Topic: Two-thirds don't back up files

[Clive]

UK consumers are more likely to check the oil and water in their car regularly than back up valuable data on their PCs, a survey has concluded.

Research from security firm Symantec found that only one-third of those questioned backed up important files on a regular basis and only 22 per cent backed up all of their files.

This puts many people's valuable data including photographs, music and home videos at risk, the company said.

Con Mallon of Symantec asked: "People don't take the risk with the contents of their houses, they insure their physical possessions, so why should it be any different for computer content?"

The company also criticised using other hardware devices to back up their data, saying that the best option was to use online backup services.

[Simon]

Have to admit, my backups are very irregular, and I should make more of a habit of it.   

[Rik]

I'm above average. 

[Simon]

But only just. 

[Reno]

Well, when you have close to 2tb of data to back up things get expensive. What I've always done is buy a hard drive twice as big as the year before. That way I can retire hard drives to the shelf after a few years.

[Simon]

It's better to retire them before they give out on you.  Good thinking, Bob.