electronic devices in summertime.

Summer means traveling, basking in the sunshine, swimming in the nearest body of water, and reveling in the great outdoors. Since we live in a digital world, wherever we go, our digital devices go with us. So while we are having a great time, we must not forget to be kind to our devices. They need protection from extreme weather just as much as we do.

extreme summer weather hazards.

heat.

Due to global warming, heat is increasingly becoming one of the biggest risks of summer months. This year has already seen spiking temperatures across the globe and is expected to be the hottest on record.

This heat and direct sunlight are not only a massive problem for people, but also for electronic devices. 

Overheating can cause drive failures and consequently, data loss. Electronic components operate at a specific current induced by a low voltage. The sensitivity of the components means that even a small fluctuation in voltage is dangerous. Excessive heat lowers the electrical resistance of objects, therefore increasing the current. 

In addition, a slowdown is a result of overheating. Components can shut down when overheated and the motherboard temperature sensor instructs hardware such as the hard drive and processor to slow down.

Suppose that you leave your cell phone or laptop in your car or under the sun on the beach and go around for a couple of hours - the sun rays can give your devices a fatal burn. If the device exceeds recommended heat limits, it will be literally fried. For that reason, always keep an eye out on your devices and the manufacturer's recommendations. While many electronics are designed to withstand up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit, the recommended temperature limit is 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Some devices will power themselves down to avoid this risk. But consistent high temperatures can lead to permanent damage to your device and data loss. 

To avoid overheating and data loss, store your electronic devices in a cool and dry place.

water.

It’s no secret that electronics and water (liquids) don’t get along. As we know, many electronic devices today come in waterproof versions. Because of this, waterproof cell phones make accidental dips in the pool or ocean a little less worrisome. However, if a device is not properly waterproofed, water can be deadly. Cell phones and tablets have multiple access openings that are susceptible to water damage. A quick dip into the water is all it takes for your device or smartphone to short circuit or stop working entirely. 

To protect your devices from water, try dry bags that are completely waterproof and inexpensive.

humidity and dryness.

Excess humidity or dry air can exaggerate the effects of extreme temperatures on electronic components. 

Keeping electronics in a hot, humid space is a recipe for disaster. 

The moisture can create condensation which can cause a short circuit and damage internal parts.

Dry air causes static electricity to build up. Coupled with the increased conductivity from heat, this can cause errant discharges. 

summer storms.

Summer storms can bring extreme heat, winds and flooding. This can result in power outages, electrical surges, electrical failure and data loss.

Data loss from power outages is most commonly a result of short-circuiting and subsequent fires from electrical surges. 

During a storm, be sure to power down and unplug all electrical cords to disconnect the devices from a potential deadly current. 

other vacationtime hazards.

sand.

After a day at the beach, sand always seems to find its way into every nook and cranny. Sand can wedge its way into speakers, jacks, and power cord plugs and cause damage to the internal hardware of your device.

If you find sand in your gadgets, try gently blowing to dislodge the sand. You can also use canned air. 

Dry bags that protect your devices from water can also help you keep sand out of your devices.

thieves.

If you need to bring your phone, laptop or other devices with you on your vacation, always keep an eye on them. Be aware that if you stash your device in a back pocket, or leave it on a table while you order your coffee, it could be gone in a flash. 

hackers.

Think no thief would want your old MacBook? You may be right, but what about the information stored on it? To keep your laptop secure while traveling, encrypt sensitive files, such as scanned personal or financial documents, business information, password lists, etc. If you use public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, set up a VPN (virtual private network) that will work in your destination country. 

Consider installing tracking software such as Prey, which not only locates your stolen laptop, tablet or phone but can even send you a picture of the person using it and allow you to remotely lock down your device. 

accidents.

Carefree vacation days can be ruined by clumsiness. A cell phone may slip out of your hands or your laptop accidentally falls to the ground. You can end up with a cracked screen or in the worst case scenario, your device breaks down.

Getting a hard case for your smartphone, tablet, and other devices is a good way to keep them protected from slips, drops, and falls. You should consider upgrading your case to one that is designed to take a hit.

what to do when your device experiences damage.

An improper or panicked response can cause additional damage. Therefore, it is important to know how to best respond.

• Do not attempt to power on or charge a laptop, cell phone and other device that has been subjected to heat, water damage, electrical surge or any other damage.

Powering up the device can cause further damage within the device.  It is possible that a hard drive which has sustained comprehensive external damage may still be perfectly operable internally. In either case, it’s important to take caution and have the device checked by a professional data recovery specialist as soon as possible. 

• Do not open, shake,or try to disassemble, or attempt to clean the inside of the damaged device. 

Improper handling can make the recovery more difficult and lead to valuable data loss.

• Do not attempt to dry out a water-damaged device or expose it to heat. 

Messing with saturated electronics could result in electrocution. 

• Do not place a heat damaged device in a refrigerator or freezer as an attempt to cool it. 

Just as extreme heat can cause damage to your device, so can excessive cold temperatures. The sharp drop from hot to cold can lead to condensation which will damage the internal components of the device, rendering it unusable.

• Do not attempt data recovery on your own with data recovery software if the device has suffered physical damage. Data recovery software is designed for a device that is not physically damaged. 

• Consider any available backup data. 

Having data readily available can make all the difference.  It is important to remember that there’s no time like the present to back up your data. A good backup strategy is the best way to ensure that all is not lost should your devices become exposed to power outages, theft, heat, water or any other damage.

• Contact a trusted data recovery company as soon as possible. 

They will instruct you on how to best handle and deliver the device. Recovering data from heat or water damaged devices requires a unique set of skills and it is best to trust the experts with recovering any critical data.

the best protection is backup.

While summer weather can not be avoidable, data loss is preventable. 

When traveling, it is always wise to back up your travel photos and important data while you are still on the road, just in case your camera, phone or laptop suffer a fatal blow. Bring an external hard drive, or upload your memories to the cloud.

Generally, the best way to protect yourself from data loss in any situation is by using a reliable offsite backup solution. Online backup stores your files offsite, so there is no risk of data loss due to electrical surges, heat or water damage. 

When you backup your data on physical storage devices like flash drives or external hard drives, you have to keep them in a separate place from your electronic device, otherwise the same disasters that can cause data loss on your computer, laptop or cell phone can cause you to lose your backed up files.

Take precautions and know that if the unthinkable happens, there are always data recovery options. 

If your data is critical, valuable, irreplaceable or exists only on the damaged device, do not risk losing it forever and contact a professional data recovery company immediately, since all physical media issues require treatment in a carefully controlled environment. 

Kotar Data Recovery successfully performs data recovery on physically damaged devices in a clean room environment, using specialized tools and techniques combined with over two decades of experience. This enables them to resolve the most complex and specific data recovery problems that their competitors often deem unrecoverable.