What? That's absurd. I don't use cloud backup. I am "totally" protected as much as I need to be. I choose not to send my data to someone's server somewhere out of my control, even for free.
I use multiple drives, including keeping a bare hard drive copy 150 feet from my house in my backyard workshop, so if there's a lightning strike it can't be fried, or a house fire can't burn it up. "Off-site" storage has been around since long before the cloud.

Cloud storage is only a replacement for having physical media in your hands. It's not "total" protection.

Whether you use the cloud or some other method, you need 3 copies of your data - a working copy, a backup copy, and an off - site DR copy. The problem with the off - site copy in a bank vault or a close but separate location is threefold: first, what happens to the data between the trips to your off- site copy? Even if you go once a week (which is a tough schedule to maintain), can you afford to lose that week? Second, what if a natural disaster such as a hurricane, wildfire, tornado or flood takes out both copies (happened in Florida last year). Third, what if the DR drive won't start (a large percentage of drive failures occur on start up).

If you have poor internet access, cloud storage may not be practical for you, but if you have good access, you cannot possibly devise a DR system as good as automatic backup to s major cloud with redundant everything, professional management and multiple geographically seperate copies of your data. The is a reason that s majority of enterprise IT departments and govt agencies use the cloud for DR.

Saying my formula is "absurd" is a little over the top. Each of us has to decide what provides our individual comfort level for preserving irreplaceable files. The most important thing, as you say, is to have some form of secure offsite backup . The good thing about cloud services like Carbonite is that your data is double backed up at a professionally managed server farm, and is encrypted, so no one there can examine your files. And BTW, a nearby lightning strike has random effects, but at a minimum it has the potential to wipe out ANY electrical device. That likelihood is infinitesimally small, but since you mentioned it... >Alan

1. What "formula"? Saying you are not protected without the cloud isn't a "formula". It's your opinion, which I differed with.
2. I didn't say "The most important thing is to have some form of secure offsite backup". That was YOUR point. I'm saying the cloud is just one option.
3. How do you suppose a lightning strike could wipe out a hard drive if the hard drive is not connected to anything? Unless the lightning hits close enough to melt it?
4. The chances are higher than "infinitesimal" nowadays that someone could hack Carbonite or any other cloud server.

I had the same issue with the same drive(Western Digital 4TB), this discussion took place some months ago and I said then that those Western Digital drives are no good, $89 bucks for a 4TB Drive, BS...I would never use a Western Digital even if someone gave it to me for free, oh! and one other thing...When you eject your drive make sure the light is off before you unplug it, the safe is way I do now and this may sound stupid is I shut down my Computer completely and also make sure the light is off and then and only then I will unplug the drive, better safe then sorry my files and images are to important to me so I do take no chances anymore with no external drive by any manufacturer. With that said this is what I did and I recovered my file and images and the drive was back to the way it was before the problem, I garentee this. I used Data Rescue 3 software, with the drive plugged in open data rescue 3... click on recovery and you will see the drive even though it’s not mounted, start the recovery and the software will start reading the drive and recovering the files it will seem like it’s gonna take forever but after a few hours, yes a few hours, just leave it alone and let it work, and as I said after a few hours the drive will mount on your desk top at that time stop the recovery process and it will ask do you want to stop early and click yes, it will still continue but eventually it will stop and your drive will be on the desktop and all your files will be there, but what I then did was transferred everything to a new LaCie rugged 2TB external hard drive, made sure all my files and images we’re there then formatted the Western Digital drive and threw it in the trash, end of story, 💯% works, good luck

I am not sure there is any brand of drive that isn't subject to failure, though some of those high end drives that cost more than a computer and camera added together may be tougher. My own experience has been very similar to yours but it was the newer LaCie rugged 2TB that failed, and the old cheap WD 4TB USB drive that is still chugging along doing its job. I have had failures with that LaCie and a Buffalo drive, also with a small portable Seagate, but never with a WD. I figure my day is coming though. Always need a backup for when the day arrives. More than one, actually.

What? That's absurd. I don't use cloud backup. I am "totally" protected as much as I need to be. I choose not to send my data to someone's server somewhere out of my control, even for free.
I use multiple drives, including keeping a bare hard drive copy 150 feet from my house in my backyard workshop, so if there's a lightning strike it can't be fried, or a house fire can't burn it up. "Off-site" storage has been around since long before the cloud.

Cloud storage is only a replacement for having physical media in your hands. It's not "total" protection.

1. What "formula"? Saying you are not protected without the cloud isn't a "formula". It's your opinion, which I differed with.
2. I didn't say "The most important thing is to have some form of secure offsite backup". That was YOUR point. I'm saying the cloud is just one option.
3. How do you suppose a lightning strike could wipe out a hard drive if the hard drive is not connected to anything? Unless the lightning hits close enough to melt it?
4. The chances are higher than "infinitesimal" nowadays that someone could hack Carbonite or any other cloud server.