by A. Smith

Created on: January 20, 2009

The value of the information on a home computer system cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Often, it is irreplaceable. It stands to reason that home computers and electronics are worth protecting.

Never plug any sensitive electronic equipment directly into a wall outlet or telephone jack. All electricity fluctuates, especially in rural areas and during storms. Older houses often don't have wiring capable of handling modern electronic equipment demands without incurring voltage fluctuations as other appliances on the same circuit are turned on and off. Lights which dim and brighten on their own are indicators of fluctuating voltage, potentially beyond the regulation tolerance of some appliances and electronics. A small voltage fluctuation can destroy your computer or expensive large screen television, or even cause a fire.

A surge protection power bar provides protection against common electrical surges and power fluctuations. Many companies guarantee their surge protectors against equipment loss, but not against data loss. Don't confuse a surge protector with a multi-outlet power bar, which does nothing but add extra outlets. Expect to pay upwards of $70 for a reliable surge protector. Most lower priced power bars, even those which claim surge protection, can't do the job.

Connect your telephone cables through an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). This will also give you a few extra minutes of electricity to shut down your equipment safely, and unplug it if necessary. A low-end UPS gives about a five minute margin, while a commercial UPS is usually measured in hours. After a UPS has been used repeatedly, unplug the electronic device to allow the UPS to recharge fully. Even the best UPS will protect for less and less time if it is not allowed to recharge.

Never remove anti-static casing to work on internal electronics or hardware without wearing a grounding device. A static spark has the same effect as a voltage surge.

Always back up your data regularly. Light-use computers should be backed up every month, while heavy-use computers should be backed up every week or even every day. If you back up your data to CDs or DVDs, store them in a fireproof safe. You can also back up your data online, although this is not recommended for sensitive identity or financial data.

Even the best surge protection cannot protect against a lightning strike. For this reason, the simplest protection of all is to unplug all electronic equipment when violent weather is forecast. However, this is not always possible.

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