Best Free Cloud Storage Services to Safe and Secure Your Data

Cloud storage let you access your photos, videos, documents and other important information anywhere and anytime, and also keep your data safe and secure from local hardware damages or other form of data losses you may encounter and to protect your digital data cloud storage services provides free online storage where you can easily store and share your personal files.

Cloud storage provides an easy solution to email attachments where you can just share a file or folder link with access level rather than attaching the files, you can collaborate in a group to share work, view, edit and upload files and share thoughts on group projects.

Cloud storage becoming more and more popular day by day because of safe, secure and reliable anywhere access of files, photos, videos and important documents and lots of sharing options which is a another plus point to any cloud storage.

And, to keep in view all these features we have reviewed and listed the top 5 best free cloud services for you.

  

Google Drive

Google Drive offers you a decent deal of pay as you grow and you get 15 GB of free storage. You’ll have to pay additional fee if use more than 15 GB free storage. In an easy to use interface you can even directly drag or upload folder from your local storage using Chrome browser or installing a Java-Based Folder Upload applet to upload folders from any other browser.

Installing Google Drive for PC or MAC let you easily sync files shared in your My Drive folder. Anything you edit, modify, add or remove will be reflected in your Google Drive account and vice versa.

You can change sharing settings to allow your friends and colleagues to access your uploaded files and  you can also have the option to share your files with whom you want to share with choice of access level you set by which you can share documents with your friends and colleagues without sending email attachments.

You can make any file, document or folder private, share with a link, make it public on web and set access level to any group or individual you want.

FREE STORAGE: 15 GB

FEATURES: Pay as you use in addition to free storage, Upload folders, Google Drive for MAC/PC, Auto sync, File sharing with access level, Share files with a link or make It public on Web

Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the largest cloud storage providers and offers great list of services and features.

Though there’re endless opportunities of features a cloud storage could provide but not all can be provided with the start and Dropbox still offers great list of features a cloud storage should offer. Dropbox offers 2 GB free storage which you can increase upto 16 GB with their referral program.

Dropbox works on almost all platforms; Windows, MAC, Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Linux so, it let you access your files on device you’re accessible to anywhere anytime. Auto sync feature make it feel like the whole system is just one drive whether you have a connection on not you can access files anytime becauseDropbox updates only changes to files rather than transferring the whole thing.

Inviting and sharing with friends and colleagues is the common feature in all cloud storage services and Dropbox also let you invite people to folder, share link and create photo galleries viewable to anyone you choose.

And, if by chance you accidently deleted any file or folder then you can restore your data within a month you have deleted that, because Dropbox keeps one month history of you work.

FREE STORAGE: 2 GB (initially)

FEATURES: Increase free storage upto 16 GB, Auto sync, Work offline, Folder invite, Social sharing, Backup deleted files within a month

Apple iCloud

iCloud is the cloud service provided by Apple which works with MAC, iOS devices as well as PCs. iCloud is more than just a cloud storage, you can auto sync music, pictures, contacts and other files from your MAC and iOS devices using iTunes Match.

If you’re a music lover then iCloud offers you to store and stream music right from iCloud, you can store your entire collection of photos and music in iCloud and it acts as media server for your iOS devices.

iCloud provides 5 GB of free storage in addition to it 10 GB for $20 per year, 20 GB for $40 per year and 50 GB for $100 per year.

FREE STORAGE: 5 GB

FEATURES: Available on MACs, iOS devices and PCs, Create music library from iTunes, Stream music, Attractive paid plans

Box

Box is a popular cloud storage service but unlike Google Drive where you can upload a file upto size of 1 TB Dropbox limits file size upto 5 GB and 250 MB under Personal Free plan. Instead Box provides great customer support and higher level of services for personal (Free), Business and Enterprise IT plans.

What you get in Personal Free account is 10 GB free cloud storage, quickly share large files and folders and easily embed files in your website. More on you can access your files on any device; desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet, Box is available on both iPhone and Android for on the go access to files.

Box provides an online collaboration platform where in a group anyone whom you invite can view, edit, upload, comment and assign work in a shared folder which make it easy to work on a project no matter from where you’re participating in.

An added feature in Box is their real time update system where you’ll get email notifications for everything you’re involved in at Box platform.

