Two thirds of consumers rarely back up data

Two in five PC users in the UK have lost valuable files from their computers, a new survey revealed this week.

A poll by security specialist Symantec found 38% of consumers have lost data from their PCs, yet two thirds (66%) rarely back up their data.

Only one in five (22%) of those surveyed regularly backs up all the data on their PC; a higher percentage regularly checks the oil and water in their car.

Over half (52%) of those polled said they find backing up data difficult.

On average, consumers have over £1,200 worth of data stored on their computer, including downloaded TV content, costing £158 to replace, home videos (£105), downloaded film content (£101), and downloaded music (£80).

Symantec found that losing data does not just have a financial impact; it can also leave an emotional scar.

Two thirds of those who had lost data were unable to recover it.

Photos were found to be one of the most common data losses; nearly half (48%) of lost data included photographs.

Four in five (82%) of those polled confessed they’d be upset to lose their photographs.

Other data that respondents said would be upsetting to lose included academic documents, personal information, financial information, and work-related documents.

“Our relationship with our computers has changed in recent years,” said Symantec spokesperson Con Mallon.

“We now use them as the storage vault for priceless, unique files with huge emotional value, replacing the treasured photo albums, or the stacks of love-letters tied with ribbon.

“This is why I am concerned at people’s complacency: only 22 per cent of people surveyed backup all of their files.”