Mobile data backup 101
Last update: January 25, 2024 Getting ready to change cell phones? Is your current phone showing signs of aging and may soon die on you? Here are various ways you can transfer data from one phone to another or save it in a secure location—and enjoy peace of mind, no matter what happens to your device. What is a data backup? Backing up a cell phone means transferring data (photos, contacts, call history, settings, etc.) from your device to a different location for storage. Different backup methods allow you to save different types of data. The purpose is to have an extra layer of security that allows you to recover the content on your phone and transfer it to a new device. It's important to choose the best method for your specific needs. 1. Cloud backup In addition to providing a convenient backup solution, the cloud lets you sync your content across multiple devices. Simply create an account on the platform of your choice, based on your mobile device: iCloud (Apple) Samsung Cloud Google Drive Then, depending on the platform, determine what you want to save to the cloud and how often. Pro tip: Find out how much free storage you get. It may be worthwhile to purchase a subscription for more storage capacity. 2. Backing up data directly on a computer A traditional backup technique is using a USB cable to save your phone’s data to a computer. Here’s how you do it: Connect your phone to your computer using the USB cable that came with your mobile device. This will give you access to your phone’s storage and allow you to transfer photos, videos and even songs directly from your cell phone onto your computer. The procedure is very similar to using a USB key. Once the USB cable is connected, your computer should recognize your phone as a new hardware device. Now you should be able to access the files on your cell phone. To complete the backup, simply save copies of your photos and videos onto your computer. Pro tip: This technique allows you to transfer photos, videos and music only. You won’t be able to transfer other information, such as your contact list. 3. Backing up data using transfer/backup software If you want more options for phone-to-computer backup, your best choice is a software solution. The new phone you purchased is the same brand as your previous device? The software allows you to transfer more content such as contacts, photos, apps and sometimes even more. It’s important to note, however, that transferable content varies from software to software. Most cell phone manufacturers have a program that you can install on your computer. The steps to follow can vary from one company to another, but the basic principle is the same. Download and install the transfer software. Apple Samsung LG Huawei Once the software is installed, connect your phone to your computer. Follow the instructions to back up your data or transfer content to a new phone. Essentially, using software is a better solution if you want to save more than just photos and videos. It also guarantees a faster transition when you switch phones of the same brand. Pro tip: Consider backing up your phone data every time you add new content that’s important to you. After all, data saved on your computer six months ago will not contain any new contacts or photos added since then. Make it a habit to back up your data regularly! We’ve seen some of the different ways you can transfer data from your phone to your computer. Have questions about this topic? Feel free to ask in the Community Forum!Choosing Password Management Software
If there’s one problem we all experience, it’s having too many online accounts and passwords to remember. To solve this problem, we’ve developed a very bad habit: using the same passwords all the time. But there’s a much better solution: using a kind of software called a password manager. By Marc-André Gagnon, information security specialist. The way a password manager works is that you enter all your passwords into a database that itself is highly secure—a kind of digital vault. There are two kinds of password managers: local and cloud-based. Local password managers Local password managers save your passwords in a local database on your own computer. Your information never leaves your computer, and you are responsible for backing up your database manually at regular intervals. The two big players in this category are KeePass and Password Safe. Both of these software packages are open-source and free. KeePass for Windows was audited by the European Commission's EU Free and Open Source Software Auditing project (EU-FOSSA) in 2016, and no critical vulnerabilities were found in it. This represents a good guarantee that the source code is free of any major flaws or “back doors”. Because both KeePass and Password Safe are open-source, there are dozens of clones and derived versions of them, for all platforms (Windows, Linux, iOS, Android). But you have to be careful, because these clones do not provide any guarantees against vulnerabilities. If you’re concerned about security, use only the official versions. Local Password Manager Price Platforms KeePass free Windows (Linux/OSX: use the KeePassX clone) Password Safe free Windows Cloud-based password managers Cloud-based password managers save your database of passwords in the cloud. They represent an interesting compromise, in terms of ease of use and security. If well implemented, cloud-based password managers are considered secure and offer some additional benefits: they support all browsers; they let you access your passwords on all your devices at any time; they let you share certain passwords with other users, such as your spouse or your children; they let you monitor attempts to access your account, define trusted devices, and so on; some of them let you define an emergency contact who will be able to access your password database if anything happens to you. Like all other cloud-based services, cloud-based password managers charge an annual fee (although LastPass does offer a worthwhile free version). Cloud-based Password Manager Price Allows two-factor authentication? Platforms LastPass free or $US 24 per year Yes Internet Explorer/Edge Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Apple Safari Opera 1Password $US 35.88 per year No Chrome Firefox Safari Opera Dashlane $US 39.99 per year Yes Internet Explorer Chrome Firefox Safari Can the software provider (or a hacker) access my passwords? The provider cannot read your database, because