Not only local copies but also at least own and use one device where you have your important data that is not on the same OS ecosystem as the other device(s) - also helps with things like 2FA, password manager, etc., if shit has hit the ceiling fan on the other device.

In addition, I always suggest people to:

- Not use big tech's cloud services - ever

- But if you must, do not use many cloud services from just one provider (i.e no Google everything, no iCloud everything) i.e stop using "one account gateways".

- Needless to say, it's time you had a domain and start paying for mail hosting (at least for critical stuff - you can actually buy a very cheap plan; and use that gmail/live-hotmail/yahoo/iCloud/whatever everywhere else) [0]

- Keep an offline (but safe) copy of your "most" important data [1] and ways to remember (i.e cryptic hints) for your "most" important passwords

- Gain some experience in fighting in consumer courts/forums (depending upon your country) - start early, start with e-com companies. A lot many times we don't put up a fight because we have never done it before and we give up always because every time it's a first time. Apple and Google make a mockery of consumers everywhere because we have allowed them to. In fact sometimes when we talk of lack of accessible support at Google and Apple (yes, Apple) we speak in a disdainful appreciation or awe :)

[0] Some might disagree but disabling (or dev/nulling in a way) mail@, hi@, contact@, sales@ etc on your domain (esp. if you have catch-all enabled) goes a long way in terms of avoiding spam

[1] It's also very important to have a tiered approach to data storage and backup strategies. There should be a very, very, very small subset of your personal data, including some of your photos and videos, that is really, really small in storage footprint that you can back up/sync to multiple locations and actually pay the full price for it at storage costs via your own setup, preferably using FOSS tools (which are becoming too good these days) out there.

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dansmith1919 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

How much free time do you think the average person has to learn and set all this up?

“You’re giving these companies your data and then dare to be angry when you lose it? Just get a degree in computer science and host it yourself!!1! I am very smart”

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2muchcoffeeman 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

I think you’re taking the message the wrong way.

Those are the steps the commenter suggests you take to use these services safely.

It’s not that these steps are reasonable.

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avazhi 3 days ago | parent [-]

So if they aren’t reasonable what’s the point of typing them out in a list exhorting others to implement them?

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wannadingo 3 days ago | parent [-]

Because showing that the mitigation is unreasonable highlights how unreasonable the problem is.

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avazhi 2 days ago | parent [-]

The original commenter said he always suggests people do these things.

	▲	2muchcoffeeman 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Yes, this is what they think is required to be safe. It’s up to you what you do. But what’s better having information or not having information? At the very least “civilians” need to be informed, and warned.

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crossroadsguy 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Yours is an absurd response. Rage-bait? Still, I will bite - kind of.

1. You don’t need too much time to set this up.

2. All this doesn’t have to be in one sitting - with meds and coffee that keeps you awake through the sleeping hours

3. In fact it’s better if you do this over the weeks, months, years. For me it took years and I am still kind of doing it. Once in a while, here and there.

4. I am not very smart. If I was I’d have just ignored your comment.

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fn-mote 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Nobody believes this is right.

The question is: will you roll over and die without a fight for your rights?

At least you have time you are spending on HN that could be devoted to learning to fight. The fewer people that fight, the faster your rights disappear.

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vladms 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The list is a bit overkill for the normal person. I would suggest just:

- Have a local backup (simple giving the storage prices)

- Pay for one email provider (less chance to ignore you)

- For important services (bank, etc.) always register also a telephone number / second email if possible (there is a low chance that both primary and secondary thing will be blocked at the same time)

	▲	nullfield 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		I’ll extend this, seriously, to the 3-2-1 model. It’s all fun and games, rhetorically, until someplace burns down.

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wildpeaks 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Cryptic hints only work while your memories remain intact, unexpected health issues can render them useless

	▲	ocrow 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		I had a family member who had sudden onset of massive seizures. He could not remember any of his passwords or hints at all. It was a real challenge getting into any of his accounts to figure out what needed doing.

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basch 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

At this point, are we relaying all emails to three or four locations for access to auth codes?