FREE STORAGE: 10 GB

FEATURES: Quick sharing options, Collaboration platform, Real time notofications on activities

Microsoft OneDrive (SkyDrive)

OneDrive offers you 7 GB of free space when you signup and you can get additional free 8 GB storage if you activate camera roll backup which save your photos automatically to your OneDrive and 5 GB if you refer someone to OneDrive, with asum up you get 15 GB free space for your photos, videos, documents and more.

OneDrive is available to install on Windows, MAC, Android, Windows Phone and iOS devices by which your files automatically sync to your OneDrive account.

You can view, edit and save documents in OneDrive from you Office 2013 applications and if you have not installed Office 2013 then you can still access your office documents within your browser using Office Online and collaborate in group projects with your friends and colleagues.

You can easily create word documents, excel workbooks, powerpoint presentations and more, share you photos, create slide shows, send a link to someone or embed anywhere from just one place, OneDrive.

FREE STORAGE: 7 GB (initially)

FEATURES: 8 GB additional free storage, View, edit and save OneDrive files in Office 2013, Office Online, Create Office documents online.

However these are the best cloud storage services which provides free as well paid online storage options, but there are other more or less known cloud storage providers, let us know which one you’re using and what you like or dislike about specific one by leaving a comment.

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MESSAGE OF SHRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI

All people of the world are equal

The Guru Granth Sahib promotes the message of equality of all beings and at the same time state that Sikh believers "obtain the supreme status" (SSGS, Page 446). Discrimination of all types is strictly forbidden based on the Sikh tenet Fatherhood of God which states that no one should be reckoned low or high, stating that instead believers should –“reckon the entire mankind as One” (Akal Ustat, 15.85).
Sri Guru Granth Sahib promotes the concept of equality by highlighting the fact that we are made of the same flesh, blood and bone and we have the same light of God with us – Soul . Our building bricks are the same:

The God-conscious being is always unstained, like the sun, which gives its comfort and warmth to all. The God-conscious being looks upon all alike, like the wind, which blows equally upon the king and the poor beggar.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 272 Full Shabad

The Gurus also encourage believers to promote social equality by sharing earnings with those in need.

Women's Status

Main article: Women in Sikhism

Guru Nank Dev Ji said "Sikhi does not teach you to raise your hand on a women it teaches you to respect them"
Sikhism also preaches that equal respect should be given to women.

In the earth and in the sky, I do not see any second. Among all the women and the men, His Light is shining.^[1]

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 223 Full Shabad

Metaphysic

Sikhism is strictly monotheistic in its belief. This means that God is believed to be the one and sole Reality in the cosmos, meaning that no other being have extra-human power. Sikh Gurus state that God alone is worthy of worship, and the highest end of existence, that is mukti or liberation can come through Devotion to God alone.
Besides its monotheism, Sikhism also emphasizes another philosophical idea, which is known as monism, a philosophical position which argues that the variety of existing things can be explained in terms of a single reality or substance. Furthermore one of the tenet of the religion is the belief that the world is only a "vision" or illusion (Maya) and that God is the sole "Continuing Reality" so that selfishness, egoism and hate are meaningless.

God is merciful and infinite. The One and Only is all-pervading.
He Himself is all-in-all. Who else can we speak of? God Himself grants His gifts, and He Himself receives them.
Coming and going are all by the Hukam of Your Will; Your place is steady and unchanging. (20,1)

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 710 Full Shabad

Speak and live truthfully

Sikhs believe in the importance of truthful living, which can only be created by purity of mind and not through religious purification rites. They believe that impurity of mind leads to many other vices such as anger, lust, attachment, ego, and greed.

So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.

Control the five vices

Devotees of Guru Sahib believe they must control the animal instincts of Pride/Ego, Anger/Temper, Greed/Urges, Attachment/Dependency and Lust/Addiction.

All virtues are obtained, all fruits and rewards, and the desires of the mind; my hopes have been totally fulfilled.
The Medicine, the Mantra, the Magic Charm, will cure all illnesses and totally take away all pain.
Lust, anger, egotism, jealousy and desire are eliminated by chanting the Name of the Lord.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1388 Full Shabad

Live in God's hukam

A Sikh believes they should live and accept the command of God easily and without too much emotional distress. They attempt to live in contentment and in Chardikala (positive attitude).

