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The first line of protection for your computer is getting software to protect it from viruses, worms, and other malicious software that could damage, steal information or even trash your whole computer. While many people spend a lot of money on software programs, there are great virus scanners, and other protective software online for free. And even if you do spend some money, it’s worth protecting your computer and everything on it.
Just because you have protective software, doesn’t mean it’s going to block every threat that might attack your computer. Even if you have protective programs, you still need to be aware of new ways hackers are using to get into your computer and use common sense. There are all kinds of web pages that will alert you to the newest cons and viruses going around and how to avoid them. I also recommend McAfee SiteAdvisor free software which adds safety ratings to your browser and search engine results.
One of the most important things you can do to keep from losing data is to back it up. Here are some common ways to securely back up your files so you still have it in case it’s accidentally lost:
Burning your data onto CDs is a quick and easy way to back it up. However, it can be rather time-consuming and CDs have limited storage space. Also a CD can easily be scratched and damaged and only lasts so much time.
Flash Drives are somewhat similar to CDs. You can easily put information from your computer onto a flash drive and then detach them to store for safety or transfer them to another computer. The difference is that a flash drive is not written once and then you’re done. While most CD drives can add files, they can’t delete them or change the files. Flash drives can be erased and rewritten just like any other drive on your computer.
An external hard drive is a great way to back up large amounts of data. An external hard drive is generally just like the memory in your computer, but it can be detached and put in another space. Unlike flash drives, you can get hard drives with very large amounts of space. Some people think external hard drives are expensive, but if you compare the amount of data they store, they are well worth the investment.
Online data back-up services. The problem with drives that attach to your computer and then detach for storage is that they can often be damaged when your computer is. A virus on your computer can easily transfer to another drive without your knowledge. And if your computer is destroyed in a flood or fire, there’s a good chance your external drive will be too.
The good news is, there are all kinds of online services that will back up your hard drive files for you. They generally cost a monthly or yearly rate for a certain amount of space, so the cost will vary with what kind of business and size of files you have.
Remember that backing up your data once only does so much good. Make sure you back up your files regularly, then keep them in a secure place other wise you will still be in danger of having a major loss.
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