Copies of data or files stored separately for protection against loss; also refers to people or things that serve as substitutes or additional support.
Compound word from 'back' plus 'up', originally referring to moving in reverse or providing support from behind. The computing sense emerged in the 1960s with the advent of data storage systems.
The evolution of 'backup' from a military term meaning reinforcements to our modern obsession with data preservation tells the story of our changing anxieties - we've shifted from fearing physical threats to fearing the loss of information. In our digital age, backups have become a form of insurance against the modern nightmare of lost memories, work, and connections.
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