Shalok:
He wanders around in the four quarters and in the ten directions, according to the dictates of his karma.
Pleasure and pain, liberation and reincarnation, O Nanak, come according to one's pre-ordained destiny.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 253 Full Shabad

Virtues

The Sikh religion emphasizes several other virtues: Truth (Sat), contentment (santokh), Love (Ishq), Compassion/Mercy (daya), Service (seva), Charity (dana), forgiveness (ksama), humility (nimrata), patience (dheerjh), non-attachment (vairagya) and renunciation (taiga).
These believers attempt to avoid anger (krodh), egoism (ahankara), avarice (lobh), lust (kama), infatuation (moha), sinful acts (papa), pride (man), doubt (duvidha), ownership (mamata), hatred (vair), and hostility (virodh). In the Sikh religion, freedom from these vices, or Sahaj, is attained through tension-free, ethical living, grounded in spirituality avoiding self-mortification and other religious rites of cleansing.

First, is the Lord's Praise; second, contentment; third, humility, and fourth, giving to charities. Fifth is to hold one's desires in restraint. These are the five most sublime daily prayers.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1084 Full Shabad

Humility is the word, forgiveness is the virtue, and sweet speech is the magic mantra. Wear these three robes, O sister, and you will captivate your Husband Lord. ((127))

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1384 Full Shabad

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Best Travel Apps to Take on Your Next Trip

When you’re traveling, having the right apps can help make your trip a success—from finding the best place to eat, to finding a hotel room at the last minute, to translating a useful phrase, having the right app can be a lifesaver. These 15 apps will help make sure you have the tools you need when you’re traveling, whether it’s across the city or across the world.

Best Travel Apps You Should Download For Your Next Trip

1. Skyscanner (iOS, Android, Free)

When you’re thinking about taking a trip, the price of flights to your destination can be a significant factor in whether or not you can afford to go there. Skyscanner compares flights from hundreds of airlines to find the most affordable flights to your destination. If you’re not sure where you want to go, you can use the app’s Everywhere search function to find cheap flights headed anywhere, making it easy for a spontaneous trip. And the app will even send you a direct link to the airline so you can book the ticket from your phone.

2. GateGuru (iOS, Android, free)

After you’ve booked your flight, you’ll need to head to the airport, and GateGuru will make sure that your experience there is as positive as possible. With the ability to view your travel plans, check and update security wait times, and find comprehensive lists of the facilities and shops that are available in over 200 airports, you’ll be able to skip the longest lines, find the food and magazines you want, and get to your gate with plenty of time to spare. Airports are always stressful, but GateGuru helps makes them less so.

3. TripIt (iOS, Android, free)

One of the biggest names in travel organization, TripIt provides a lot of convenient features for keeping your travel documents organized. Plane tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, and other documents are neatly organized in this app, where departure times, addresses, confirmation numbers, directions, and more are stored where you can easily find them. All you need to do is forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and they’ll be automatically added to the app. Never lose a confirmation number again!

4. Gogobot (iOS, Android, free)

Whether you’re a foodie, on a budget, feeling artsy, or traveling with your family, Gogobot will have suggestions for where you should go and what you should do. By choosing a Tribe, you can tailor your recommendations to restaurants, events, and hotels that are best for your particular situation. And by checking out photos and reading reviews, you can get an idea of which city hot spots should be on your list. You can even use Gogobot to find new places in your own city!

5. TripAdvisor (iOS, Android, free)

With the biggest name in travel reviews, TripAdvisor is many people’s go-to app for finding out which restaurants, museums, parks, and other highlights are worth going to. The Near Me Now feature helps you find attractions that are close to you, whether you’re looking for a restroom or a restaurant. Over 225 million reviews mean you can get lots of information on just about any city around the world, and the constantly growing user base will only help expand their reach in the future. In addition to getting photos, prices,  reviews, and maps of destinations, you can book flights and hotels directly from the app. If you only download one travel app, it should be TripAdvisor.

6. Hotel Tonight (iOS, Android, free)

If your hotel plans fall through, or you have an unexpected overnight in a city, you’ll need to find a hotel fast. Hotel Tonight specializes in last-minute reservations and will help you get a good deal on a room when you need one quickly. Choose the category of hotel you’re interested in (like Basic, Luxe, or Hip), and book right from the app. Don’t get stuck walking from hotel to hotel trying to find an available room! Use Hotel Tonight to compare prices and locations, and make the booking fast.

Alternatively, You can also use the Airbnb app to see if someone has a room they’re willing to rent.

