Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Daniel Migneault on 27/11/2011 22:30:02

Title: Should I build a faraday cage around my PC?
Post by: Daniel Migneault on 27/11/2011 22:30:02

Daniel Migneault  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi,

Seeing that the sun is coming into a particularly active phase, do you think I should build a Faraday cage around the magnetic media that holds my data? I understand that PC cases are Faraday cages themselves (grounded and made of metal), but are they sufficient against a major solar flare? What about external drives?

Thanks,

Dan from Canada

What do you think?

Title: Should I build a faraday cage around my PC?
Post by: Bored chemist on 27/11/2011 19:57:54

Imagine that you have caged your PC in this way and there's a big solar flare.
To whom will you send an email?

Title: Should I build a faraday cage around my PC?
Post by: RD on 27/11/2011 20:37:50

The solar weather is only a problem for long conductors like power/telephone/telegraph lines ...
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/26oct_solarshield/

hard drives are of metal construction anyway ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EBSamsung_hard_disk.JPG (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EBSamsung_hard_disk.JPG)

Title: Should I build a faraday cage around my PC?
Post by: Geezer on 27/11/2011 23:14:47

Only if there is something on it that you really don't want other people to know about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEMPEST