Keep Your Laptop Safe From Snooping Eyes (and Hands)

April 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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You probably have a laptop that gets toted with you pretty much everywhere you go. If you’re a student, it makes the class, coffee shop, dorm room rounds, and if you’re a nine to five type, it rides with you in the car, then puts up with a beating at home and work.  How many times though, during a day, do you leave it all alone? If you answered once, (“when I got that double latte…”) your laptop could have easily been spirited away by a thieving passerby.

Laptops are valuable pieces of equipment, both in terms of price and what you put on it. It’s probably time you thought about upping the security factor on the fairly diminutive piece of equipment that is your life.

Keep what’s on your laptop safe

  • Toshiba recently released a hard drive for notebooks that will, essentially, self destruct when placed in a foreign computer; all your data will be erased, and therefore kept safe from prying eyes.
  • Stick your laptop’s contents in a safe place, so your data will never be stolen—or accidentally wiped. You can always get a new computer, but that dissertation…devastation. Use a memory stick or external hard drive and back up your work frequently.
  • Lock your laptop and its goods with an actual lock. A sturdy cable wraps around secure hardware and requires a key for access; just like a bike lock for your computer.

Laptops are pretty attractive pieces of equipment to thieving ne’er do wells; take a few precautions and you and your laptop will feel safer, even when it must fend for itself during a bathroom break.

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Different Types of Data Recovery System

March 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Data recovery is very important for smooth running of the business and it is the efficient way to recover lost data. Data recovery software or systems are available in different types and before choosing any type, it is always better to analyze organization policy, critical importance of the lost data, and any specific recovery system suitable for the organization. Here are few types of recovery system.

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First simple system is the online disk backup. In this system, one can backup their critical data more often and this method is best suited for data that changes on daily basis. This system follows tiered architecture with more options and flexibility. This method is suitable for the organization that requires frequent data backup for critical data and intermittent data backup for non-critical data.

Another recovery system is the bare metal recovery system. In this system, entire data in the computer is made backup and this includes critical data, applications, and even OS. If there is any data loss, one can simply restore the entire data using simple procedure within few hours. Also, one does not have to reformat their computer or application, and can simply restore the lost data without disturbing the entire setting.

Continuous backup or data protection is another method where data is continuously backed up in another location. This dual storage method creates storage snapshots of data and also snapshots of all the data that is modified since the last backup. The recovery time is fast and immediate, and this follows simple procedure.

 

 

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The Changing Role of Data Storage

January 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the biggest technological advances made in recent years has been in the realm of information storage. Ten years ago, the average computer could only hold around 5 gigabytes of information. Now this has grown exponentially, with certain computer programs taking up this much room by thmeselves. When someone wanted to move information from one computer to another they had to either use a floppy disk or a compact disk. They floppy disks did not hold much data, and the compact disks were bigger but often slow to use.

Around this time, DVD media was starting to be used by computer users as a form of data storage and transport. This was a big step forward because the DVDs could hold much more information than a floppy or compact disk could. 2002 through 2005 saw MP3’s explode. Suddenly it seemed MP3 players became a must-have item, and these were used as a form of data storage, too.

The next products that really made a big impact have been portable USB memory sticks, or thumb drives. These are small plug-in drives that can hold large amounts of data. These are particularly helpful because they can easily be plugged into different devices to share data. Current USB memory sticks can hold several gigabytes of information. These have been very useful in the business and academic world, where having the ability to transport a full presentation is especially helpful.

Technology is still rapidly changing. What we use today for information storage may not be the same thing that we use ten years from now. Computer programs and data keep getting bigger, so we will need more and more storage available to enable us to operate our computer systems. It is not unbelievable that one day we may be able to place all of the data that a current computer holds in the palm of our hand.

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Protecting Yourself from a Data loss Crisis

January 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You’re one of those people who held out on computers for a long time.  You weren’t going to get sucked into this whole Internet/PC computer smartphone thing.  No, a good old home phone, a pad and pencil and a family photo album was always good enough for you.  Until one day, it wasn’t.  You finally broke down and got a PC and guess what, it ended up being pretty great.  This Internet thing, hey, it’s pretty cool. Facebook?  Why not?  Email! The greatest.  Before you knew it you were using it just about every day, for everything! Graphics, emails and before you knew it, you had a lot of valuable information stored on there.  Then it crashed, big time.  And you absolutely FREAKED.

