9 Ways to
DISASTER-PROOF
A little preparation goes a long YOUR PC
way. We show you how to avoid
the most common tragedies to
befall a PC user—guaranteed!
BY PAUL LILLY
Stop whatever it is you’re doing. We know your time is valuable, and
what you’re about to read could save you hours, if not days, of dam-
age control. What could be so important? Your work documents,
for one thing. And then there’s your entire digital collection of fam-
ily photos cataloguing every birthday, vacation, and other special occasion over
the past several years. Common PC pitfalls don’t just affect your digital files,
either. Should disaster strike—say a power surge or a hacker attack— you could
be looking at hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars of damaged hardware—or
even worse, damage to your good name and credit if someone manages to steal
your identity.
Are you thoroughly spooked yet? You needn’t be, not if you follow our nine-
step guide to disaster-proofing your PC. On the following pages, we show you
how to prepare for everything from acts of God to hacker attacks, and every other
mishap you’re likely to encounter as a power user. And if you’re an old pro who
already knows how to disaster-proof your PC, then treat this as a checklist of
things you know you should be doing, but probably aren’t.
