Question Do you use sync software and if so, which one?

[kamla5abi]

It is recommended to have deny write access to sync folders except for only those programs which need access - like office productivity suite programs, video players, etc. Otherwise if your system gets smacked by ransomware and the sync folder gets encrypted, the encrypted files can be synced too and overwrite the good versions. You need to have file or backup version recovery to get out of that one.

You could just manually connect\disconnect an external backup target drive to avoid it as well. There are multiple strategies to prevent encrypted synced folders from wreaking havoc.

Could you please give more details on how you do this? How do you deny write access to backup location (128gb USB drive in my case) except for the backup software?

What I do currently is very old school, just copy/paste different folders to my USB drive (documents, music, photos are only folders on my laptop where I store my personal files), rest of SSD is only windows or installed software files, so if anything gets infected or encrypted, then I just have to reinstall Windows and my software. After my backup operation (copy paste ) I disconnect my USB drive every time.

I will try the software @BoraMurdar linked to in OP as all I care about really is the files, rest is only software I can install manually when disaster hits.

I read about free Veeam endpoint backup software too. Have not tried it yet though, but Google results say Veeam software is very good free software.

 

[509322]

Could you please give more details on how you do this? How do you deny write access to backup location (128gb USB drive in my case) except for the backup software?

What I do currently is very old school, just copy/paste different folders to my USB drive (documents, music, photos are only folders on my laptop where I store my personal files), rest of SSD is only windows or installed software files, so if anything gets infected or encrypted, then I just have to reinstall Windows and my software. After my backup operation (copy paste ) I disconnect my USB drive every time.

I will try the software @BoraMurdar linked to in OP as all I care about really is the files, rest is only software I can install manually when disaster hits.

I read about free Veeam endpoint backup software too. Have not tried it yet though, but Google results say Veeam software is very good free software.

You can try something Secure Folders (free abandonware), software restriction policy with protected folders (AppGuard), or the free BiniSoft USBFlashDrive Control (can set Read, Write and Execute permissions for USB. Just change policy to what you need, then disconnect\reconnect USB and new policy is enabled.)

With what you are doing (using an external USB flash drive), BiniSoft USBFlashDrive Control is perfect. And it is free.

 

[ng4ever]

Bvckup 2

 

[bobby holla]

I would recommend GoodSync over every other Sync software. it is the best you can ever get and it has a portable version which i love best.

 

[LASER_oneXM]

im frequently using sync software to synchronize my internal drives (hdd, ssd)
with my external backup drives ("one way synchronization"). im using this tool: "freefilesync"

 

[Yoda]

I am using FreeFileSync to sync my data (Only Data) with an external HDD with Mirror option.

 

[R2D2]

I use Pipemetrics' Bvckup for data mirroring on local hard disks, Siber Systems' Goodsync for syncing with the NAS and Scooter Software's Beyond Compare for file/folder comparisons.

All are excellent tools but if I have to choose a favourite it would be Bvckup. Beyond Compare and Goodsync are next in that order.

 

[Mantissa_Bedford]

It is recommended to have deny write access to sync folders except for only those programs which need access - like office productivity suite programs, video players, etc. Otherwise if your system gets smacked by ransomware and the sync folder gets encrypted, the encrypted files can be synced too and overwrite the good versions. You need to have file or backup version recovery to get out of that one.

You could just manually connect\disconnect an external backup target drive to avoid it as well. There are multiple strategies to prevent encrypted synced folders from wreaking havoc.

That doesn't happen always. I have to use an application named Mail Backup X to backup my Outlook emails from the system to an external drive.

 

[show-Zi]

It is a small program using Robocopy.exe . I recently started using it. Synchronization by schedule is also possible.

robomirror

 

[shmu26]

It is a small program using Robocopy.exe . I recently started using it. Synchronization by schedule is also possible.

robomirror
View attachment 198935

Looks good, thanks!

 

[DeepWeb]

I am using AOMEI for biweekly backups and File History to another drive. But that drive is inside my laptop. Now I don't want an external drive and my security is pretty good. What are the odds that malware also attacks backups and file history on other drives? I think from what I have seen most ransomware is only written to target user folders on the c: hard drive.

 

[nastavnikhe]

I am using GoodSync to sync my data.

 

[DeepWeb]

Windows File History to another drive is the only real sync software I use. I like the strict permissions it sets and File History has been working reliably.

 

[ForgottenSeer 58943]

I love Puresync. Flawless. Have lifetime family license.

Jumping Bytes Software - PureSync - Synchronize and backup files and folders

 

[Thales]

In Windows Goodsync is the best I'm sure of that.

 

[scorpionv]

I'm using SyncBack Pro, which has ransomware protection. Before each sync, the ransomware protection calculates a hash from a user selectable file, and compares this hash with the hash from the cloud stored file. As soon as these do not match, possibly caused by ransomware encryption, the sync is aborted. The ransomware protection just needs one file that is a prime ransomware target (like a *.doc file), that never needs to be changed by the user (just copy an old document, and name it something like 'DoNotChange.doc).

It is nowhere completely safe, but better than no protection at all.

 

[dinosaur07]

SyncBack SE here.

Has multiple options for sync and it's what I need. Fast and excellent.

 

[nastavnikhe]

Yes,I use Goodsync paid version.

 

[LASER_oneXM]

i also switched to GoodSync (paid version) few months ago.

 

[mkoundo]

+1 for syncback (free version). In use for many years. Excellent

free version:

Free backup software - no strings attached

Backup and synchronize files and data, copy in either direction, email logs, run programs before and after, schedule automatic backups and much more.

www.2brightsparks.com

Comparison of the different versions:

Backup software comparison - SyncBackPro, SyncBackSE and SyncBackFree

Backup software comparison: SyncBackPro, SyncBackSE and SyncBackFree.

www.2brightsparks.com