The ease and sophistication of today’s modern computers has drawn in even the most stubborn holdouts.  The only trouble is, once in awhile computers go down and data does get lost, which can be very stressful for someone who has become very dependent on their computer.

What are the best ways to avoid a data loss crisis?  The most important thing is to backup data regularly.  Many computers come with an automatic backup system, which is a great way to ensure your data is saved.  An external hard drive is also a very good investment, providing an extra backup for your backup in case of total computer meltdown.  It’s also a good idea to have a power surge protector.  Once in awhile power surges can happen during electrical storms or power outages, and they can wreak havoc on your computer if you’re not protected.

If the worst happens and you do lose precious data, go to an expert in data recovery and hope for the best.  Attempting data recovery on your own if you are not an expert can do further damage.  The best bet is to protect yourself as much as possible with data backup, and assume that most of your data is recoverable.

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Making the Most of Online Storage

January 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There’s an old expression about not putting all your eggs into one basket. With your home computer, this has never been more the case. So many people use their computer as their one stop dumping bin for all their documents, files, movies, and videos. It’s easy to do with the ever-increasing memory of the computers and all the excess memory that computers carry must be used for something.

The issue with storing memory in one place is a “what-if” situation. While computers are increasing more resilient to viruses and other breakdowns, and while there are more and more companies out there that provide computer repair services, the truth is that a person never knows what will happen. Beyond the idea that their computer could be damaged irreparably, the other worst case scenario is that a computer is lost or stolen and all information is lost without ever getting the opportunity to recover it.

For these issues it’s best to have the files stored in places online. While it is entirely possible that a website could crash a person could lose their data, the chances of that are slim. These days websites are constantly monitored by some of the brightest technical minds in the world. They are working to make sure that information isn’t lost or stolen.

For instance, many people clutter their hard drives with pictures. Storing them online gives users a chance to delete the pictures online. Most sites, especially big retailers, will allow the user to store an unlimited amount of photos online in a hope that the user will begin to print the pictures. Storing photos are easy to do and they allow the user to organize them while there are storing them.

There is no question that the use of websites as backup, or even primary, storage places is an good idea and one that can save the user if the computer gets stolen. It’s an advantage to the cyber world.

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Remember the JooJoo

January 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The media loves to latch onto a great success story. There are no shortages of profiles of computer visionaries such as Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. If success sells stories, then tales of great flops fulfill a guilty pleasure for reporters. In the age of the Internet new products rise and fall so often that many of the disasters are quickly pushed to the wayside. Some of the mistakes were big enough to make lasting memories even in the era of Twitter.

The first tablet personal computer meant for the consumer market was not developed by Apple. The 2009 launch of a product know as the “CrunchPad” was supposed to be the first entry into the now lucrative market. Intended to be used for web browsing, the CrunchPad was the result of collaboration between Fusion Garage and TechCrunch. Like so many marriages these days, this one failed miserably. Due to a combination off greed and strained relationships the partnership dissolved, which left Fusion Garage as the sole owner of a product that received the apt name of the “JooJoo.” The JooJoo launched within days of the iPad, which left Fusion Garage with a product about as useful as a word that rhymes with JooJoo.

Apple might now be a technology industry leader with products such as the iPod, iPad and the iPhone, but before the “I”s had it Apple had its share of flops. In the middle of the dot-com bubble, Apple released the Cube. The compact design was offset by a cumbersome price tag. The Cube cost $1,799 in 2000, which equals $2,279 in today’s dollars. The desktop unit went the same way as another contemporary cube product, the Nintendo GameCube, into extinction.

Technologies fail for a variety of reasons despite often being a superior product. The loss of products such as the JooJoo or the Apple Cube show that even the best and brightest issue duds.

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The Importance of Using Back-Up Services

January 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Computers can do practically anything, and in most instances, they usually work flawlessly. Still, problems can occur. That’s why it’s important to back up information and files on a regular basis. This is sometimes referred to as data storage.

Data storage, especially when it is done on external hard drives, is one of the best ways to back up information on computers, particularly if the information is especially sensitive. And, while there are ways that individual users or companies can take care of data storage themselves, there are also companies that provide these services.

Utilizing data storage companies (or back-up services) can be a good idea for several reasons. The first one is that the data storage company will usually be located off-site or at least the storage facilities themselves will be. This adds an extra level of security. Data that is not on-site can’t be stolen if a company is burglarized or damaged by natural disasters (fire, earthquake, or inclement weather, for example).

