How to Protect Your Computer Data

Below is a list that you need to be aware of in order for your computer to keep its data safe.

1.?Consider what information you want to secure.?It is generally speaking, the data on the hard disk (or virtual file cabinet) that they want to protect.?Some people have hundreds of years of family and vacation photos, tax records or banking information.

The second is how much safety should be implemented. It all depends on what you want to protect and its importance.?There are many ways to lose data, such as: computer failure, hacker attacks, theft, fires and kid erasing of information.

Based on these important questions, we'll present some options for you to consider.

2.?Protect and Preserve: There is a wide range of options available, depending on what you are trying to protect.?Digital photos can be simply written to or burned to a CD/DVD. Then you can store them anywhere else.?This is a simple and affordable way to store digital photos. However, this will require you to put in effort and time as you acquire more photos.?The CD/DVDs/DVDs will not be saved in the event that there is a fire.?For important records, papers, or any other digital files, you can follow a similar procedure.

For a fee, you can upload your data to an online storage service that will store it on their secure servers.?It is easy to do, but your data is stored on remote computers (which should be secure) Qnap espa?a.

You could also buy an additional hard disk (external drives can be hooked up directly, or installed internally).?In the event of a hard disk failure, you can create daily or weekly backups (copy all data from your main hard drive to your backup).?Hard drives fail are not common but happen about 5% of the times. Failures on laptops are more frequent due to the fact that they are subjected to greater movement and being tossed around more often.?Businesses use a feature called RAID, which is basically a redundant array of independent disks that stores the same data over multiple hard drives. This allows the computer to immediately access the other drive in case one fails.?It all boils down, really. How important is your data and how urgently do you need it to be accessed?

Protect your computer from electric shocks: A second area often forgotten is the possibility that an electrical surge could cause damage to your computer.?This is a rare but possible occurrence.?Although surge protectors are a good option, keep in mind the possibility of lightning striking near your computer.?).

3.?Prevent: The next level security is to prevent unauthorized access or protect your data from harm.?These threats can be grouped as DIRECT and NETWORK.

4.?DIRECT: If there is no network connection (and the Internet is not available), direct threats will be your only concern. A person could simply walk up to you and gain access to your computer.?This could be your child accidentally hitting delete on your keyboard.?If you are concerned about someone stealing your password or guessing it, there are additional options to protect your computer.?Consider locking your computer in place and home security to protect it from being taken away.

This also raises the question of where you data is stored.?Is your data on a USB flash??These types of data require new methods to protect them.?Keep it safe.?What happens if the device is dropped from your pocket or left on a table??The only way to access data on your USB thumb drive is through a finger print scanner or bio-access.?This gives you additional security and prevents anyone else from looking at any of the data that you have saved on your USB thumb drive.

5.?NETWORK: Local: Anyone who has access to your network can also gain access from it.?Locally wired networks are much harder to hack than wireless networks. Someone would have to attach a device directly to your network which leads to home security.?There are more serious problems if Mission Impossible tries to hack your home network.?Anybody could compromise your wireless network if it includes wireless.?It is important to protect your wireless network. Many people don’t get it.?It is essential to change the default passwords and names used to log in to your wireless router. Enable encryption if necessary. Limit the number users to the number you plan to use the network.

6.?NETWORK-Internet: The Internet is full of tons of useful information but it can also be a breeding ground for potential problems.?Hackers are usually someone who attempts to gain access to your computer and its data.?They may cause damage, or they may not.?You wouldn't want someone coming into your office to look through your file cupboards.

Internet security must include a firewall.?Firewalls can be either software or hardware-based.?You generally have an Internet connection (phone, cable, etc.) if you have high speed Internet.?An internet modem can be used to connect your computer to the Internet.?Your computer connects to the modem. The modem then communicates with the Internet.?A hardware firewall acts as a firewall between your computer, modem, and the Internet.?Linksys ranks among the top brands.?This firewall acts to buffer you from the Internet (where hackers are)

A hacker could still gain access through your hardware firewall. That's why you need an additional software firewall to protect your computer.?Zone Labs offers an optional free version. However most Windows Operating Systems have a software-based firewall which is activated by default.

(a). NETWORK -- software hackers are looking for ways to hack into your PC using software vulnerabilities.?This could mean that hackers might discover a "loophole” in Internet Explorer, which gives them access the hard drive.?If this happens, the only solution is to make sure you are up-to-date with any updates.?Windows Operating Systems typically have an auto-check feature for updating.

7.?Be smart. You can do things that seem intuitive.?If you don't use your computer, you can save energy. A hacker won't have access to anything that isn’t there. (Computers turned off don’t appear in a network).

To turn it off in thunderstorms, you can UNPLUG your computer.?While a surge protection can protect your electronics (except for lightning strikes), it's not required to keep your PC safe.?It is possible for an enormous surge of electricity, capable of traveling through a surge protection and destroying your PC.?You can unplug your PC in a matter of seconds.

Do not allow anyone to use your computer without first asking.?Ask them what they are downloading and why.?Many kids love to get instant messaging clients and file-sharing programs to listen music.?Many of these programs come with additional software.?Some of these programs are background processes that serve as file sharing servers and open your computer to other programs. Other programs can cause increased memory usage and slow down your PC's performance.

8.?Be Healthy: Viruses (also known for malicious ware and spyware, macros, etc.)?These viruses can cause havoc by deleting or corrupting data, recording passwords, etc.?These can be downloaded to your computer by e mail, USB drive, or visited an Internet site. They are then permitted to run at a later point.?A good choice is to use an anti-virus program.?AVG has offered a free, basic version that is reliable for years.?Software must be updated frequently as new viruses are created all the time.

9.?If you don’t have anything on your computer to protect it, then there is no need to do anything.?You won't have any information to record, see or use if you get a computer virus or are attacked by hackers.?You may have to reinstall and setup your operating system again. In this case, you'll need to pay someone to do it for you.?Remember that even if you buy items online, your credit card information will be transferred to the computer.?Spyware could steal this information and give it to someone else.

?