Lunduke
News • Science & Tech
Digital Prepping, Part 3 - Backups, Storage, and EMPs
Planning your data storage, safeguarding it from disaster, and doing the same for your electronics.
August 06, 2023
post photo preview

Let’s face it, being prepared for a complete and total loss of Internet access is a good idea. Whether it be for a day, a week, or permanently -- the odds of facing a total Internet outage is close to 100%.

Being prepared for such an eventuality is not a terrible idea.

Get caught up on parts 1 & 2 of the “Digital Prepping” series:

  1. Digital Prepping, Part 1 - Off-Line Websites & Maps

  2. Digital Prepping, Part 2 - Preparing your Operating Systems to be Off-Line

In this installment, we’re going to talk about storage.

Both the storage of your data… and how to physically store your electronics in order to safeguard them in the case of any number of disasters — including EMPs (Electromagnetic Pulses) and Floods.

Planning your backup hardware and file systems

Let’s start with planning for effective backups of your data — because, remember, there is no Internet access. Which means that no matter how well backed up “to the cloud” your data is… you’ll have no way to get to it.

In fact, if the Internet is offline for good? That data is just plain gone.

Finished. Kaput. Finito. Doneskies.

You need to have local copies of all of your data — at least all of the data that you care about. And you need to decide what storage hardware you will use based on a number of factors:

  1. How reliable and resilient is that storage?

  2. How large (in terms of both data it can store, and in physical size) is that storage?

  3. What are your options for accessing that storage (read: mounting that drive) from other computers or devices?

    1. Do you have the necessary types of connectors (USB-C, USB-A, Micro USB, SCSI, CF, SD, etc.)?

    2. What Operating Systems, on your various devices, can read the file systems on that storage?

These may seem like trivial questions right now… but imagine the following:

  • You no longer have access to the Internet and

  • You may also not have access to a computer/tech store to buy more equipment or adapters.

Which specific types of connectors your storage drives have — and which file systems they use — is absolutely critical. The most critical part being that you have reliable ways to use them.

Now. Let’s talk about a few of the available storage options.

First… traditional hard disk drives. Those can be absolutely massive in terms of total storage size (and excellent in terms of speed). And, when talking about massive amounts of storage (10 TB +), it’s hard to beat these in terms of price (with 15+ TB models often being available for less than $300).

Small form factor. 16 TB of storage. All for a couple hundred bucks.

But, while these are fairly small… they’re not super small. And, because these are spinning, traditional hard disks… they are prone to damage from drops, shakes, and the like.

So, let’s also think about flash storage for a moment. Specifically… USB Flash drives.

The benefit here is that they are both quite small, a bit more forgiving of shaking/dropping, and you can buy them incrementally. Bit by bit. A 128 GB drive here. A 256 GB drive there. Slowly, cheaply, adding to your overall data backup strategy.

SanDisk 128GB Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C - USB-C, USB 3.1 - SDDDC2-128G-G46
A flash drive with two connection options: USB-C and USB-A.
 

There are even a few models of USB flash drives that contain multiple, switchable connection types (such as both a USB-C and USB-A). This is incredibly handy when you want maximum compatibility with a wide range of computers, phones, and tablets.

One big downside to USB flash drives is that — if you get to several TB of storage — the total price is going to start getting significantly higher than traditional hard disk drives.

But, if you don’t plan to have more than 1 or 2 TB of backups, this may not be an issue.

Which brings me to ultra-small, removable flash storage, primarily: SD and Micro SD cards.

SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter - Up to 160MB/s, C10, U3, V30, 4K, A2, Micro SD - SDSQXA1-1T0...
SD and Micro SD cards, in big sizes, are getting cheap.
 

If you have your data backups on a series of Micro SD cards (which you can get in 1 TB models nowadays), the total physical footprint of your backups is going to be incredibly small. No more than a couple inches, at most, if you have a large number of them.

But the price is going to be far higher (per TB) than hard disks.

Whatever specific backup hardware you elect to use… do trial runs of accessing that data. Use the exact hardware you plan to have with you in the case of total loss of Internet — and verify that you can access your backups.

I can’t stress enough the critical need to do trial runs of accessing your backups. Regularly.

