If you're doing important work on your system, you want to get your data back even if you never see the computer again. One way to do that is to make frequent backups of your critical files to a device that isn't left connected to the computer. This can be an external hard drive or, more conveniently, a USB thumb drive.

Another approach is to do your non-confidential work on Web applications such as the Google Docs word processor. Google then stores the information no matter what happens to your computer. (Of course this assumes you've properly secured your computer against Wi-Fi threats and such -- but if you haven't, you've got bigger problems.)

At Linux.com

[ Read more ]