Published: May 01, 2023

Popular Digital Storage Advice You Should Not Follow 

In the world of data storage, there are plenty of opinions on what you should do to protect your important files and documents. While some advice is sound and useful, plenty of popular digital storage tips are outdated, incorrect, or simply don’t apply to everyone. Here is some popular digital storage advice you should not follow.

1. Always store your data on a hard drive: While hard drives have been the go-to option for data storage for decades, they are not the only option anymore. Solid state drives (SSDs) are becoming more popular due to their faster read and write speeds, and because they have no moving parts, they are less likely to fail. Cloud storage options, like Google Drive and Dropbox, are also gaining in popularity due to their convenience and accessibility.

2. Keep your hard drive always plugged in: While it’s important to keep your hard drive plugged in when you need to access your data, it’s not a good idea to leave it plugged in all the time. Hard drives generate heat, and leaving them plugged in for long periods of time can cause them to overheat and fail. It’s better to unplug your hard drive when you’re not using it to give it a chance to cool down.

3. Defragment your hard drive regularly: This advice may have been true in the past, but it’s no longer necessary with modern operating systems. Most operating systems automatically defragment your hard drive in the background, so you don’t need to worry about it. In fact, defragmenting your hard drive too often can actually decrease its lifespan.

4. Use a magnet to erase your hard drive: This is a common myth that has been perpetuated for years. While it’s true that magnets can affect the data on a hard drive, you would need an extremely powerful magnet to erase it completely. Most household magnets are not strong enough to do any damage. If you need to erase your hard drive, it’s better to use a dedicated software tool to do so.

5. Use the same password for all of your accounts: This advice is not specific to storage, but it’s still important to mention. Using the same password for all of your accounts is a major security risk. If a hacker gains access to one account, they will have access to all of your accounts. It’s better to use a unique password for each account and to use a password manager to keep track of them.

There are plenty of popular storage tips that are outdated, incorrect, or simply don’t apply to everyone. It’s important to do your own research and make informed decisions about how to store your data. By following the advice above, you can ensure that your data is protected and secure. For more information, visit UNITS Moving and Portable Storage of Charleston or call us at (843) 203-0700.