Computer Basics & Beyond

If you are having a storm in your area that includes lightning, you should protect your computer by unplugging the power strip from the wall, after properly shutting the system down, of course. Even if your power strip is a surge protector, it still may not protect your computer from lightning. Also, unplug any phone line going in to your modem (if equipped). Many people that I talk to only shut the computer down and rely on the surge protector to keep their computer safe. In most cases, the surge protector will do its job, but there are many cases where they don't. You have to ask yourself, how important is the data on your hard drive? Can it be replaced if lost? It is cheap insurance to simply reach down and unplug the power strip from the wall.