7. Maps.me (iOS, Android, free)

Having an accurate map is crucial when you’re trying to find your way around a new city, and Maps.me has maps of cities all over the world. What makes it better than Google or Apple Maps? You don’t need an internet connection to use it. Maps are stored offline so you can access them without paying an arm and a leg to get roaming data. You can use GPS navigation to get directions to your destination, finding hiking trails, and discover points of interest. With maps of 345 countries and islands, you’ll be hard-pressed to get lost with Maps.me on your phone.

8. Maplets (iOS, Android, $2.99)

Maps of cities aren’t the only maps you might need while you’re traveling–you might need a map of a zoo, a museum, or a ski resort, too. Maplets has you covered. US state parks, metro and subways, bike trails, university campuses, theme parks, and more types of maps are available through the app. You’ll need to be connected to the internet to download your maps, but once they’re downloaded, you can access them offline. Some maps even include GPS support so you can get directions to where you’re going. The number of maps is increasing all the time, making Maplets one of the best travel apps you can download.

9. FourSquare (iOS, Android, free)

Having completed its transformation from curiosity to full-blown city guide, Foursquare can help you find the best places to hang out, eat, drink, stay, and play in any city. The app gets to know your preferences over time to provide better suggestions for where to go, provides short reviews that other users have written, and lets you save places that you want to go so you don’t forget when you get to your destination. If you still want to use the check-in feature that FourSquare built its reputation on, check out their new app Swarm, which lets you compete with friends for prizes.

10. Uber (iOS, Android, free)

With so many options for finding out where you should go while you’re visiting a city, you’re going to need a way to get around. Navigating public transport can be difficult, especially if you don’t speak the local language—but Uber is here to help. Use the app to get a lift from an Uber driver from wherever you are to wherever you need to go. With drivers in more than 50 countries, you’ll have the ride you need wherever you are! (If you’re in the US, you can also tryLyft.)

11. Currency Converter (iOS, Android, free)

Whether you’re paying for a cab or debating whether to buy some art, you need to know how much money you’re talking about. And if you’re in another country, that can be difficult, especially if they’re not on one of the major global currencies. With Currency Converter, you can easily convert between any of over two hundred different currencies listed. Just put in the number, select the two currencies, and you’ll get the information you need.

12. Wi-Fi Finder (iOS, Android, free)

When you need an internet connection in another country, you need to find free wifi. This app makes the process much easier than walking around with your phone in the air trying to get a signal. A map view shows you the nearest public and private wifi hot spots, tells you which signal is strongest, and will give you directions on how to get there. Don’t pay outrageous amounts to use your cellular data when you’re traveling—use Wi-Fi Finder instead to get on the internet whenever and wherever you need to, for free.

13. WhatsApp (iOS, Android, free)

As the most popular messaging client in the world, WhatsApp needs no introduction. Send messages and make calls for free to anyone who also uses WhatsApp. The app is free, and you’ll pay $0.99 per year after the first year, making this a phenomenal deal for any world traveler. You’ll need an internet connection, but if you’ve used Wi-Fi Finder to get on a local wifi network, you can send all the messages and make all the calls you want. (If you don’t like that Facebook owns WhatsApp, Here are some fantastic WhatsApp alternatives.)

14. Google Translate (iOS, Android, free)

If you’re not fluent in the language of your destination, a translation app will come in handy. Google’s app translates between 90 different languages, and also includes a cool feature where it will translate what you show it with your phone’s camera, helping you make sense of signs and menus. You can even draw characters on the screen to get a translation. While Google’s translations aren’t perfect, using this app will be extremely helpful when you’re traveling around the world. (You can also check out our list of best translation apps, if you need an alternative to Google Translate.)

15. Dark Sky (iOS, $3.99)

Keeping an eye on the weather will help you have a successful vacation—getting caught in the rain when you’re on a hike is no fun, and spending a day on the beach should probably be postponed if there are gale-force winds in the forecast. Dark Sky shows you the weather in a way that’s easy to understand, and with a focus on precipitation, makes it easy to find out if it’s going to rain or snow in the near future. Check it before you leave to do anything on your trip to stay safe. (If you are on Android, here are some of the best weather apps for Android to choose from.)

Travel Prepared

Whether you’re headed on a day-long getaway or a several-week odyssey, these 15 travel apps will help you make sure that you’re as prepared as you can be, no matter what situation you find yourself in. And because most of them are free, you don’t need to spend tons of money getting ready to travel.

What are your favorite travel apps? Which do you find to be the most useful? Share in the comments below!

