Technology is a wonderful thing. We can create documents, edit images, create music files and do just about anything we like with a computer. The advancements in technology grows at an alarming rate, and each week we see new things that before were never possible. With all this comes a down side. Having this complicated machine in our home offices means we need to be even more careful with our data. Today, people keep tax returns, family information and personal data on their hard drives, thinking that it is safe and that they always have access to it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Computers can, and do, fail. If we don’t protect the data we have on our operating systems, we may run into problems that are extremely hard to amend. Knowing how to back up data and protect it is more essential than learning the most difficult computer program. Here, we discuss backing up data, how to do it, when to do it, and how to insure that it is safe.

Types of Backup Systems

The type of system you use depends on just how valuable your data is to you. Because I rely on a computer exclusively for my business, I use a backup system that is both redundant and backs up every three hours. This would be overkill for people using a computer for family fun and email. How does the casual user back up their data to insure integrity? Windows XP operating system has a backup utility that works well for this. The backup utility in Windows XP Professional will back up your data to a CD, DVD, external hard drive, or even another computer. Because the file system on a Windows XP machine contains relevant data in your My Documents file, it is always best to at least back this data up. If you are sharing the computer with family, the computer should be set up so that each family member has their own log ons and file structure. That way, using the Backup Utility to choose the files to back up can include everyone’s My Document data.

What To Backup To?

I personally use an external hard drive that is equal to my internal hard drive capacity for backup.  I do this along with running Time Machine on my Mac.  Time Machine updates any changes to my external hard drive every hour.  During my Windows years on a computer my data was automatically set to be backed up weekly to my external hard drive.  You can’t back up your data too often.  Better to do it twice than not at all.

How To Schedule Backups

Backups can be set to run automatically through the use of the Widows Task Manager. This can be accessed by going to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Backup. Here, a wizard walks you through the task of backing up your data, including files and setting, cookies, and contacts. It allows you to choose what to back up, and then asks where you wish to back up to. Choose the appropriate media, and the backup utility does its thing.

A much better way to do this is through Scheduled Tasks, because you never forget to do the backup. With the regular Backup Utility, you must manually do the backup, and with the Scheduled Tasks module, you can have the task performed automatically.  If you use the Scheduled Tasks module be sure to leave your machine on for the backup to run as scheduled.

Backing up personal data is your responsibility. Use the utilities on your operating system, and never lose valuable data again.

Owning a computer and having access to the internet is a very good thing. It can also be hazardous to your privacy in ways you are not aware of. Because we keep so much personal data on our computers, it is not hard for a hacker with a lot of determination to access that data and cause you a world of problems.  Even with sophisticated security programs, you are at risk whenever you access the web. There is also the threat of security over network connections, and safeguarding these should be a top priority. Here are ten ways to protect your privacy, including personal data and identity.

Your Personal Data

Credit card numbers, banking information, home addresses and a lot of other sensitive data are typically stored on the home PC. People often see identity theft as someone stealing their wallet or pocketbook, or unscrupulous desk clerks at hotels scamming their information from an entry card. Actually, it is the computer that is the biggest offender. Let’s look at ten different ways that a determined thief can steal your identify.

1. A computer that is hooked to a DSL internet connection that is always open and connected to the internet is just waiting for a hacker to break into and steal your private data. When you are finished with your internet connect, close it, log off.   If your business needs to keep an internet connection open, there are many free firewall programs, available at such places at http://download.com and http://shareware.com to help protect your information from hackers.

2. Always use secure sites when making any internet purchases. You can determine this by checking two things - the address bar on your web browser, and an identity icon that must appear in the form of a padlock in the task bar. A secure site will begin with the prefix “https” to alert you to a secure site, and the padlock in the task bar will be in the closed, in the locked position.

3. Never give out any information to any site unless you absolutely must for a secure transaction. Suspect any site that asks for personal information when it is not necessarily needed for using the site.

4. Always keep a “throw away” email address to do business with any site or individual that you do not absolutely trust. This protects you from spammers, who harvest email addresses from the web. 

5. Never reveal any information to people who you meet on forums or in chat rooms unless you are absolutely sure you can trust them. Don’t put personal information on a public home page.

6. Always reject unnecessary cookies. Cookies are a necessary evil for some site which you do business with or are taking such things as training from, but do not allow other sites to set cookies on your hard drive. Use the privacy section of the web browser options to set cookie security to a high level.

7. Always be sure to read any privacy policy on any website you do business with, and be sure you agree with their policies. If you don’t, move on.

8. Educate your children. Insure that they never give out personal information online, such as name and phone number, or home address. A law was passed in 1998 requiring companies to gain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13 years old.  Give each child their own personal sign-on and restrict where they can & can’t go on the web with security controls in your computer.

9. Use an encryption method to send and receive email. Email can easily be rerouted and read by unintended persons. Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger and Mozilla thunderbird use encryption, as should your internet provider. You can download Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), a popular encryption software, free for non-commercial use.

10. Never reply to spammers, for any reason. Also, never reply to the message asking to be removed from their list. All this does is confirm that you have a legitimate email, opening yourself up to even more attacks.  In some email clients you can “bounce” the email back to the sender so it appears as though your email is not good.

The ultimate in computer security would be to have two computers - one that connects to the internet and contains no personal data, and a second computer that has no internet access to use for personal data. Although this may sound extreme, it is the only real way to know that your computer is safe from prying eyes on the internet. Consider using a hub that allows you to use the same monitor and keyboard for both computers.  Better safe than sorry.