Time Machine questions

I keep my data on USB drives, I install to do work, then remove so data is not available if my computer is ever compromised. 1) If my ext. TM drive is continually connected, would TM write this data on it's drive? 2) Do I remove TM when plugging in my external USBs to prevent this? 3) Do I even need to run TM if I have a CCC ext HD available? 4) I know they do different things, but since I keep all my data on external drives, would in still need to run TM?

You don't need to worry about "ghost" (local snapshots) backups when your TM backup drive is disconnected as that does not apply to an iMac. And yes, you should be making TM backups on a regular basis in addition to CCC backups.

From your answer I believe: The answer to 1) is yes. And 2), I should be removing my TM drive when connecting my external drives with data. I will continue to run TM. Found a recommendation on another Mac forum site : They recommend to having two ext. TM drives and two ext. CCC backup drives and to alternate them from time to time in case one or the other fails. I will be doing that once I buy another two external drives.

No, that's incorrect. Time Machine only backs up data on the local boot drive, so it ignores data on other drives, including your thumb drive.

Don't you think it would be a lot easier (and safer) to use a small encrypted disk image to store your work files? That USB drive is **going** to fail at some point and then where will your work files be?

The recommendation to have two Time Machine drives and two CCC drives seems a little silly to me, personally. If your computer is working, you have your original, and then you have your Time Machine and/or CCC clone, that's a backup. What are the odds of ALL these drives failing? Pretty low.

I wouldn't make 2 TM backups either. I would make 2 cloned backups and keep 1 of them off-site rotating the 2 drives once every week or two.

If you're keeping data on a separate drive - do you have a backup of that drive and update the backup every time you work with that data?
If your data is that important, seems that would be more important than having 3 much less 4 backups of the operating system.

Okay. One TM drive...Connected. But I agree with bobtomay with having 2 CCC drives. One offsite and one here. And rotating them every so often. Not so much for a drive failure, but for a catastrophe...burglary, fire, natural disaster, Klingon invasion, etc.
"Don't you think it would be a lot easier (and safer) to use a small encrypted disk image to store your work files?" Yes...probably...problem is I don't know how to set up a small encrypted disk image on my HD. This encrypted disk image would include a list of ALL my passwords, my tax returns and other financial information among other things. Not sure how good the encryption would be in the event some malware ended up on my HD. But if you say it's safe, I'll try it...if you can tell me how. Thanks again to all.

"How to create an encrypted disk image?" This should help.

Encrypt Folders with Password Protection in OS X the Easy Way | OSXDaily

Thank you Sawday for that attachment. i printed it out and will be doing it shortly. I also put 'OS X Daily' down as one of my Favorite sites, as I do have an iPad air 2 but haven't had the time to transfer or download music to it yet. Thanks also to chas_m for the info on using encryption files.

Sawday said:

"How to create an encrypted disk image?" This should help.

Encrypt Folders with Password Protection in OS X the Easy Way | OSXDaily

Click to expand...

I'll pass on my thanks too sawday, I had been looking for that link. I had even gone to the length of writing out the process myself as a word doc so I could attach it to emails.
Now I can just send the link.