Some of the major natural and environmental threats to computers are as follows:
1. Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes: These disasters have the potential to cause massive destruction. The computers in the affected area can suffer major physical damage, which generally includes a complete loss of data.
2. Fire: Fire can damage your computer beyond repair. Even if the computer does not directly catch fire, the heat caused is enough to melt the delicate components inside the computer. Moreover, smoke can damage a computer, especially the hard disk because smoke contains tiny particles that do the damage.
3. Extreme heat or cold: Most of the components inside a computer are designed to operate within a specific temperature range. In case of excessive heat or cold, some components of your computer may start to malfunction, and you may need to replace them. If your computer has been outdoors and exposed to extreme temperatures, let it return to room temperature before you start it.
4. Voltage problems- surge/spikes: A surge or spike is a sudden increase in the supply voltage, which can permanently damage some components of your computer. For example, a sudden increase in voltage can destroy the motherboard of your computer. A charge surge can also occur due to lightning that strikes with a huge amount of electrical charge. This charge travels through power or phone lines into your computer and damages the components inside the computer.
How to Approach natural and environmental threats to your computers :
Computers require optimum environment conditions to operate smoothly. Here are some measures that you can take to protect your computer from natural and environmental threats, and also minimize the damages caused by these threats:
1. Backing up data: Backing up data involves creating multiple copies of your data. Events like floods and earthquakes can strike without warning. Your data is always unique and cannot be replaced. Creating a backup helps you to recover your data in case of any data loss. To provide better recoverability, try to keep a copy of your important data in a physically separate location, such as in another building or city.
2. Installing computers in secure locations: Install your computer in a place where it is not likely to get damage due to environmental factors. For example, avoid installing computers in rooms that are exposed to excessive dust or moisture.
3. Controlling operating environment: You should maintain an optimum temperature and humidity level to ensure the smooth functioning of your computer. You can do this by installing devices such as air conditioners and humidity controllers.
4. Surge protection and line conditioning: Use devices such as surge protectors and line conditioning devices, which connect the computer with the power source. This connection provides protection against spikes and surges on the power line. However, in case of a strong surge, the risk of damage remains and it is therefore important to keep backups of important data. In the event of a major storm, you should turn off the computer and unplug it from the power to avoid damage due to lightning.
5. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): Install devices such as a UPS that can provide an uninterrupted power supply to the computer. A UPS provides battery backup in case of power outage. This prevents software damage caused by abrupt shutting down of your computer. A UPS also provides built-in surge protection and line-conditioning features.
Filed under: Computer Security
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