LIQUID DAMAGE
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That coffee or water spill on your laptop or phone ranks right up there with the worst possible scenarios on a tech users’ list of nightmares. These accidents happen to even the most diligently careful. The much publicized ‘putting it is rice’ trick isn’t your solution. In fact, attempting to fix the problem yourself can often make the situation worse. Sometimes your local computer repair store can successfully address the issue, but in more severe cases it may be necessary to send the device to one of the few advanced data recovery laboratories which have very advanced technology and techniques which can be more able to extract your precious photos, data, and anything else. And often that’s what’s most critical to people. Their phone or computer can be replaced, but if you don’t have a backup of your digital keepsakes, they may be gone forever. There ultimately is no guarantee that your technology serves now merely as a doorstop. So Rule #1 is: always back up your data!
It is recommended to use the 3-2-1 backup strategy. This way your data is backed up regularly and automatically. Three copies of data are to be kept – two are saved locally and one is saved off-site. For local copies, use an external hard drive, or flash drive if you have minimal information, and the other on the device itself (laptop, phone, etc.). The third copy is typically saved with a cloud-based storage option, such as iCloud, DropBox, Box, or Google Drive.
One should consider how often you add to your body of stored information. If it’s not typically on a daily basis, a daily backup wouldn’t be necessary. You can usually adjust the schedule to weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Or you can choose to simply do the backup yourself manually as needed. It’s best to set yourself a reminder so you don’t forget completely in this case, however.
So while not attempting to fix the issue of water damage on your device, there are a few useful things you can do to minimize harm. Firstly, power it down as soon as you can to avoid electricity running through it. Secondly, detach any connected hardware and any batteries. Using a towel, gently removing all external surface moisture can also be helpful, as well as putting the device in a well ventilated room. Do not attempt to hasten the drying process with a heating device such as a hairdryer. With these measures, you’ll both protect yourself from data loss and give yourself peace of mind.
