keeping data safe

keeping data safe

1. strong password

   • mix of letters and numbers
   • symbols
   • capital letters and lowcase letters

2. back up data

   • save on to usb
   • save online
   • take it home and store in a safe place

3. Use proactive software protection. Anti-malware software is a basic requirement for initial protection on all computers.

4. Viruses and spyware can creep into your computer and easily degrade performance and corrupt or even destroy data.

5. Use a firewall. Firewalls assist in blocking dangerous programs, viruses or spyware before they infiltrate your system. Various software companies offer firewall protection, but hardware-based firewalls, like those frequently built into network routers, provide a better level of security.

6. Be cautious of suspicious emails from unknown sources. Don’t open emails with attachments if you don’t know the sender.

7. Steer clear of websites of ill repute. These are havens for malicious and annoying intruders like spyware.

8. Keep your operating system updated. Repair the security holes that hackers love to exploit with the newest critical updates from Microsoft or Apple.

9. Encryption Encryption may be important to you if you are backing up sensitive data. By backing up unencrypted data onto a handy CD, you are making it much easier for a thief to steal your secrets.

10. Verification Backup software can double check that it’s saving the data accurately as it goes along. It's no good finding out after the event that the data files were corrupted.

11. Supported media Not all backup software will support every storage medium. Suprisingly, some don't even support CDs or DVDs. Commonly supported types are floppy disk, network (or internet) drive, hard disk, USB memory stick, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R/W, DVD+R/W. Although most software will back up the majority of your files, some may choke on multi-megabyte or even gigabyte files. Before you buy, ensure that the software supports any large files you intend to back up.

12. Full or file backup? Software can be set to perform either a full backup or a file backup. A full backup will copy the entire contents of your hard disk – including programs such as Microsoft Office. This can take a while, even with the fastest software and hardware. You don’t need to do this too often. Files and folders should be backed up much more regularly, but should only take minutes.

13. Where to back up You’ll need somewhere to store your files. If you only have a few crucial files, these could fit on a rewritable DVD. To make a complete copy of your hard drive, consider an external large-capacity drive. It’s wise to keep backups separate from the PC itself. You can even have an online backup service for a monthly or annual fee.

14. Good backup software will copy your files in a systematic, hassle-free way, making sure you have a copy of the latest version of your files. It will regularly back up everything to your external hard drive and even save a carbon copy of your hard disk. It’s a good idea to back up once a week or more, depending on how vital your data is. A lot of programs will do it automatically for you at a preset time. Check whether the one you choose has this option.