Digital cameras and camcorders are carried by everyone on vacation, and the USB drive has become as handy and as common as a pen inside our pockets – and also just as easy to lose.

How Does Data Loss Happen on Vacations?

Given this wide use of digital devices in our lives, it really does not take too much effort to lose data while holidaying. Noted below are some of the most common ways of data loss while travelling or out on vacation.

• One may physically lose the device concerned. Laptops are being left everyday in hotel suites, on the sand, in the parking lot, on the restaurant table by happily careless people. Not just family holidays, people have actually left their laptops behind even after making presentations on a business tour. Losing a camera is slightly less common, but by no means impossible.

• The pen drive comes just after the cell phone in the list of most lost devices. This is a tribute to its immense and dramatic popularity, and to our capacity of losing things that we are supposed to value most in life. Besides, there are other portable devices like iPods left in the train, bus or plane, CDs and DVDs left behind in other people's computer drives and other such follies.

• We may damage the device physically, though not intentionally. This includes dropping into water, getting dust or sand into it, driving over it (a surprisingly large number of people parked their cars on laptops over the past two years), dropping it from the hand or from the balcony of the hotel, packing it so badly that it is damaged by the time it arrives. There was the case of a man who had taken out his hard disk and put it in with his toilet kit, so the shampoo leaked into it! Kids and pets are also there to help and they can damage a digital device in many innovative ways.

• The device may be stolen. This is an increasing problem now.

• Mishandling of software, as usual, causes a lot of data loss.

Preventing Data Disasters

There are several ways in which data loss can be prevented, depending on the device in use, and the circumstances of the loss. Specific information on security products can be found on the net.

• There are special locks and chains available for laptops. They help the user to chain the laptop to a table or any other large piece of furniture, making it difficult for thieves and hard to forget. Some of the locks are fitted with an alarm that goes off on touching, and are very good for travellers combining business and vacation.

• It is better not to carry laptops in their typical cases as this attracts the attention of thieves.

• If you accidentally drop your laptop, get sand or dust into it, drive over it or let it fall into the sea, do not tamper with it. Get in touch with a professional data recovery expert, who will do the job for you.

• Always use the safe removal option while pulling out a USB device from its port. Try to hook it to a chain or strap; this will help you to remember that it exists.

• Carry your CDs and DVDs in cases and albums that are cushioned. That way, they will not get damaged by other luggage.

• Never plug in the laptop directly into a power point. A two-way adapter is mandatory, as it will check the voltage at the source and also the current drawn into the computer.

• Digital cameras should always be carried in their cases. You may consider buying a waterproof case for your camera. Use a strap to put a still photography camera around your neck while shooting, so that it has less chances of falling down. If damaged, once again, go for professional help.

• Take backups of all data from the laptop and of all existing photos from the camera, and keep them in a CD/ DVD / extra hard disk / USB drive at home. If you accidentally delete the older photos while shooting, or lose any of the laptops, at least, the data would be preserved somewhere.