Acronis True Image

Acronis True Image is a special computer program made by a company called Acronis. It helps you keep your important computer files and information safe. Think of it like making a copy of your whole computer or just your favorite pictures and games. This program can also help protect your computer from bad software like ransomware, which tries to lock your files. The program was called "Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office" for a few years, but in 2024, it went back to its original name, "True Image."

Keeping Your Files Safe

Acronis True Image helps you make copies of your computer's information. This is called a backup. You can back up your whole computer, certain parts of it, or just specific files. These copies can be saved on your computer or on the internet in a special data center run by Acronis.

How Backups Work

When you make a backup, the program creates a special file that holds all your copied information.

Saving Backups on Your Computer

You can choose to save your backups right on your own computer or on an external hard drive. There are two main types of backups you can make:

• Files and Folders: This copies only the files and folders you choose, like your homework or game saves.
• Full System Image: This makes a copy of everything on your computer, including the programs and how your computer is set up. It's like taking a snapshot of your entire computer.

The software can make different kinds of backups:

• Full Backup: This makes a brand new copy of everything you chose to back up every time.
• Differential Backup: This only copies the changes you've made since your last full backup.
• Incremental Backup: This copies only the changes made since your very last backup, whether it was a full or another incremental backup. It's like adding small updates to your backup chain.

Saving Backups Online

You can also choose to store your backup copies online in special data centers. These centers are located all around the world. This means your files are safe even if something happens to your computer at home.

Getting Your Files Back

If you ever lose your files or your computer has a problem, Acronis True Image can help you get them back. You can restore files from a full computer backup or from a backup of just certain files. You can do this using the program itself or a special startup disk.

What Kinds of Files It Can Copy

The software can make full copies of many different types of computer systems. This includes systems used by Windows (like NTFS and FAT32), Mac computers (HFS+ and APFS), and Linux computers (ext2, ext3, ext4). If it finds a type of file system it doesn't usually work with, it can still copy it by simply copying every bit of data.

Keeping Your Backups Private

You can add a secret code, called encryption, to your backup copies. This helps keep your information safe from anyone who shouldn't see it. It uses strong codes like AES to protect your files.

Copying Whole Drives

Acronis True Image can also make an exact copy of one storage drive (like your computer's hard drive) onto another. This is called disk cloning. The program will automatically make sure the copied information fits perfectly on the new drive.

Some companies that make hard drives, like Western Digital and Seagate, sometimes offer special versions of Acronis True Image. These versions let you copy your old drive to a new one, but usually, both drives need to be from the same company.

Protecting Your Computer from Threats

Acronis True Image also has features to help protect your computer from bad software.

• In 2016, it added tools to fight against ransomware, which tries to lock your files until you pay money. It also added ways to prove your files haven't been changed using a special online record system.
• In 2020, even more security features were added. These include real-time protection, checking for weak spots in your computer's security, scanning for viruses, blocking bad websites, and protecting your video call apps.

How the Program Got Its Name

Before 2021, the home version of this program was simply called Acronis True Image. For a short time in 2021, it was renamed "Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office." However, in 2024, it went back to its original name, "True Image."

See also

In Spanish: Acronis True Image para niños

• Comparison of disk cloning software
• Disk cloning