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Simple Tips For Quick-Charging Your Smart phone

Plugging into your computer may be the slowest way to charge your smartphone battery.

When your smartphone battery power runs low, it’s time to plug it into your laptop for a recharge, right? Not so fast … literally. Pulling power from your laptop’s battery or through the machine’s power cord will charge up your smartphone, camera, music player or USB-connected small device, but it will take a while.

If you need a tanked-up smartphone battery in a hurry, these tips will help you recharge faster:

1. Plug in the power cord

If your smartphone came with a cord or plug for recharging from a standard AC wall outlet, reach for it first. It’s a case of simple math: A typical USB 2.0 port delivers up to 500 milliamps of power. The AC wall plug delivers almost twice that, at 900mA to 1,000mA. If you happen to be lucky enough to have a plug outlet that is already wired for USB, you could be looking at speeds of up to 2,100mA.

2. Opt for a USB 3.0 port

Already known for faster data transmission, a USB 3.0 port also supplies energy at a more-powerful pace — 900mA — rivaling standard AC wall chargers.

3. Skip the USB hub

Charging through a hub slows down the process by up to 50 percent — especially if the hub lacks its own AC power connection. Instead, use a dedicated USB port to charge your smartphone.

4. Charge through a bigger machine

Older, larger laptops have bigger batteries, and desktops use more power than Ultrabooks, so you’ll get a faster charge if you can use a USB port on one of these old-school titans.

5. Go to the wall with a high-powered charger

These AC plug-in devices have USB ports and are capable of 1,000 mA to 2,500 mA, meaning your smartphone could be fully charged within an hour. Most high-powered wall chargers cost between $10 and $20.

6. Use a docking station

A docking station isn’t  quite as fast as a wall AC charger, but about 1 1/2 times quicker than plugging your smartphone directly into a laptop USB 2.0 port.

7. Rev up with a car charger

Your smartphone battery will charge up to twice as fast if you use a charging cord while the car is running.

8. Power down when powering up

No power being used means your smartphone will spend less time on a charging cord.

9. Top off your smartphone battery … often

If your smartphone requires less of a recharge, it’ll charge up faster.

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Top 10 Mobile Phones Released in August 2015: Devices You Can Buy - OnePlus 2, Meizu M2 Note, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime, Galaxy A8 and More

India has become a hot target for mobile phone companies owing to growth potential and over a dozen devices were launched in August. Several handsets including OnePlus 2, Meizu M2 Note, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime, Galaxy A8 and Gionee Marathon M4 have hit the stores.
Devices like Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe, Asus Zenfone Laser, Asus Zenfone Selfie, Sony Xperia C5 Ultra and Xperia M5 were also unveiled in August, but they haven't been released in the market till the time of filing this story.
Here are top 10 mobile phones released in India in the month of August:a

1) OnePlus 2

Current Price: Rs 22,999 for 16 GB, Rs 24,999 for 64 GB
Display: 5.5-inch full HD LCD screen with 920x1080 pixels (401 ppi pixel density)

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 series
Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Storage: 16 GB internal memory and 3 GB RAM, and 32 GB and 4 GB RAM (no microSD card slot)
Camera: 13 MP main camera, 5 MP front snapper
Battery: 3,300 mAh

2) Meizu M2 Note

Current Price: Rs 9,999
Display: 5.5-inch full HD IGZO capacitive touchscreen with 1080 x 1920 pixels (403 ppi pixel density)
Processor: Mediatek MT6753
Operating System: Flyme 4.5 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop
Storage: 16/32 GB internal memory, expandable up to 128 GB, 3 GB RAM
Camera: 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front snapper
Battery: 3,100 mAh

3) Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime

Current Price: Rs 6,999
Display: 4.7-inch HD IPS touchscreen with 1280 x 720p (312 ppi pixel density)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
Operating System: Android with MIUI 6
Storage: 16 GB internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB, 2 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP main camera, 2 MP front snapper
Battery: 2,200 mAh

4) Samsung Galaxy A8

Current Price: Rs 32,500
Display: 5.7-inch full HD Super AMOLED display with 1920x1080p (386 ppi pixels density)
Processor: Exynos 5430
Operating System: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Storage: 32GB internal memory, expandable up to 128 GB, 2 GB RAM
Camera: 16 MP rear camera, 5 MP front snapper
Battery: 3,050 mAh

