Yea fix my publisher, please

Glyn Barnes
This has got me thinking. I am considering getting a NAS drive which will be in a different building to the studio, but on the same LAN.

Not 100% but it would require some one to break into two buildings to loose both the backup and the DAW. The most unreplaceable files can be put on One Drive.

I am also thinking about a security strap on the PC to chain it to the desk. These are really to defeat opportunist theft in offices but they are cheap and anything that slows down a burglar reduces risk.

My thoughts exactly. Previously, I had a separate computer in the house that received images from the security camera and held my daily backups. Unfortunately, running it 7x24 for years eventually stressed it to the point of failure, and I couldn't afford to replace it. I, too, am thinking that a NAS device might be a cost-effective solution, something that powers down after a period of inactivity. Problem is, my camera can only transfer files via FTP, and AFAIK NAS devices can't be servers, just mapped drives. I may be wrong about that, so I'm looking into it.
 
Also, network storage does not necessarily guarantee reliability. I had one that I traveled with, very handy when working on the road. But even though I carefully packed it in foam and carried it in my carry-on baggage, it only lasted about 1 year before dying.
 
Chaining the desktop computer down is a very good idea. Cheap and not easily defeated. I'm planning on doing that, but it's not a solution for all the things that are routinely moved such as keyboards and amplifiers. For microphones and smaller items I've long intended to get a safe and bolt it to the concrete floor. I'd planned on doing that a year ago, but then my business income dropped drastically and nearly every capital expenditure had to be shelved. But it's back on the must-do list.
 
One thing I won't do is start saving backups on "the cloud". Bad enough that my back door is accessible to neighborhood ne'er-do-wells, I don't want another door that's open to the whole world. Oh, sure, vendors who sell online storage will swear up and down that it's secure. That's a good pitch for the rubes, but I've worked with networks and network security for a very long time, and I'm here to tell you such promises are wishful thinking.

The way I look at it is, nothing is 100% secure. Your external backups are not 100% secure. Someone could steal them, and clearly has. But you still back up to an external drive, yes? 
 
Cloud backups aren't 100% secure either. Yes, someone could potentially steal the data. But is there really any more chance of that than there is of being broken into and robbed? With every form of backup, you're taking a chance. 
 
If you back up to the cloud as well, you're significantly decreasing your chance of losing everything. And yes, you're also increasing the chance of some nefarious act being perpetrated on your data. But I think the increase in security that cloud backups create is more significant than the small chance that your data is going to be violated. And so I do it. I just make sure it's nothing which could allow someone to steal my identity. Sure, someone could hack into the server and download my projects. But realistically, what are they going to do with them? Have them mastered and release them as their own work? 

DrLumen
I'm not a fan of cloud storage either. The cloud company could go out of business without notice leaving no way to get the data back down. I have had server hosting companies disappear in the middle of the night and no way to download the current sites or data.
 
As to security/privacy of cloud data, one could always encrypt the files before pushing them up.

That's why nobody really suggests cloud storage as an exclusive form of backup. It's a supplementary "safety net" backup. 

sharke

DrLumen
I'm not a fan of cloud storage either. The cloud company could go out of business without notice leaving no way to get the data back down. I have had server hosting companies disappear in the middle of the night and no way to download the current sites or data.
 
As to security/privacy of cloud data, one could always encrypt the files before pushing them up.

That's why nobody really suggests cloud storage as an exclusive form of backup. It's a supplementary "safety net" backup. 

True. But in this instance, where he does not have local backups, those cloud backups become even more critical.

That's great news Dave.........is there a trail to find out who sold it to GC?
These punks need to be punished!!

Still depends on the cops doing their job. Because the store is in an adjacent city, the local PD can't just go there and investigate. I asked if there was any way I could get a name of who sold the amps, they basically said "no". That would be up to the detective, assuming one has been assigned. All the cop would commit to was that he'd update the file.
 
I have one other possible avenue of investigation. I know someone who used to work in that store, and who still knows a current employee.
 
I suppose I could start an online bad-mouthing campaign against Guitar Center, but that's already been done many, many times. And they're still pushing $80 Monster cables with every $100 microphone.

The cop told me that thieves rarely pawn stuff themselves, usually hiring some homeless junkie to take the risk for a few bucks. 

bitflipper
UPDATE: I've just spotted my stolen amplifiers at the Lynnwood Guitar Center. They were tagged as used and being offered at an extraordinarily low price. GC has been notified, said they'd pull them from the floor. Waiting on a callback from the local PD.
 
Question: I just bought two new ones this week. If I recover the stolen ones, what can I do? I don't need four of them. Hopefully, the retailer will take them back.

WOW that's great new's .
Most Music stores and places I buy new gear from IN PERSON offer a 30 day grace period for returns and a full refund . Used gear may be a 7 day store policy depending on the shop ..
I know of a few local pawn shops that will only do a 7 day return policy for a store credit only ...
Online w shipping , I'm sorry to say that I have no Idea whatsoever what some online stores have for a return policy ..
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 
 

Good start Dave!  Maybe there's video of the perps now.

That's GREAT news!
I hope it's the beginning of more good news!
 
I would imagine GC is none too happy that they had hot gear for sale and it would probably be in their best interest to follow up on this.
 
 
 

I went back to GC, ostensibly to verify the serial numbers, but my real purpose was to try and steal a glimpse of the computer screen. I was able to get a name - Michael Baretti - and a partial address. The address was not my neighbors', but I didn't expect it to be.
 
The store manager was very helpful, gave me his card and asked me to send him a list of the stolen items. He said the employee who took in the amps wasn't working today but he'd talk to him. Imagine that: a Guitar Center employee more sympathetic than the police. I guess none of these cops are musicians.
 
 

Thanks great news Dave. I really hope they get busted and you get your drives back. I hate a thief.
 
J