How to protect personal files in a Backblaze backup

If you are concerned about your personal data being included in an online backup of your work computer, here are a couple of options you might consider:

1. Exclude files and folders

If you are keeping personal files on your work computer for convenience, you might choose to exclude personal files and folders from the backup. This can be risky if you don't have another backup, because the files you exclude will not be protected if something happens to your Mac.

Here's how to exclude things from the Backblaze backup: https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/articles/217666658-How-can-I-delete-files-that-have-already-been-uploaded-

2. Add a Private Encryption Key

You can prevent anyone from accessing your online backup by adding a private encryption key (PEK) to your backup which only you know. When you add a PEK, the backup data becomes completely inaccessible without that key. This is risky because if you lose the key, the backup becomes completely inaccessible and can no longer serve the purpose of protecting against ransomware or data loss.

Here's how to add a PEK: https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/articles/217666268-Security-Settings-Mac-