f/backup Lite: backup folders

f/backup is a backup software that lets you select a source folder and make a copy/mirror of its content to a destination folder, with optional filters to exclude unwanted files. These backups can handle data located on:

- Your device
- An external storage (MicroSD for example)
- A network share
- An FTP or FTPS server (without TLS session reuse)
- An SFTP server
- A WebDAV server

f/backup Lite is the free version of f/backup with ads and less functionalities:

- Basic files filtering options
- No scheduled backup

As the name implies, f/backup is a backup only software and does NOT do synchronization. Your backups will never modify their source folders, keeping the app as easy to use and understand as possible and preventing unexpected data loss.

Initially developed as a personal backup project for my family, relatives, and I, f/backup progressively evolved for the last year and a half to a point where I thought it could potentially fill other people’s needs.

Cloud subscription cost and privacy concerns were the deciding factors that motivated me to start this project. As consequence, your private information/data are none of my business and f/backup will never try to spy on you.

Having said that, you must understand that f/backup Lite is using Google AdMob service to provide ads within the app for monetization. To properly display these ads, Google will collect information about your device (screen resolution for example), use cookies and eventually your personal advertising ID if you didn’t opt out of personalized ads on your device settings. Even though f/backup Lite doesn’t use Firebase or AdMob’s user metrics and will not get reports on users’ activity, Google will still gather these data to monitor ads effectiveness. If you consider this behavior as privacy intrusion, please have a look at the non-Lite version of f/backup which, as a paid app, is not using ads.

In terms of security, your server address, login, and password are encrypted with a random AES-256 key within the database. You can also lock backup edition behind a biometric security prompt to prevent unauthorized users to check/change your settings.

As for performance, it is a multithreaded app. It can handle up to 5 files in parallel per backup and run an unlimited number of backups at once.

I’m unfortunately unable to try every combination of device/server and even though I didn’t encounter issue during my testing and daily usage, incompatibilities may occur. Feel free to contact me if you notice something wrong, I’ll do my best to resolve the problem.