How to store long-term data backups

Let’s say, hypothetically, that you have decided to use a combination of USB Flash Drives and SD Cards for data backups.

Ok. That works. Small, light, and you can add to them incrementally.

But how, exactly, are you going to physically store your… storage? How are you going to protect your data in the case of disaster?

Electromagnetic Pulse

An EMP (or Electromagnetic Pulse) can wreak havoc on your storage devices — and by “wreak havoc”, I mean “totally destroy and make your data go bye-bye.”

There are a number of different kinds of EMPs — ranging from naturally occurring (such as lightning) to the weaponized (such as a nuclear blast).

While we can hope that nothing like that ever occurs or impacts your electronics and data… it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

So. How, exactly does one actually prepare for something as catastrophic to electronics as an EMP?

Simple: With a Faraday Cage.

Me getting blasted by a 9 foot tall Tesla Coil. Safe and sound inside a Faraday Cage.

A Faraday Cage, in simplest terms, is an enclosure that blocks electromagnetic radiation and fields. Even getting blasted the 4.6 million volts of a massive Tesla Coil is perfectly safe inside of a well-built Faraday Cage.

How do you get a Faraday Cage, you ask?

Turns out, if you don’t want to build your own, there are many for sale (cheaply). Ranging from “Faraday Boxes” (which can fit a number of small devices) to “Faraday Bags” designed to hold a smartphone.

With an average price being sub-$50 for good quality ones.

Not only do these help block wireless signals — in case you are worried about privacy — but they can also provide significant protection against EMPs.

Note: Many people believe that placing electronics within a Microwave Oven will protect them against an EMP. This, as a general rule, is simply not the case. While a Microwave Oven usually provides good insulation against many types of radiation (including many types of wireless signals), very few Microwave Ovens are any match for an EMP. You want a true Faraday Cage.

Flood & Fire

Let’s say you have a Faraday Box and you are using it to store your storage drives with all of your data backed up on them.

What about other types of disasters? What happens in a flood? Luckily, there is a great way to protect your backup storage during a flood: A dry bag.

These Dry Bags tend to mostly be used by those doing a lot of boating, kayaking, and the like. They seal up nice and tight and keep the things inside them wonderfully dry.

Cheap ($20 for a good Dry Bag), and they come with the added bonus that they’re built to be grabbed and easily carried. Works just as well for a number of backup drives as for a smartphone. Handy, right?

So. What about a fire?

Well, that one is a little trickier. It’s difficult to safeguard electronics from the brutal heat of a fire. But what you can do is make sure your backup drives are carefully stored in something that’s easy to grab and take with you in a hurry.

Like a Dry Bag.

Recommendation: What if you backed up all of your data to a series of Micro SD cards, placed those into a Faraday Bag, and placed that Faraday Bag inside of a Dry bag?

 

Easy to grab, small, light, and protected from both EMPs and flooding. All on the cheap. Not bad, right?

Don’t forget your other electronics

All of that is great… but there is one critical thing to remember in all of this:

Every piece of electronics you own is susceptible to the same sorts of dangers as your data backups. If an EMP goes off, your smartphone and computer are toast. In a flood, your tablet isn’t going to fare well.

What can you do? Well. Here’s one idea:

Do you have an old smartphone or tablet? Something that, perhaps, isn’t the latest and greatest… but would still be handy if you had nothing else?

Put that old, unused smartphone or tablet into that Faraday Bag or Box. First make sure the battery is ok and not leaking — then store it (with charging cables and needed adapters) near your storage.

Now, no matter what happens, you have a backup system. Ready to go. Even in a horrible disaster. No Internet required.

Recommendation: Want to feel extra secure? Have a backup of your backup. Two boxes or bags with your data backups. Stored in two different locations. Just in case.

Your Homework for Part 3

Ready to put this into action? It’s easy to get started in a meaningful way, by doing the following two (completely free) steps:

  • Figure out how much total data storage you need for your backups.

  • Decide on your preferred way to store all of that.

Once you’ve done that, the next steps are up to you. But now you know what you might need. And knowing, as G.I. Joe says, is half the battle.