it is encrypted with your master password. All of the encryption and decryption operations are performed locally on your own computer, and your master password is never transmitted to the provider in any way. If this complex technology is properly implemented in accordance with best practices, it is considered impossible for the provider or potential hackers to decrypt your passwords without your master password. Essential advice Choose a master password that is complex and unique. Try to have 15 characters or more, including letters, numbers, and special characters. This password is going to protect all your others, so you can’t afford to be lazy! One good method is to use the first letter of each word in a sentence that will be easy for you to remember. For example, you could set your master password as “ta12aitb, ok?” and remember it with the sentence “There are 12 apples in this bag, OK?” For more details on this method, I recommend an article by Bruce Schneier. You’ll have to remember your master password, because there is no way to recover it. Some cloud-based password managers may offer options to make it easier to recover, but these options are still limited, because the provider can’t decrypt your information and doesn’t know your master password. Activate two-factor authentication For cloud-based password managers, two-factor authentication involves associating your account with your smart phone or other smart device (there are other options as well). Once you activate two-factor authentication, you will be allowed to access your database only if you enter your master password AND you demonstrate that you have physical access to the smart device that you have associated with your account. Thus, even if your password is compromised (by a virus, for example), the attack will be blocked by a second factor. I think this is the best way to make your account secure with the least effort. By the way, that’s true not just for your cloud-based password manager but for all your other cloud-based accounts—Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.!Lost in the clouds?
In a previous article, I talked about saving data on your mobile device by connecting to a computer. But the truth is that not everyone has a computer or always remembers to back up their data. Enter the cloud. Saving your data to the cloud is a very popular choice that requires very little effort on your part. This article explores the cloud services offered by Apple and Google and aims to give you a better idea of how they work. Pro tip: Never forget that you are the only person who has control of the data you save on the cloud. Contrary to what you may have heard, nothing is automatically shared with other people or on social networks. If you’re still not sure what the cloud is all about, read this article by my colleague Michel Baril. In short, the cloud is an online storage space that you can access via your Apple or Google account. iCloud by Apple If you have an iPhone, you’ve probably already heard of iCloud. Offered by Apple, this service allows you to save all kinds of things, including your contacts, photos and appointments in your calendar, as well as your notes, reminders and favourite sites on Safari. All this is connected to your Apple ID (which is the email address you use for Apple services). If you have other Apple products, such as an iMac or iPad, iCloud will allow you to access your content and synchronize it across all your devices. New data is backed up automatically whenever your iPhone is plugged in and you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. This function is really handy when you consider that phones tend to get plugged in daily, often before we go to bed. It’s also important to note that this service gives you 5G of free storage, meaning you can store a decent amount of data without paying. If you reach the limit, you can always delete unwanted data, like old photos and videos, to make more room. Alternatively, data can be saved to your computer. And, of course, Apple offers various monthly packages to increase your cloud space. Pro tip: Does everyone in your family have an iPhone? If so, you may want to consider the Family Sharing feature, which lets family members share any music, app, book or movie purchases with each other. That way, you don’t have to pay for content more than once! You can also share photos and calendars, which is great for managing the family schedule. Parents, rest assured that you decide which features you want to share. You’re also the one who authorizes any purchases! Google If you’ve got an Android device, you can get cloud backup from Google. To access this service, simply create a Google account (if you already have a Gmail account, you’re good to go). Google’s Android service lets you save the same type of data as the Apple service, like contacts, calendars and photos. However, the backup method differs from phone to phone. For an optimal backup and syncing experience, make sure you save your data to your Google account. Here are a few examples to give you a better understanding: When you add a contact, make a point of saving it to your Google account, not to your phone’s memory. This option should appear when you enter your new contact information. When you add an event to your calendar, follow the same principle by selecting your Google account. For photos, go to your phone’s Google Photos app and activate back-up and syncing. Any photos you take after that will automatically be backed up when you connect to a Wi-Fi network. These are just three of an infinite number of possibilities for saving data on the Google cloud. If you want to learn more, start by exploring the various backup apps available—they can really make managing your data much easier. Pro tip: Want to explore the many possibilities that Google offers? Go to google.ca and click on the square menu in the top right corner of the page. You’ll find tons of features, many of which will be compatible with your mobile phone! In short, don’t forget that you decide what gets saved onto the cloud, and that you can adjust these preferences at any time. Whether you just want to keep your contacts safe and sound or back up all your content, the one thing you absolutely must do is remember your passwords. Without them, you won’t be able to access your data. Using the right backup service is a sure way to get the most from your digital devices. Now, get saving!Is your child ready for screen time?
