Time Machine backups can fail without user knowledge, illustrating the dangers of “set it and forget it.” A user experienced this with an external SSD becoming inaccessible due to new security software. Time Machine continued to operate without backups for hours without warning. Unlike other backup tools, Time Machine does not clearly alert users to errors, highlighting the need for regular monitoring of backup status.
https://eclecticlight.co/2026/01/15/how-time-machine-backups-can-fail-silently/