How to keep important files safe with backups

A lot of things can go wrong with a PC. It might crash, get damaged (physically), or even infected with a virus. Any of things can lead to loss or corruption of data.

1. It's a good idea to zip (compress) the data before backing it up. This way it's all in one place, and you won't miss a file out. It'll also reduce the size and enable you to password-protect them. 7 zip is a good free zip program.
2. The best place to put this backup is on an external hard drive or USB drive. CD's and DVD's are also an option, but they can be damaged easily.
3. It's also a good idea to put a backup online provided your host is reliable and secure. This will enable you to reach the files from any computer with an internet connection, which can come in handy.