5) Gionee Marathon M4

Current Price: Rs 15,000
Display: 5.0-inch HD super AMOLED display with 1280x720p (294 ppi Pixel density)
Processor: Cortex-A7
Operating System: Android 5.0 Lollipop with Amigo v3.0 UI
Storage: 16GB internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB, 2 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP main camera, 5 MP front snapper
Battery: 5,000 mAh

6) Panasonic Eluga Icon

Current Price: Rs 10,999
Display: 5.5-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 720 x 1280 pixels (267 ppi pixel density)
Processor: MediaTek TRU
Operating System: Android 4.4 KitKat
Storage: 16 GB internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB, 2 GB RAM
Camera: 13 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Battery: 3,500 mAh

7) BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9983 Graphite

Current Price: Rs 99,990
Display: 3.1-inch screen with 720x720p (330 ppi pixel density)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (MSM8960)
Operating System: BlackBerry 10 OS
Storage: 64 GB internal camera, expandable up to 128 GB, 2 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP main camera, 2 MP front camera
Battery: 2,100mAh

8) Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime

Current Price: Rs 11,100
Display: 5-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with 540 x 960 pixels (220 ppi pixel density)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
Operating System: Android 4.4.4 KitKat
Storage: 8 GB internal memory expandable up to 64 GB, 1 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP main camera, 5 MP secondary snapper
Battery: 2,600 mAh

9) Lenovo A2010

Current Price: RS 4,990
Display: 4.5-inch FWVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 854 pixels (218 ppi pixel density)
Processor: MediaTek MT6735M
Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Storage: 8 GB internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB, 1 GB RAM
Camera: 5 MP main camera, 2 MP front snapper
Battery: 2,000 mAh

10) Lava Iris X1 Selfie

Current Price: Rs 6,777
Display: 4.5-inch touchscreen with 854x480 pixels
Processor: MediaTek MT6580
Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Storage: 8 GB internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB, 1 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP main camera, 5 MP front camera

Battery: 2,000 mAh

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Best free backup software: 11 programs recommend

Protect your files from disaster, entirely free of charge, with these backup programs

From viruses and software bugs, to hardware failure or human error, there are many potential dangers waiting to trash your files.

And if the worst happens - you lose personal photos, your music library, important business documents - then that could be a real disaster. Which is why it's a very good idea to back up your PC on a regular basis.

This is never going to be fun, of course, but with the right software it'll be easier than you think. And you may not have to spend anything, either, because there are some great free backup and disk cloning tools around.

Whether you want to copy the contents of your Documents folder somewhere, clone one drive to another, or create a backup image of your entire system, we've found plenty of programs that can help.

So what's the best free backup and disk cloning software? Read on for our recommendations.

1. AOMEI Backupper

If you like your backup programs to be simple than AOMEI Backupper's straightforward interface will appeal immediately. Choose the drive or partition to back up, the destination drive, and a click later Backupper will be creating an image for you.

The program has plenty of power, though, if you need it. There are options to encrypt or compress your backups. You can create incremental or differential backups for extra speed. You're able to restore individual files and folders, or the entire image, and there are even disk and partition cloning tools.

What you can't do, unfortunately, is schedule backups - they must be run manually. But otherwise AOMEI Backupper is an excellent tool, packed with features yet also easy to use.

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2. EaseUS Todo Backup Free

Just like most free (for personal use) editions of commercial products, EaseUS Todo Backup Free has a few limitations - but the package still has more than enough features for most people.

The program can run both image and file-based backups, for instance, manually or on a schedule. You're able to run full or incremental backups.

An option to limit write speed reduces the impact backups have on your system performance. It's possible to individual files or folders, or an entire image via the program's recovery disc. And there are tools to clone and wipe drives, too.

On the negative side, you don't get encryption, there's no differential backup, and you only get a Linux-based disc (not Windows PE). But EaseUS Todo Backup Free still looks like a great program to us.

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3. Redo Backup and Recovery

Redo Backup and Recovery is an imaging backup tool with a difference. Instead of installing a program, you download a large (249MB) ISO file, and burn it to CD or USB key drive. Then just boot from it to launch a simple tool which can back up your drives, and restore them later (even if Windows won't start).

There's also an undelete tool, and even a web browser if you need to look for help on your PC problems.

The program isn't exactly convenient, then. You can't schedule backups, they all have to be run manually, and there are very few options.

But it's also easy to use and free for everyone, so if you only want to run backups occasionally - or want a system you can use on any PC, without installing software - then it might be worth a look.

