Hi, I have concerns about the security of backups made using the media above. Norton 360 includes an ARestore.exe and ARestore.loc file in addition to the backed up data. These, very usefully, allow you to restore the data onto any computer, but this means that the backups could be used by anyone who has access to the CDs etc (for security, the backup CDs must be stored off site). The solution would appear to be to delete the two files from the backup where possible (e.g. from the flash drive or external drive), after copying them to somewhere else for my own use. This still leaves a few questions...
Is the encryption key different for every customer? Could someone simply copy in the exe and loc files from another backup to read my data?
Is the encryption key contained in both the exe and loc file? In other words, do I need to remove both files to make the flash drive secure, or just the loc file?
Would my suggested approach of keeping the loc file (and possibly the exe) elsewhere work? Are there better ways to do this (e.g. using a password protection option I have overlooked when creating the backups).
Do you have any suggestions on what to do for CDs and DVDs? Is there an option to suppress the inclusion of the two files on the backup CD?
I am running v5 of Norton 360 and Windows 7 on an Acer laptop. I have just upgraded to v6 but cannot see any additional backup options. I do not have the fast and reliable internet connection required to allow me to back up the bulk of my data online.
Anyone reading this post with similar questions about Norton's online backups should read this post by scott_moen:
I agree that security is only as good as the weakest point. I can be reasonably sure of the physical security of my computer, but not of the backup DVDs which, to be safe from fire etc, have to be stored and transported to another location. In the UK employees of the government and blue chip companies have made the national new headlines by leaving unencrypted CDs, flash drives and laptops in trains a taxis. My data is not top security, but if identity thieves are prepared to rummage through dust bins / garbage cans for information, I'm sure a DVD would be much more attractive.
Norton 360 backup is probably not the product for me, but I'd still appreciate answers to my original questions.
First of all I never trust DVD's or CD's, it seems like a burned disk never works after a couple years when you need it the most.
You could always use a free encryption program like truecrypt to encrypt the external drive and then run the 360 backup to it when it is in an unencrypted state. If you make the encrypted drive 2 partitions or use an encrypted container instead of a whole drive or partition then you can add portable truecrypt files that will let you unecrypt the drive on any system that you have admin access (you need to be able to load a driver).
Or you can create an encyrpted container on the laptop and keep all your sensitive stuff inside it in the first place.
Then use 360 to backup that container file to the external drive. Then you don't have to worry about anyone stealing either your laptop or your removable drive.
The best solution at all is to use a more robust program like Norton Ghost. That would allow you to use AES encryption for both file and folder backups or entire system images.
Hi, I have concerns about the security of backups made using the media above. Norton 360 includes an ARestore.exe and ARestore.loc file in addition to the backed up data. These, very usefully, allow you to restore the data onto any computer, but this means that the backups could be used by anyone who has access to the CDs etc (for security, the backup CDs must be stored off site). The solution would appear to be to delete the two files from the backup where possible (e.g. from the flash drive or external drive), after copying them to somewhere else for my own use. This still leaves a few questions...
Is the encryption key different for every customer? Could someone simply copy in the exe and loc files from another backup to read my data?
Is the encryption key contained in both the exe and loc file? In other words, do I need to remove both files to make the flash drive secure, or just the loc file?
Would my suggested approach of keeping the loc file (and possibly the exe) elsewhere work? Are there better ways to do this (e.g. using a password protection option I have overlooked when creating the backups).
Do you have any suggestions on what to do for CDs and DVDs? Is there an option to suppress the inclusion of the two files on the backup CD?
I am running v5 of Norton 360 and Windows 7 on an Acer laptop. I have just upgraded to v6 but cannot see any additional backup options. I do not have the fast and reliable internet connection required to allow me to back up the bulk of my data online.
Anyone reading this post with similar questions about Norton's online backups should read this post by scott_moen: