uhmmmm,
"cloud" just serves to befog the issue. the "backup" is transmitted over the internet to some computer somewhere. if you're on broadband, okay. if you're on dial-up, don't even think about it.
computers get hacked, right regular. as so many have discovered.
if you are going to use a "cloud backup" or "cloud storage" you would be very wise to use serious encryption for all files - and do not use password for password.
cloud usage can be:
- a simple storage area - only specific files that you intentionally and knowingly move there. think of it as an internet thumb drive
or
- an automated 'no further thought required' software package that backs up "something" from your hard drive to your internet storage area.
if you go that route, do be sure to make very detailed inquiries about _exactly_ what is being backed up. I'm sure you'll be disappointed after 5 years of paying for cloud backup to find out, after you computer has crashed, that only "My Documents" has been backed up into the cloud....
a "cloud backup" is not the same as having a 'account' with an entity that knows you already bought and paid for (broad brush) some digital content and thus are permitted to re-download as you wish.
and do puzzle yourself a bit about stability.... whot? Kodak - a reasonable familiar name in USA.... had a free photo storage/backup website. they closed it; they gave notice; ample notice; regardless, thousands of people who ignore Junk mail suddenly discovered one day all their photos from the last fifteen years are gone, done, finished, deleted, not can be recovered.
I back up to an external hard drive; everything on the disk, everything.
once or quarter, or when something crashes, the external gets burned to CD/DVD, erased, and I start over.
the only thing I would trust a "cloud" to do is rain on my parade.