Tarsnap
Tarsnap is an open source online backup service that emphasizes security and privacy. It provides encrypted, deduplicated backups to the cloud using Amazon S3 storage. Key features include client-side encryption, data deduplication, bandwidth minimization, and customizable retent
encryption
deduplication
privacy
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retention-policy
Tarsnap: Open Source Online Backup Service
Tarsnap is an open source online backup service that emphasizes security and privacy. It provides encrypted, deduplicated backups to the cloud using Amazon S3 storage. Key features include client-side encryption, data deduplication, bandwidth minimization, and customizable retention policies.
What is Tarsnap?
Tarsnap is an open source cloud backup service developed by Colin Percival that launched in 2008. It emphasizes security, privacy, and reliability for online backups.
Some key features and benefits of Tarsnap include:
- Client-side encryption - All data is encrypted client-side before uploading to Tarsnap servers. Tarsnap never sees the unencrypted data or encryption keys.
- Data deduplication - Tarsnap uses content-defined chunking algorithms to deduplicate data across backups, reducing storage requirements and costs.
- Bandwidth minimization - Tarsnap intelligently compresses and transfers only new or changed portions of files, saving on bandwidth needs.
- Custom retention policies - Users can specify custom data retention policies from 30 days up to infinite.
- Open source codebase - Tarsnap is built on an open source codebase that has been audited and vetted by security experts.
Potential downsides include complexity for less technical users and potentially higher costs compared to consumer backup solutions. But for users prioritizing security and privacy, Tarsnap is widely regarded as a best-in-class secure cloud backup option.
Tarsnap Features
Features
- Client-side encryption
- Data deduplication
- Bandwidth minimization
- Customizable retention policies
- Backups to Amazon S3 storage
Pricing
- Prepaid Credits
Pros
Strong encryption and security
Deduplication saves storage space
Bandwidth efficient
Flexible retention policies
Leverages Amazon S3 infrastructure
Cons
Command line only, no GUI
Initial setup can be complex
No mobile apps
Must purchase prepaid credits
Amazon S3 costs not included
Official Links
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