Thread: Important information on email

I have a habit of putting all the important stuff on my email address instead of on my computer. The way I see it, it's much safer on my email address. Many things can go wrong with keeping important information on the computer:
1) Hard drive failure is bound to happen some time or another, and if you have an older computer and haven't bought a new hard drive in years, you're at bigger risk of hard drive failure
2) Malicious software can steal, delete, and hold ransom all your important information. Yes, hold ransom. It's called ransomware. It basically locks your files and to unlock it you need a key, but to get that key you have to pay money
3) Anybody can go on your computer when you're not looking and delete or copy your important information
... and much more

With email, you just have to worry about key loggers and keeping a new and strong password.

What's your view on stroing important information on your email. Do you do it?

The biggest problems is if someone gets into your email account, and I would think its easier to get a keylogger then a virus/malware that will delete files or hold your computer ransom.

I personally keep a backup of anything important I was on my flash drives. If my HD crashes (which is yet to happen on my desktop, *knock on wood*), I always have my flash drive. Plus I reformat my laptop every 30 days anyway so my backup of anything on that stays pretty current.

And you can solve the issue of someone getting on your computer when your not there by having a password to login to your computer. Assuming you are using windows, make sure you have a screensaver (perhaps with a low idle time) and you can set it so it will have you re-login when its no longer idle. Or to make sure no one gets on between the point you walk away from your computer and when you get back lock it before you get up (Ctrl + L), which again if you have a password to login it will make you login to unlock it.

Anyway, back to the point, assuming your not storing things like bank account information, SS #'s, credit card #'s, document for work that are non disclosure, etc its not really an issue. I would probably send it to multiple emails though, in case someone does manage to get into one and decides to delete your inbox.

I personally feel a flash drive is the safer way to store information. But like I said, depending on the information your storing it probably won't make a different where you store it.

Originally Posted by Redeemer

The biggest problems is if someone gets into your email account, and I would think its easier to get a keylogger then a virus/malware that will delete files or hold your computer ransom.

I personally keep a backup of anything important I was on my flash drives. If my HD crashes (which is yet to happen on my desktop, *knock on wood*), I always have my flash drive. Plus I reformat my laptop every 30 days anyway so my backup of anything on that stays pretty current.

And you can solve the issue of someone getting on your computer when your not there by having a password to login to your computer. Assuming you are using windows, make sure you have a screensaver (perhaps with a low idle time) and you can set it so it will have you re-login when its no longer idle. Or to make sure no one gets on between the point you walk away from your computer and when you get back lock it before you get up (Ctrl + L), which again if you have a password to login it will make you login to unlock it.

Anyway, back to the point, assuming your not storing things like bank account information, SS #'s, credit card #'s, document for work that are non disclosure, etc its not really an issue. I would probably send it to multiple emails though, in case someone does manage to get into one and decides to delete your inbox.

I personally feel a flash drive is the safer way to store information. But like I said, depending on the information your storing it probably won't make a different where you store it.

You provide some excellent points, Redeemer. I must've overlooked that when I came up with the idea for this thread.

I was making my post based on the assumption that 'important information' refers to accounts and passwords to forums, file sharing websites, backup websites, webhosting, etc. Some people do online banking, so there would be that.

It's only natural that you keep non-disclosure documents under safe guard. It would be a little off if you were to put something like that in your email address.

You're right that a good place to put very sensitive material would be in a secured flash drive or two.

Ransomware is becoming somewhat common these days. Infection can come from almost anywhere. People these days are just itching to open up that attachment that says Vacation Pictures from people they don't know, so infection via email is probably the most common source of ransomware. It's difficult to prevent it because the way it works is pretty random.

I keep a backup of all of my documents and files that I would want on an external harddrive that I only use when backing up or retrieiving files off of it, so its not constantly on with a possibility of being attacked. I update this every week or so.

With emails, I use one for forums and the such but also keep a hard copy of my passwords in a secure location just in case. A 2nd email for emails to friends so my main doesn't get clogged (has a few thousand emails over the years). Then a 3rd email for possible junk mail and the such...the last 2 emails I decided to use just within the past few months.

I'm not too worried about malware and viruses as I scan regularly (will be using Nod32 soon) with spybot, malwarebyte's antimalware, spywareblaster, norton antivirus. But the best protection is watching what websites and emails you open...I made a poor choice once and got the "go.google" virus...inconvenient but nothing lethal.

Or to make sure no one gets on between the point you walk away from your computer and when you get back lock it before you get up (Ctrl + L), which again if you have a password to login it will make you login to unlock it.

Windows Key + L*

Originally Posted by Sirlaughalot

Windows Key + L*

Woop, thanks. I meant to say windows key not ctrl.

I always keep everything important on paper -_- and file it away!