So here are two pieces of advice that every computer owner should follow: Get a surge suppressor, and back up your hard disk regularly.

Q. Is it true that your telephone line should be plugged into a surge suppressor before being attached to the computer?

"Let's face it, everybody in the world could get by without a surge suppressor," he conceded.

You can spend more for a surge suppressor but the returns fall off very quickly.

And certainly Amanda didn't need a surge suppressor in her room.

It wasn't a surge suppressor; it was just constructed to look like one.

A user may have no indication when the surge suppressor has failed.

But readers are advised that "spending $50 to $100 or so on a decent surge suppressor is excellent insurance."

After a few small spikes, or one big one, a surge suppressor will often burn out.

Many people who already use a surge suppressor forget to protect the modem.