Back It Up: How to Protect Your Family Photos and Files (FTC Video Guide)

Family photos, tax records, school projects, and important documents often live on a single computer or phone. One crash, theft, or malware infection can wipe them out. This lighthearted FTC video makes the case for regular backups. Our guide gives you a simple plan that takes minutes to set up.

From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Part of our Online Safety Video Library

What the video shows

The video points out that your financial records, contacts, photos, videos, music, and documents all live on your computer, and that without a backup you could lose everything if it crashes, gets hacked, or catches a virus.

It recommends backing up regularly, at least once a week, to an external hard drive, flash drive, disc, or cloud storage. It also advises disconnecting your backup drive once the backup is done.

Key takeaways

• Backups protect you from crashes, theft, lost phones, and ransomware.
• Back up regularly; automatic backups are the easiest way to stay consistent.
• Use more than one location, such as an external drive and a cloud service.
• Disconnect your backup drive after each backup so malware can’t reach it.
• Test now and then that you can actually restore a file.

A simple household backup plan

1. Turn on your phone’s cloud backup for photos, contacts, and messages (iCloud on iPhone, Google One or Google Photos on Android).
2. Back up each computer with its built-in tool: Time Machine on a Mac or File History or Windows Backup on Windows.
3. Keep a second copy on an external drive, and unplug it when the backup finishes.
4. Follow the 3-2-1 idea when you can: three copies of important files, on two kinds of storage, with one kept off-site or in the cloud.
5. Set a reminder to check your backups every few months and restore one file to make sure it works.

Why backups matter for ransomware

Ransomware locks your files and demands payment to unlock them. If you have a recent backup stored away from the infected computer, you can restore your files without dealing with criminals. That is why the FTC advises disconnecting your backup drive after each use. Learn more in Phishing, Malware, and Ransomware: What’s the Difference?.

Common questions

Is cloud storage enough?

Cloud storage is convenient and protects against theft or fire at home. Keeping a second copy on an external drive adds protection if you lose access to your account.

What should I back up first?

Start with what you can’t replace: family photos and videos, tax and financial records, and important personal documents.

How do I back up a parent’s phone?

Turn on the phone’s cloud backup together, confirm it completed, and make sure they know their account password or have it stored in a password manager.

Related guides

• Hijacked Computer: What to Do (Video Guide)
• Phishing, Malware, and Ransomware: What’s the Difference?
• Who Can See a Shared Photo Album
• A Password Manager for a Household

About this video

This video was produced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a U.S. government agency, and plays from the agency’s own channel. Juggling Chaos wrote this summary and guide; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by the agency. Some details on screen, such as phone models or web addresses, may look dated, but the advice still applies. Checked October 7, 2026.

CISA’s ransomware guidance for individuals is at StopRansomware.gov.