Security of quicken files

Find an online service that encrypts the data.

A proper encryption would encrypt the data as it leaves your PC, store it on the remote machine in encrypted form and only decrypt it when you download it. It should be done with a key mechanism that only allows you to decode it, not anyone at the storage facility.

I'd have to think that any remote storage outfit worthy of the name would do such things by default.

look at free 7zip to encrypt before you place in cloud. On can run it using a batch to do it repetitively.

From: "Bernie Cosell"

If they are "truly" critical, do NOT use an "online backup service".

This is something YOU should have, not some third party.

} From: "Bernie Cosell" } } > I think that Quicken's data files are encrypted in some way. I'm guessing } > that the assessment would be "not all that securely", but: I was looking at } > using an online backup service for some of my 'critical' system files [I do } > back them up locally, but I thought an offsite backup would make sense]

} If they are "truly" critical, do NOT use an "online backup service". } } This is something YOU should have, not some third party.

Just to clarify: as I posted, I already back the 'critical' files up [in two different places, actually]. But I was just thinking that an 'offsite' backup would be a nice _additional_ layer of recovery-ability, and using one of the cloud services [like dropbox] makes that *very* easy... *IF* it is secure enough. And also, note that there's a difference between 'critical' and 'sensitive' -- not all of my 'critical' files contain particularly sensitive information, it is just that they would be essential to my getting things put back together in the event of a castrophe. BUT: obviously my quicken data files *do* contain sensitive info, and so my question.

/Bernie\

From: "Bernie Cosell"

A *better* solution would be create backups, put them in a fireproof lock-box and store them at an offsite location such as a family member and your office.

From: "Bernie Cosell"

A *better* solution would be create backups, put them in a fireproof lock-box and store them at an offsite location such as a family member and your office.

I don't back up my data to the cloud, but I do keep my Quicken file on a notebook that is carried on trips. So I want to make sure the Quicken file is not accessible, should the notebook go missing.

I use TrueCrypt

I also have an off-premises backup site.

I don't trust the security of the cloud yet.

I keep my files encrypted with a password and then back them up to the cloud in two (free) ways. I use Dropbox to sync between computers (and the cloud) and I back up my DOCUMENTS folder to Mozyhome.com. The bad news is that there are programs that will help crack your password and I know Quicken has that capability because I gave them my corrupted file once for research and they told me they did not need the password. The other bad news is that Dropbox and MozyHome are in the cloud. The good news is that I have redundant backups and I don't consider this information to be worth another level of security (I check all transactions daily and collect a free credit report every 4 months).

If you are concerned about security, buy an encryption program or get one of the free ones like PGP (link below).

I use TrueCrypt for file encryption, like PGP it is free (i.e., no cost). However, I still do not trust the cloud. I currently view it as the latest IT fad. It has not been around long enough to prove its merits, imo.