See you in Part 4 of Digital Prepping. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us.

community logo
Join the Lunduke Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
12
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
Open Source Leaders Debate How to Deal with Lunduke

GNOME, Software Freedom Conservancy, Elementary OS, & more declare Lunduke the "Fox News of FOSS", "He has a lot of viewers [who] get FOSS news nowhere else."

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:25:06
Fired Microsoft Employee Encouraged Corporate Sabotage

Leaked screenshots from a Microsoft whistleblower reveals efforts, by a "Worker Intifada" organizer, to disrupt Microsoft business and send spam propaganda email to thousands.

The Article:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/fired-microsoft-employee-encouraged

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:15:11
September 02, 2025
Google Dodges All Remedies in Search Engine Monopoly Case

Google will not need to sell Chrome. Or Android. And will be allowed to continue providing 80%+ of Mozilla's revenue. In fact, no real punishment at all.

The Article:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/google-dodges-all-remedies-in-search

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:20:59
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044
September 02, 2025

Google Dodges All Remedies in Search Engine Monopoly Case

Judge Mehta rules that Google will not need to sell Chrome. Or Android. And will be allowed to continue providing 80%+ of Mozilla's revenue. In fact, no real punishment at all.

https://lunduke.substack.com/p/google-dodges-all-remedies-in-search

post photo preview
September 02, 2025
post photo preview
September 03, 2025

Well, If you thought that your OLD Computer has gotten Slower ...
It Has (Scientifically Speaking).

"Pro-Tip": Power Off the Machine to "Increase Lifespan."

Microsoft says, "Buy a New Computer to Eliminate Performance Loss.... Windows_11 wouldn't Brick your Solid-State-Drive if you had bought the system in 2025 (or later)."

post photo preview
September 01, 2025
post photo preview
Fired Microsoft Employee Encouraged Corporate Sabotage
Leaked screenshots from a Microsoft whistleblower reveals efforts, by a "Worker Intifada" organizer, to disrupt Microsoft business and send spam propaganda email to thousands.

This last week, members of the Microsoft “Worker Intifada” claimed that some of their members were fired by Microsoft in an attempt to silence the speech of pro-Palestinian employees.

Thanks to an internal Microsoft whistleblower, we have gained additional insight into the real reasons at least one of the “Intifada” organizers was fired.

Including mass emailing thousands of Microsoft employees with anti-Microsoft messages, and building internal, corporate websites dedicated to disrupting company business. Over the course of months.

And, of course, we’ve got screenshots.

The Microsoft “Intifada”

The Microsoft’s “Worker Intifada” held a press conference, on August 28th, at the office of CAIR — a response to a Microsoft’s Media briefing held 2 days earlier.

The topic of both press events being the “Intifada” actions of the previous week — including vandalism, breaking and entering, and public demonstrations against Jewish people (with chants of “Go away, Jews!”).

A key topic being the firing of 4 Microsoft employees related to the “Intifada”.

One of those fired employees is Nisreen Jaradat, seen here speaking at the press conference at CAIR on August 28th:

 

Thanks to leaked Microsoft material, we can get a glimpse into the anti-Microsoft activity of Nisreen Jaradat… going back several months.

Anti-Microsoft Microsoft Employee

Nisreen created an internal website — on the Microsoft corporate Intranet — entitled “PledgeForPalestine”.

 

On that website, Nisreen encourages employees to take a pledge declaring that employees will “not support genocide”, specifically demanding that Microsoft no longer interact with Israel in any way.

It should be noted that, as of just a few days ago, this website was up within Microsoft.

Nisreen’s website also includes a list of ways where employees could sabotage internal corporate work.

 

Nisreen encouraged employees to:

  1. Refuse to work on support tickets that involve Israel (and sabotage any tickets worked on by others).

  2. Refuse to work with other employees on tasks which may involve Israel — or any Israeli Microsoft employees or customers.

In July, Nisreen sent internal Microsoft Teams messages to thousands of employees encouraging them to sign that anti-Israel and anti-Microsoft pledge.

 

But this wasn’t the first time Nisreen spammed Microsoft employees with pro-Palestinian propaganda.

Back in May of this year, Nisreen sent an email to over 8,000 Microsoft employees entitled “You can’t get rid of us.”