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4. Cobian Backup

Cobian Backup is an excellent file backup tool with lots of features. You get full, differential and incremental backups, for instance; zip or 7zip compression; AES 256-bit encryption; include and exclude filters; a strong scheduler, backup to or from FTP servers, and the list goes on. Every aspect of the program is extremely configurable, too (there are more than 100 settings you can tweak).

PC or backup novices are likely to find this a little overwhelming. If you're more experienced, though, you'll love the amount of control Cobian Backup gives you over every aspect of the backup process.

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5. Macrium Reflect Free

One of the most popular free (for home use) disk imaging programs around, Macrium Reflect Free delivers a solid, if basic feature set via an easy-to-use interface.

The program doesn't have incremental or differential backups. And you don't get encryption or password protection. This does make creating a backup job very easy, though (choose the source drive, the destination, maybe set the compression level and you're done).

There's a capable scheduler; you can mount images in Windows Explorer, or restore them entirely with both Linux and Windows PE-based recovery discs. And overall Macrium Reflect Free is a great choice for anyone who wants a simple but reliable image backup tool.

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6. DriveImage XML

Free for personal use, DriveImage XML is a lightweight alternative to the more bulky imaging competition. Backup is as easy as choosing a source drive, a destination, and (optionally) setting your compression level.

Restoration is just as simple, and the only significant extra is an option to copy directly from one drive to another.

There are some complications elsewhere. Click "Task Scheduler", for instance, and you'll get instructions on how to manually set up Windows Task Scheduler to run your backups. But if you need just a basic drive imaging tool then give DriveImage XML a try.

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7. FBackup

FBackup is a capable file backup tool, free for both personal and commercial use. The interface is simple and straightforward, and there are a number of features you don't always see elsewhere.

Plug-ins allow you to back up individual programs with a click; there's support for include and exclude filters; and you can run "mirror" backups, which just copy everything without zipping it up (which makes restoring files very easy).

Compression isn't so good, though (it's the weak Zip2), and the scheduler is also more basic than you'll see elsewhere. But if your needs are simple (or you're tired of "free for personal use" tools) then FBackup should appeal.

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8. Backup Maker

At first the free-for-personal-use BackupMaker seems like any other file backup tool, with incremental or full backups available, scheduling, compression, encryption, include and exclude filters, and so on.

But interesting extras include support for online backups to FTP servers, and running backups automatically when a USB device is connected.

The program stores data in Zip files, too, making them very convenient to access. And Backup Maker comes in a tiny 6.5MB download, far more manageable than some of the bulky competition.

If you're a home user looking for capable file backup then Backup Maker could be ideal.

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9. Clonezilla

Just like Redo Backup and Recovery, Clonezilla isn't a program you install: it's a bootable environment which you can launch from a CD or USB flash drive.

And it's seriously powerful, to you're able to create an image of a drive; restore an image (to one drive, or many at the same time); or clone a drive (copy one drive to another), with plenty of low-level control over how this works.

While Redo Backup and Recovery focuses on ease of use, though, Clonezilla is more about providing advanced options, like "run unattended Clonezilla via PXE booting". It's not complicated - it's probably the best free disk cloning software around - but the program is aimed at experienced users, and backup beginners should look elsewhere.

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10. Paragon Backup & Recovery 2013 Free

Another free (for personal use) version of a commercial drive imaging product, Paragon Backup & Recovery 2013 Free is a good tool with some restrictions.

There's strong support for the basics: you can create image backups (full or differential), compress and encrypt them, use exclude filters to help define what's included, run backups on a schedule, then restore specific files and folders or the entire image.

Extras include the "capsule", a separate partition to help keep your backups safe. And a good set of basic partition tools is included, too.

Problems? You don't get incremental backup; you can't clone disks or partitions, and the interface occasionally feels a little complex. Still, Paragon Backup & Recovery 2013 Free is a quality tool, and well worth your attention.

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11. Duplicati

If you need online file backups then Duplicati is one of the most versatile tools around, with support for saving files to SkyDrive, Google Docs, FTP servers, Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloudfiles and WEBDAV-based storage.

The program can also save to local and network drives, though, and includes plenty of useful options (AES-256 encryption, password protection, a capable scheduler, full and incremental backups, regular expression support for the include/ exclude filters, even upload and download speed limits to reduce any impact on your system).

So whether you're saving files to the web, or locally, there's something for you here.

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