How parents can get it right. Screens are everywhere. They cut across all social classes and all lines of work. From morning to night—and sometimes night to morning—electronic devices keep us connected and informed. It’s gotten to the point that we can’t imagine living without them. We’ve become reliant on things like an electronic agenda, software and apps, video games, Netflix, selfies, online vacation bookings and digital newspapers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Whether it’s for work or play, entertainment or convenience, we access a wide range of highly visual and interactive content through our smart TVs, laptops, mobile phones and tablets. Like it or not, the digital era isn’t going to go away. But the issue gets a lot more complicated when it comes to kids. We’re all aware of the risks of overusing or misusing electronic devices and, as parents, we all want what’s best for our kids. According to current guidelines, children should be encouraged to use digital technology appropriately. Otherwise they may feel frustrated or excluded from interactions with friends and family. Clearly, you don’t want to hinder their development or leave them wondering why you have access to electronics while they don’t. To make sure kids use screens responsibly, parents need to set clear rules and time limits. Need a hand with Digital Education 2.0? Here are a few pointers: First, figure out what worries you about letting kids use digital devices. Is it exposure to violence, wasted time, reduced creativity, eating disorders, a sedentary lifestyle, screen addiction, anxiety, social conflicts or falling grades? Next, seek out information on the topic by browsing the Internet, reading articles, talking to other parents who have already been through this or consulting with a professional. The “3-6-9-12” rule, developed by French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Serge Tisseron, has been widely embraced by young parents. In a nutshell, it recommends: No TV before age 3. No video games before age 6. No unsupervised Internet use before age 9. No social media before age 12. Before you lay down rules, talk to your kids to find out why they’re interested in using electronic devices. This will give you a better idea of their relationship with screens and what they hope to get from using a tablet, mobile phone or television. Typically, kids think that screens can offer opportunities for escape, learning, entertainment, freedom and social connections. Once you’ve clarified what their needs are and what benefits they’re looking for, you can establish rules to ensure that your child maintains a healthy and balanced relationship with screens. When using a device for the first time, children should not be left to navigate the experience alone. Television and the Internet can be great, but they also provide access to images and messages that aren’t suitable for kids. That’s why it’s important to sit with your son or daughter when they watch TV for the first time. Familiarize yourself with the parental controls on internet-enabled devices and make sure you install a family-friendly search engine to block content that’s not suitable for your child’s age. Kidoz, Webjuniors, Xooloo and Wikimini are good choices. Finally, limit your child’s access to screens and establish clear time limits for using them. This is very important. For example, consider creating a weekly schedule that outlines the days and time periods that your kids are allowed to use electronic devices. Rules are also needed for playing electronic games, watching movies and using the Internet or social media. It may also be a good idea to create a separate user account for your child, with you as the administrator. Don’t forget to configure the parental controls to ensure that your usage limits are respected. In 2019, living without screens is unrealistic. The key is to strike a balance so that your kids can enjoy the benefits of digital devices while developing a healthy relationship with screens. And remember, you’ve got to set a good example! Looking for a new tablet? Get a Samsung tablet and a 3 Gb Tablet plan for $0, with a subscription to 2 Premium Mobile plans (each with a 24-month agreement) and the purchase of 2 Samsung phones.