 

Within that email, she declared that her employers have “shown their true face, brutalizing, detaining, firing, pepper spraying, threatening and insulting workers and former workers protesting.”

Surprise, She Got Fired

Protesting your bosses and accusing them of “genocide” while encouraging thousands of other employees, in spam emails, to sabotage corporate work?

Now, think what you will about Microsoft… but I can’t imagine any company not firing someone who takes those actions internally.

In fact, I would suggest that it is wild that Microsoft put up with the actions of this “Intifada” organizer for so many months.


If you would like to be a Tech whistleblower — or would like to support the work of The Lunduke Journal — head to Lunduke.com. All of the information is there.

Read full Article
post photo preview
Lunduke's Week in Tech - Aug 30, 2025
GNOME Loses Another Executive, Microsoft's Intifada, & 4Chan + KiwiFarms Sue the UK

Yet another absolutely insane week of Tech News has wrapped up.

From more Microsoft troubles with their “Intifada”… to the 4Chan & KiwiFarms lawsuit against the UK, it’s been one seriously nutty week.

Oh! And the GNOME Foundation lost yet another Executive Director! This one only lasted 4 months on the job! Crazy! All of the stories are linked below (and free for all to enjoy).

And, once again, it is amazing how many of these stories were almost completely ignored by Brand X Tech News outlets.

One story we did not see this week was the final ruling on the remedy for USA v. Google. The case that could determine wether Mozilla Corporation can continue to receive 80% of their income from Google.

That ruling was expected by yesterday… but, so far, all is quiet. I checked in with sources at both Google and Mozilla… and neither has heard a peep about it. Will we see the ruling from Judge Mehta this coming week? Who knows!

Stories This Week

Note: All articles, videos, & podcasts are free for all (subscribers and non-subscribers alike).

Note 2: Links for the stories are all to Substack. You can also find links to all other platforms — X, Rumble, Locals, YouTube, etc. — which The Lunduke Journal publishes to, at Lunduke.com.

As always, thank you to all of the subscribers to The Lunduke Journal. Thanks to you, we can remain 100% ad-free and Big Tech free. Couldn’t do it without your support.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
post photo preview
GNOME Foundation Executive Director Out After 4 Months
His 4 month reign highlighted by GNOME attacks on Jews and visually impaired users, an expanded "Pride Month", pledging fealty to the UN, and defense of a registered sex offender.

As of today, the GNOME Foundation has lost yet another Executive Director — Steven Deobald, who lasted a short 4 months.

The previous executive director, Holly Million, lasted a grand total of 9 months in the role.

To say things have been chaotic within the GNOME Foundation, would be a wild understatement — with last year seeing GNOME elections overturned in secret meetings and massive cashflow issues.

The last 4 months, since the new Executive Director took the position, hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Here’s a quick timeline of just some of the strange activity since then.

And now today, August 29th, their new Executive Director is out. After only 4 months on the job. Did any of those events contribute to the departure? GNOME isn’t saying.

In fact, the statement from Allan Day, the new Acting GNOME Executive Director, is incredibly vague regarding the reason for the change.

“Steven Deobald has been in the post of GNOME Foundation Executive Director for the past four months, during which time he has made major contributions to both the Foundation and the wider GNOME project. Sadly, Steven will be leaving the Foundation this week. The Foundation Board is extremely grateful to Steven and wish him the very best for his future endeavors.”

According to the outgoing Executive Directors own statement — entitled “So short, and thanks for all the flinch”:

“As the board announced earlier today, I will be stepping down from the Executive Director role this week. It’s been an interesting four months.”

That reads to me like a firing (or a forced layoff due to lack of funds). But, unless someone speaks up, it’s unlikely we’ll know for sure.

The following was posted by Deobald (outgoing Executive) and Allan Day (new acting Executive) on the GNOME Foundation’s Matrix chat channel.

 

The statement, “I feel like I’ve been glued to an Emacs buffer for 3 straight days” suggests 3 days of discussions (or waiting) leading up to this change.

What will happen next for the GNOME Foundation?

With multiple years of absolute chaos — including financial troubles and an inability to have leadership last more than a few months (not to mention an obsession with attacking The Lunduke Journal) — it’s hard to imagine the next few months being anything other than a continuation of the insanity at GNOME.

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals