My children are nine years apart. When my daughter was a baby, we didn’t have all the digital technology we have today. So I have boxes and boxes of photos of her in storage. Fast forward to when my son was born….no more boxes taking up space. I now had my wonderful computer that sat nicely on my desk to hold all my precious memories. This was a good thing, right? Anytime I wanted to go back and look at a particular photo or event, all I had to do was turn on my computer, find the correct folder and there it was. That is until……you go to turn your computer on and nothing happens.
That is just what happened to me. I did everything I could to get my computer to turn on. Nothing could be saved….I lost everything. You could imagine how upset I was, losing precious memories of family; as well as important files and documents. Many times I said I needed to back my computer up, but never did. It wasn’t a priority. I had the “it will never happen to me” attitude. Boy was I wrong.
Most of the time there is no warning; which was exactly what happened in my case. My computer was not that old. Did my teenager go to a site, or click on something that may have caused a bad virus? Did she download something that ate up too much memory? I like the convenience of on-line shopping, and tend to be very careful as to which sites I purchase things from. I never store my credit card information, even if I shop frequently on a site. However, using that time-saving auto fill for all your other information can leave you at risk for identity theft.
That has all changed now that I have discovered Mac Kid's new sponsor, Carbonite. Carbonite makes your precious memories last a lifetime, easily and affordable by protecting your irreplaceable files with automatic and secure cloud backup. There are three types of plans offered for different needs and budgets.
Don’t let what happened to me happen to you. It CAN happen…..at anytime!
Carbonite provides you with:
- Unlimited cloud backup space simple, automatic, continuous
- Free premium support
- Easy Restore
- Safe and sound-Fort Knox? They're even better! Before leaving your computer, your files are encrypted. Then, they’re securely transmitted to one of the data centers using the same technology that banks use, where they are guarded 24 hours a day.
- Access to previous the versions of your data, even if you save over a file (Windows only).
So, how does it work? A few simple steps and you’re all set:
- INSTALL - Install Carbonite on your computer.
- BACK UP - Your files will be backed up automatically to the cloud.
- RESTORE - With your files safely stored in the cloud, you can get them back anytime, whether you accidentally delete a single file or have a complete hard drive failure.
- ACCESS - You can access files from any internet-connected computer or mobile device.
Here are a few tips to help you protect your PC:
1. The hack is coming from INSIDE the house - I have a teenager in the house, and I am constantly reminding her to be careful of what sites she goes to. The people who are using your computer might be the ones putting it at risk the most. Talk to your kids (and anyone else who has access to your computer) about downloading programs and documents without knowing if they are ‘safe.’ Threats to your computer could be links that download viruses, games that eat up too much memory space and could cause a crash, programs that are downloaded directly to your computer, without your knowledge. Have a conversation and stay vigilant!
2. #OVERSHARING on social media - Social media-savvy as we all are, the Instagram posts and Facebook check-ins that get us ‘likes’ can sometimes be opening you up to danger. Think about it, your vacation posts (before, while and when back!) can be a good indicator that your house is empty for would-be thieves. Another overshare concern? Your kids. Talk to your kids about the importance of never posting the name of their school, where they’re hanging out with their friends or any revealing information. Make sure you talk to your family members and close friends, too – they may post something they think is ‘fun’ but could potentially put your home or kids in danger.
3. At Risk while Online Shopping? – I’ll admit I love to shop inline. If you’re asking sites to ‘remember your credit card information’ then you’re opening yourself up to disasters. By auto filling your information (think anything from credit cards to your home address), you’re making yourself more vulnerable to having the information stolen or compromised. Since it is saved with your internet’s browser settings, it would not take a sophisticated hacker to find and access. It may save time in the very short term, but in the long run, it can allow for someone to easily identify your most precious information and create a big issue.
Carbonite is safe and secure and makes it really easy to restore your files when you need them. Whether you need a single file or all your files, the Carbonite restore manager will guide you through the process. You can also restore individual files by signing into your Carbonite account and using Anytime, Anywhere Access.
Save up to 30% on Carbonite Personal Plans when you sign up today! http://cbnt.it/1PfWid0
