According to HiWired, Family Photos Are Number One Concern for Americans If Their Computers Are Lost, Stolen or Corrupted.

HiWired Survey Indicates Most Americans Would Need to Replace Photos, Financial Information and Music at an Average Cost of Over $1,000

NEEDHAM, Mass. -- According to a consumer survey conducted by HiWired, Inc. (www.hiwiredinc.com), a provider of technology services and solutions, Americans who do not back up their computers risk losing a host of priceless information and applications, including family photos, financial information such as tax returns, their music collections, and work files, among other data. Respondents estimated an average cost of $1094 to replace the data they would lose should their computer be lost, stolen or otherwise unusable.

When asked what they would be most upset about losing should they not be able to access their computer, the largest proportion of respondents - 37 percent - chose family photos. Nineteen percent were concerned about losing financial information (such as tax returns and investment information), 16 percent with losing work files and eight percent with losing their music collections. Others cited password lists, school files, and journals as hard-to-replace data that they would not want to lose.

"As computers become ubiquitous household devices, they become storehouses for more and more of our important personal and professional data," said Kurt Scherf, analyst at Parks Associates. "Unfortunately, this leaves the more than 65 percent of Americans who do not backup regularly vulnerable to losing important and meaningful information."

When asked how much it would cost to replace the software, music, videos and other files on their computers, survey respondents had a hard time quantifying whether the lost data could ever truly be restored. However, when asked to estimate figures, they indicated an average projected cost of $1094 and an average projected time investment of 45 hours. Most indicated that data such as photos and personal files were "priceless" and could never truly be replaced.

"Although we are accustomed to using our computers as repositories for all sorts of important and emotional data, we don't always back them up," said Michael Wexler, president and co-founder of HiWired. "With one in four computer users facing data loss every year, through theft or losing their PC, viruses, or other problems, many of us are vulnerable to the costs and emotional effects of not ensuring that our music, photos and important data are securely backed up."

For consumers who want to protect their investments in technology, their work product and their important music and photo files, HiWired provides an unlimited data backup service. HiWired provides an easy, automated solution for customers to backup all the files on the PC remotely and is constantly updated in the background. For a flat fee, the service includes:

* Unlimited, automated backup of files, photos, music, email and other information on the PC;

* Assistance and tutorial on the backup process and how to manage it;

* Expert management of the backup to ensure that automated backups are being performed on-schedule and that any problems are resolved;

* Assistance with restoring or retrieving files from the backup system.

More information about the service can be found at www.hiwired.com/backup

About HiWired

Founded in 2004 by IBM services veterans Singu Srinivas and Michael Wexler, HiWired provides retailers, broadband providers, small businesses and consumers with immediate, expert support for the PC and any technology that integrates with the PC including wireless networks, iPods, digital cameras, and smartphones.

Through its remote technology management services HiWired makes it simple for consumers and small businesses to utilize, enjoy and integrate their technology. HiWired offers incident-based and ongoing remote technical support for customers struggling with technology tasks ranging from setup of new computers and digital devices to problem solving with more complicated technology and networking configurations. For more information visit www.HiWiredinc.com.