Residential Router with Remote Hard Disk Drive

[MossRoad]

I think you're missing what I'm trying to convey. I'm saying that having a 2T or 3T drive attached directly to a router port, then use the router, via hardwire to a laptop to download/backup, etc. INSTEAD of trying to do the backup, or whatever by the router's wireless connection. Doing backups at 3 AM makes perfect sense, whether wired or wireless. BUT quality and security of the data transfer would be highest via wired connection, IMHO.

Again, convenience. Not everyone has a network cable available to where they want to dump their laptop for the night. Most folks just toss it on the end of the couch, or an end table and might plug it into the charger if they remember. And each time you plug a network cable into a jack, over and over again, you are slowing damaging the jack on the laptop and the connector on the end of the cable. I've had to repair or trash dozens of laptops with damaged network jacks, and likewise network cable ends, and wall jacks. It happens. The fewer times you plug it in and out, the longer it will last.

As far as quality and security of the data transfer.... the quality is a successful backup. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, you'll get an error message. Security... if you're on the internet, you're open to the Chinese and Russians already, wifi or not.

 

[jdorn]

Is that hacked router vulnerability any different from directly accessing the original drive that the data came from?

Probably. There have been several attention grabbing vulnerabilities with Seagate NAS solutions over the last couple of years. Do a search for 'seagate' here (sorry can't link the search as they require a captcha..) for more details.

 

[jdorn]

As far as quality and security of the data transfer.... the quality is a successful backup. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, you'll get an error message.

Humbly recommend you test your backups. Don't count on it kicking an error message.

 

[Qapla]

Backing up at 3AM may or may not be a good idea. For those who work during that time period, backing up at 8 AM or Noon might be better.:laughing:

 

[cqaigy2]

I use veeam endpoint backup, it's free. You can do point in time restore of files or bare metal. To setup for a bare metal restore, you use the veeam product to create a boot disk that includes enough software to do a restore. If you just need some files or folders restored, you use the installed application.

I use this software for both file restores if needed and bare metal restore. I was using a NAS at first for storage of backups then transitioned to USB 3 attached external hard drive. It worked great, fast backups and restores and you can do bare metal restore from it.

As jdorn says, test your restore capability. If your computer operation is compromised enough, you may or may not be able to support network connection or the ability to authenticate to NAS for access to restore files or drive image. Don't ask me how i know. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Humbly recommend you test your backups. Don't count on it kicking an error message.

Of course.

 

[dmccarty]

Is that hacked router vulnerability any different from directly accessing the original drive that the data came from?

Yes. No. It depends.

If the USB drive attached to the router is an exact copy of the systems hard drive then the answer is the results are the same from a data gathering viewpoint from the attacker.

If the USB drive attached to the router only has some of the information compared to what is on the systems hard drive, then it may or may not be the same. Thus yes or it depends.

In theory, one's PC would have security software enabled that would prevent/hinder the attacker from accessing the system's hard drive. Not so much on a router attached USB drive.

Router's have security vulnerabilities but how often is the router's software updated by the company? How often does the owner update the router? Most routers are put into service and forgotten about until there is a problem...

I would not attach a USB drive to a router both because of speed and security. We have quite a few systems running in our house but it is faster to directly attach the USB drive.

Later,
Dan

 

[Coyote machine]

Yes. No. It depends.

If the USB drive attached to the router is an exact copy of the systems hard drive then the answer is the results are the same from a data gathering viewpoint from the attacker.

If the USB drive attached to the router only has some of the information compared to what is on the systems hard drive, then it may or may not be the same. Thus yes or it depends.

In theory, one's PC would have security software enabled that would prevent/hinder the attacker from accessing the system's hard drive. Not so much on a router attached USB drive.

Router's have security vulnerabilities but how often is the router's software updated by the company? How often does the owner update the router? Most routers are put into service and forgotten about until there is a problem...

I would not attach a USB drive to a router both because of speed and security. We have quite a few systems running in our house but it is faster to directly attach the USB drive.

Later,
Dan

I'm with the direct attachment of a USB drive to my laptop thinking. If I need super fast downloads to my laptop I just plug it directly into the router/modem and bend the needle on the speed gauge.
I could add drives via my router but I prefer to do backups, etc. via more secure means.

Moss, I'd be worried about what NSA might want, the Ruskies and China, not so much.:laughing: And if they are looking at my drives- whew, they must be bored as he11.:shocked:

 

[MossRoad]

Moss, I'd be worried about what NSA might want, the Ruskies and China, not so much.:laughing: And if they are looking at my drives- whew, they must be bored as he11.:shocked:

NSA? hahahahahhahhahaahahaahahaahaaaa They want your terrorist links, which you most likely don't have. The Russian and Chinese hackers want your identity info. You may think its boring, but some Russian hacker kid will find you quite interesting, and valuable to sell to others.

 

[Daver1963]

I use a 4TB Buffalo NAS Linkstation. Mine is mainly for entertainment purposes. I use it to store movie files. On my laptop I have a program called the Plex Server Media. On my TV I have a Chromecast. I choose what I want to watch on the Plex Media Storage, it contacts the NAS, and it gets sent to the Chromecast.