McCLEAN, Va. (11/5/07)--The nightmare recently experienced by California fire victims is a good reminder to not only back up your digital life, but to keep that backup off-site--preferably online (USA Today Oct. 30).
The most common vehicles for backup are still the hard drive, CD, and DVD. But as file sizes increase, it's becoming more difficult to find enough space even on a DVD to hold a large movie file.
The answer: online backup. It's off-site and can't be destroyed by a fire, flood, hurricane, or other natural disaster that hits your home. Online backup services typically require you to download software that then resides on your computer and serves as a virtual drive. You can choose whether you want automatic backups of all files, or you can drag and drop backups of selected files. Your connection speed and file sizes will determine how quickly the backups occur.
Disaster victims aren't the only ones who should think about online backups. Even common power surges can destroy your data, so make sure you have a surge protector strip with built-in batteries to keep your computer running for about 20 minutes after a power failure.
While you're assessing your backup needs, remember to update your home inventory and keep a copy--you guessed it--away from home. The Insurance Information Institute, Washington, D.C., recommends you store a copy of your inventory online and send another copy to a trusted friend, family member, or paid fiduciary in a different part of the country from where you live.
To get started, visit the Insurance Information Institute Web site at iii.org/individuals/homei/.
For more information, read, "Experts' Picks: Home-Inventory Software" and "Disaster-Proof Your Important Papers" in Home & Family Finance Resource Center.
courtesy of cuna.org
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