TechCrunch on Cucku

Jason Kincaid at TechCrunch writes:

Here's how it works: Each user pairs off with a friend, who becomes their "backup buddy". Every time you modify a file on your drive, it gets uploaded and saved to the allotted backup portion of your friend's drive. Likewise, whenever your backup buddy modifies one of their files, it gets saved to your hard drive. Everything is encrypted, so you shouldn't have to worry about prying eyes.

CEO Rob Ellison says that Cucku solves some of the problems associated with cloud-based remote backup solutions like Mozy and Carbonite by keeping all of your files nearby. Instead of having to wait a few days for your files to arrive on a DVD, you can just call up your friend and get access immediately.

Jason is concerned about the amount of hard drive space that a partner would need to give up. It's a concern for some people, although PC Pitstop data shows that as hard drives grow free space is outstripping used space across the board. Given that Cucku is free you could buy an extra hard drive for your backup partner and still come out ahead compared to paying for online backup month after month. He also talks about the speed of Internet backup in general, I discussed this yesterday.

Read Jason's post: Pair Up! Cucku Lets You Swap Data With A Backup Buddy.

posted by Rob on Tuesday, July 29, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |

Gizmodo on Cucku

Jason Chen at Gizmodo worries about how long it takes to complete your first remote backup:

This is why online backup solutions need an initial sneakernet transfer of hard drives loaded up with your data (which Cucku does not offer in its current implementation).

It's true - online backup works better if you do the first exchange of files in person. Cucku doesn't support exchanging hard drives, but it does support connecting your computers together for backup and restore. Traditional online backup won't help you here - you're limited by the upload speed of your Internet connection.

Read the full post: Cucku Social Backup Stores Your Data With Your Friend, Your Friend's Data With You.

Labels: Reviews

posted by Rob on Monday, July 28, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |

Cucku Backup Skype Plugin

Cucku Backup is now available as a Skype Plugin.



Skype customers can install Cucku Backup from the Do More menu in Skype, or directly from the Skype Extras gallery.

Labels: Releases

posted by Rob on Monday, July 28, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |

Backups Unplugged

Cucku Backup provides remote backup without relying on a datacenter. Our belief is that backing up to a friend, family member or second PC is the best way to protect your files. Last week I blogged about the benefit of being able to get together with your backup partner so that you can zip through backup and restore. Ross Rubin writes:

On the heels of MediaMax/TheLinkUp shuttering its doors, TechCrunch reports that AOL will close down two of the more well-conceived online storage experiences, XDrive and Bluestring.

Because we don't store your backups centrally there's no datacenter to unplug. You can always recover your files from your partner. You get a better backup, and you pay less for it as well. Ross again:

Cucku gets around the hosting problem by enabling consumers to back up their hard drives to a friend for free.

posted by Rob on Friday, July 25, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |

Social Backup Defined

Social Backup is friends and family helping each other keep their irreplaceable photos, videos, music and other data safe and secure. You provide some free space on your computer and your backup partner does the same. It means not paying a monthly fee for online backup that could get hacked, lose your files or go out of business.

Social Backup also means restoring your files in a snap. Invite your backup partner over for dinner, connect your computers together and be up and running again the same day. You can't do that with a datacenter. You can also get together to run the first backup and then just send new files and updates over the Internet.

posted by Rob on Friday, July 18, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |

Cucku Backup 1.10

Cucku Backup 1.10 is available for download.

Cucku now supports exporting and importing encryption keys. Your Cucku Account already stores a secure copy of your encryption keys. This feature allows you to keep a backup copy available so that you can restore files even if you can't connect to your Cucku Account. If you prefer to manage your own keys it's also possible to generate keys that aren't stored in your Cucku Account.

Labels: Releases

posted by Rob on Wednesday, July 09, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |

10,000 Laptops

PC World reports:

Some of the largest and medium-sized U.S. airports report close to 637,000 laptops lost each year, according to the Ponemon Institute survey released Monday. Laptops are most commonly lost at security checkpoints, according to the survey.

Close to 10,278 laptops are reported lost every week at 36 of the largest U.S. airports, and 65 percent of those laptops are not reclaimed, the survey said. Around 2,000 laptops are recorded lost at the medium-sized airports, and 69 percent are not reclaimed.

Wow. And that's just at airports! Cucku Backup is ideal for laptop users. When you're connected to the Internet your latest files are sent to your backup partner (or maybe your home or office PC).

(via Schneier on Security)

posted by Rob on Friday, July 04, 2008

0 comments | bookmark | share |