How to keep your digital assets safe

Digital Assets

Not so long ago, the thought of needing computer and digital insurance cover would have seemed like sci-fi fantasy for the average person.

We would never have imagined how much high-tech gadgetry we casually carry around nowadays. The mobile phone revolution is barely 10 years old, yet many of us now make near-constant use of our phone, mp3 player and Sat Nav. And many of us habitually carry around a Blackberry and a laptop too.
Quite apart from their physical value, often this new technology contains vitally important personal information about us and valuable digital assets.

Many of us don't know the value of what we're carrying. A recent MORE TH>N survey showed that, in the UK alone, we underestimate what our digital music collections are worth by a staggering £36.5 billion. We've no idea what we own, in terms of the number of albums or the rarity value of forgotten classics. Worse, having transferred all that music onto digital formats, 68% of us don't even back it up properly. It means that if your iPod gets pinched, that's all your iTunes downloads lost too - currently you have to pay to replace any music purchased from iTunes that is lost or stolen.
Responding to this change in habits is vital, and our research also shows that there has been an increase in the number of people wanting cover for their digital downloads. That's why, since January 2009, our customers have enjoyed £2,500 digital download cover as standard. Now even the biggest music fans can have peace of mind.

We also found that 80% of British men now carry manbags, easily rivalling the prevalence of women's handbags. It's led to an increase in the personal theft of the gadgets often carried in those bags, and, even more worringly, the widespread theft of personal data.
Of course, digital & laptop insurance cover can't help you replace the irreplaceable, like photos of your newborn child or video clips of your gran's 80th birthday. Some digital valuables are priceless and once lost are gone forever.
So what are the best ways to keep our digital items - and the data they contain - safe?

Tips for protecting your digital assets

• 1. Back-up your computer frequently and store your backed-up hard-drive or discs away from other computer equipment. Consider using a virtual storage service to back things up - many internet service providers offer this service as part of their package.



• 2. Use unbranded bags and carry-cases. If you're carrying your laptop in an Apple laptop bag, wearing an "I'm An Apple User" baseball-cap and eating an apple - well, you're telling everyone exactly what you're likely to be carrying.



• 3. Try to use as many different passwords as you can remember. Especially for high-security links, such as online banking or personal records, make the password complex and unique, containing a range of letters, numbers and symbols. (But don't make it so complicated that you have to write it down and stick it to your computer monitor in order to remember it.) Social networking sites (such as Twitter and Facebook) and other web pages are far less secure (easier to hack) than high security banking software, so having the same password for both is taking a risk.



• 4. Keep your antivirus software up-to-date, even if you're a Mac user. Traditionally Macs haven't had the same virus problems as PCs, but viruses for Macs are on the rise. Whatever computer you own, install and update antivirus software.



• 5. Unless you really need the space or money, don't get rid of your old CDs or vinyl records after you've transferred them onto mp3. Put them in storage somewhere, but don't ditch them - they're the ultimate back-up!