.
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A huge list of freeware programs including the following types: graphic and DTP, internet, multimedia, office applications, security and privacy protection, and more. This list completes all your needs without spending a penny.

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I use Outlook at work and no matter how many times I check the Remember Password box, Outlook/Outlook Express does not remember my password and I have to type it every time. In this guide I have included a fix for this problem. This guide is for Windows XP an Vista users.

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