Using back-up services may also provide companies with discounts on insurance rates–only a company’s insurance representative can say for sure. But since the data storage is occurring off-site and the company providing the back-up services would be required to carry liability insurance, it stands to reason that this could be a possibility.

Data storage is important, whether it’s done by a company or through the use of back-up services. While it is true that some information can be recovered from computers that have crashed, been damaged or destroyed, it’s a time-consuming job, and not all of the information may be accessible.

Data storage keeps your data safe from viruses and security breaches. Your sensitive information, documents, and other files are going to be protected from a wide range of problems. And, even if back-up services are used, the information is still easily accessible.

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How to Purchase an External Hard Drive for Backup

January 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Backing up your information is extremely important to keep your sensitive data protected in case the worst happens. As technology has progressed in recent years, a number of choices are now available to purchase. These choices offer some things to keep in mind as you look at external hard drives to backup your data.

One of the first things to do is to gauge how much capacity you will need.  There are quite a number of external hard drives that can rival some budget computers in terms of storage. Obviously, you don’t want to sacrifice the physical size of the drive and cost for space that you won’t use. If you have a lot of media and need the space, then you must look at high capacity external hard drives.

Another factor to take into consideration is the physical size of the hard drive. Newer units are appearing on the market that feature impressive capacity in a decent size, so this could become less relevant. However, on the other side of the spectrum you may find a smaller unit necessary. Some small drives, such as those that can be put on a keychain for instance, will be in demand for certain people.

Other than size and storage capacity, there are a number of secondary elements to consider. Brand name, method of connection, and reliability are important examples here. The best thing to do is to read reviews to see how well-received the hard drive is; trial and error is not the best for electronics.

Looking at different units will definitely give you perspective in terms of features and prices for an external hard drive. Take care in getting the features that you need with a reliable unit, and you will be on your way to backing up your data without delay. Remember to regularly back up your files as well.

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Choosing Backup Methods

January 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Way, way back in Internet time (just a few years ago in non-Internet time). backups were performed using floppy disks. Does anyone even still have a computer that will actually accept floppy disks? Anyway, during those times, you may have found yourself struggling to fit your backups onto this media. You would run into single files that were actually larger than the media capacity.

Thank goodness, today there are other options, including CDs, DVDs, and external hard drives. Compression programs have helped immensely with the backup process. So why would anyone not be performing backups on a regular basis, especially when it is now easy to choose the best backup media? Here’s some simple tips to follow to get the best media for your backup needs.

  • Establish how much data you will be backing up.
  • Establish the total size of any types data, application, or files that you may want to put into a permanent archive. This can be archived to any removable media or backup option.
  • Make sure you plan for any future growth of your total data size.
  • Determine your allowable budget for the purchase of your storage device. Remember to include the costs for any required media such as CDs or DVDs.
  • If you plan on archiving photographs or other files, take this into consideration. You may also need to determine if a CD recorder will also be used to make music CDs to be played. These need to be verified along with your backup needs.
  • Consider any needs for portability of this backup media.
  • Calculate the cost of the media per Megabyte of space.
  • Buy CD burners if you don’t have a lot of data that needs to be backed up. DVDs can back up more data, and external hard drives have the most space available. Choose the one the best suits your needs and budget.
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Backing Up Storage On An External Hard Drive

December 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Losing computer files that were not backed up is a big mistake for many people. We all want to believe that our computer will never give us problems or ever crash. But your computer crashing is something that could eventually happen. It’s always important make sure you back up all your files. Especially the ones you can’t afford to lose.

While all computers come with a hard drive, the external hard drive can provide additional storage to help keep the files off the computer. Doing this could prevent your computer from crashing. This is perfect for storing music, media and data files. You can even find a relatively large external hard drive at pretty affordable prices.

The advantage of having an external hard drive is that you can store a large amount of files without having to keep them on the computer. The external hard drive also allows you to access those files from any computer. Simply plug in your external hard drive and you’re good to go. The majority of the external hard drives are “plug and play,” so you can bring them anywhere and can be used on any computer that’s compatible with the hard drive.

The best part of external hard drives is that they’re not bulky at all. They come in a variety of sizes and the majority of them can be placed right up against the computer, not taking up much desk space. When you’re not using it, simply unplug it and stick it on a shelf.

Prices for external hard drives will vary based on the brand, but prices could range between $75 – $300 depending on what size and brand you’re looking for. The nicer the brand and bigger the size, the more money you’ll spend.

It’s always important to back up all your important files. It’s recommend to back up those files you can’t afford to lose on an external hard drive. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

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