Some very surprising statistics here…maybe it is time to reconsider your position.

About 57 percent of consumer users back up stored data, but that leaves a sizable portion of the population unprotected in the event of a crash. Internet security firm Symantec commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a study on PC users data storage and back-up habits.

The 91 percent of computer owners who store data on their computers tend to keep digital pictures (71 percent); personal contact information (58 percent); work-related files and documents (43 percent); music or MP3 files (41 percent) and personal financial files or documents (41 percent); tasks and to-do lists (35 percent); movies and video (20 percent); and other data (14 percent). Nine percent of computer users said they don’t store personal data on their computer.

The data thats most precious to them centers mostly on financial information and home pictures, said Alan Hanson, senior product manager at Symantec. Typically, an average customer is taking pictures of vacation and baby’s first steps, and those things are all stored on their hard drive.

Fifty-one percent of those who store data on their computer regularly back up data stored on their computer. Of the group who backs up data, 29 percent complain it takes too long.

Some back up portions of their data. Fifty-seven percent back up all data stored on their computer. Others choose segments of data to back up: digital pictures (37 percent); personal financial files (26 percent); address book (25 percent); work-related files or documents (24 percent); music or MP3 files (15 percent); to-do lists (13 percent); movies and video (7 percent) and other data (4 percent)

Read more courtesy of clickz