400 Points
If you have the option, you should definitely encrypt your backups to protect them from unauthorized access.

More information

The Android app Neo Backup supports encryption out of the box. However, you can also create encrypted zip archives manually or encrypt entire USB sticks. Under Linux, MacOS and some versions of Windows, this can be done very easily via a graphical interface. You can also use encryption software for your sticks, such as VeraCrypt, which works on most operating systems. If you want to delve deeper into the matter and are not afraid of the command line, you can take a look at professional software such as Restic (Linux) or duplicity (Linux). You will then need to connect your device to a computer.

Particularly important for the following target groups:

  • Direct actions
  • House searches and confiscations

Other categories

  • Dangers due to direct access
  • Rather more complicated

Sources and further links

  1. Windows: How to encrypt a USB flash drive—and why you should, microsoft.com, (en), 2022-12-29
  2. Windows: How to password protect ZIP files and folders on PC, nordvpn.com, (en), 2022-03-30
  3. Linux: How to encrypt a USB disk, medium.com, (en), 2021-09-01
  4. MacOS: Encrypting and protecting a storage medium with a password using Disk Utility on the Mac, apple.com, (de)
  5. VeraCrypt, veracrypt.fr, (en)
  6. duplicity, duplicity.us, (en)
  7. restic, restic.net, (en)