Protect Your Data

As part of a continuing theme in this technology blog is re-enforcing the need to keep your data protected, both at work and at home. Be aware that there are many ways in which you can lose your data. I believe it is important to know the various ways in which such a loss can happen so that you can be well prepared in case they occur.

Here are the most common ways in which you can lose data:

1. Virus attacks – malwares, bugs and Trojans can attack the computer system causing it to malfunction, and or distort data.

2. Theft – thieves may decide to take a person’s computer therefore taking with them a person’s files and data.

3. Disaster – floods and hurricanes as well as fires may cause damage to a computer system thus making it impossible to access files in it.

4. Own accidental mistake – This one is actually very common – so beware! You can accidentally delete a file or some data by giving a wrong command if you are distracted or you not really understand the command.

5. A hard drive can suddenly crush causing everything to come to a standstill. This is also all too common.

6. Malicious tampering with the data from a person with an evil agenda.

7. Power surges.

These as well as many other less common reasons make it necessary to find ways to protect yourself from losing important data.

Below are 5 ways to protect yourself from losing your data.

1. Back up files on an external hard drive. The external hard disk is kept at a different place from where the main computer is unless when transferring files into it. This helps when someone is trying to tamper with information and does not know that the files are saved elsewhere. The information is protected when a computer has been damaged by viruses. This is the most common way used to protect oneself from long data.

2. Have an antivirus application and constantly update it. This obviously helps to keep the viruses in check. These applications if running properly will well scan and destroy any bug that may attach itself onto files. Catching the bugs in good time protects the system from executing wrong commands which cause data to be distorted, deleted or makes the computer hard disk to crush.

3. Back files up on an offsite facility or use cloud services. There are many consumer solutions out there such as Corbomite and Mozy.

4. Print hard copies. Data that is complete when printed can be saved on hard copies. This is helpful when the said data needs to be kept for a long period of time and the soft (electronic) copy of it has been damaged or deleted.

5. Keep the computer in a good environment and service it when necessary. This means blowing dust off of it, repairing it and generally keeping the environment around the computer clean and without clutter. You should also avoid placing food and drinks near the computer because accidental spills can cause damage.