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Something tricky is how to bootstrap restoration of backup. If you have lost "everything", how do you get it back?

For example, if you use borg to backup remotely via ssh, you will need ssh keys as well as a passphrase for the encrypted backup. Where do you store those to make sure you have them if your computer is gone? What I did was create a self-extracting restoration script, which embedded everything needed. This is also encrypted, and synced to many places. The idea is, as long as I have the passphrase for that, it takes care of the rest.




I keep the most important pieces on printout in a firesafe lockbox. I don’t have any eventuality for if the firesafe goes at the same time as online failsafes, but I feel like the best approach for those kinds of situations is nihilism.


For small stuff like this, print it out and put it in a safe deposit box.


I print my important keys to paper but also as a QR code. Easier to restore.

Have't needed to use them yet, but testing it was great.


This would be the only reason I'd need to pay for a safe deposit box. It might be worth it, just for that, but I haven't made that leap yet.


Check with your bank. If you have enough accounts, or the right kind of accounts, they may give you one for free.

It's usually listed included in the long list of benefits that almost nobody ever reads.

Each year I get a bill from a major American bank in the amount of $0 for a safe deposit box I don't use because I have a certain amount of money in one account.


If you're on good terms with your family, it might make sense to leave it with them (if you trust them to keep it safe).


If 'everything' does not include my phone, I keep a copy of my password manager database file on it, including embedded ssh files.




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