Tis the season . . . to keep your data safe and backed up! I'd like to remind everyone that with a minimum of effort and the right tools, we can all thwart would-be identity thieves and stay prepared for that unexpected computer crash. Here's a good example:

Ho Ho Ho Oh NO! One of our customers had his laptop stolen from his vehicle yesterday in broad daylight. They ignored the GPS and Satellite radio which indicates that they were more interested in the information than anything else.

Unfortunately, this computer had all sorts of personal and business data, making it easy for identity thieves to go hog wild. Now aside from having to cancel accounts, change passwords and set up credit blocks for possible identity theft, his backup of calendar, contacts, forms or emails is over 2 months old. It's a very tough situation, to say the least.

Putting myself in his position, for a moment, I think of several things that I would do differently in the future:

1. Regular Backups - We recommend the FreeAgent Go Drive from Seagate (www.Seagate.com) with our exclusive GatorPC Backup software - backup everything you want and nothing that you don't. By manually running a weekly backup (never do it automated) on a portable drive, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches (and heartaches) when something does go wrong.

2. Lock Down Important Data - Personally I use LockNote from Steganos Software (www.steganos.com/us). It's a notepad look-alike with super-strong 256-bit encryption. Password protect all your important data and rest easy knowing that even the most clever hackers can't open this file. Best of all, it's free!

3. Good Virus Protection. Good Spyware Protection. Keep them updated regularly. Run scans regularly. If you're a GatorPC customer, chances are you leave your computer running on Wednesday nights for all the security scans. If you're not sure, contact us and we'll be happy to help. We recommend Norton (Symantec) Antivirus and Microsoft Windows Defender. (www.Norton.com and www.Microsoft.com)

4. Avoid Phishing Scams. Official looking emails from identity theives posing as financial institutions constantly bombard mailboxes. To tell if it's real or fake, verify that your name is written in the body of the email, check for spelling errors, and NEVER click on an embedded link or enter your user information. Always open up a new web page and type out the web address of your bank. Use Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 as well. They have an automatic phishing filter, warning you of the latest flagged sites.

Securing your computer data is our first priority. With a little bit of active effort, you can avoid being the example of an story like this.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!