Q: I just read your article about the importance of backing up your data. I agree fully with backing up my data, but I wonder about the security of putting my financial information in some online backup source. Can't they then access my data? I currently back up my key financial data daily to a separate drive and monthly to alternating USB flash drives. Obviously, this does not cover the possible loss due to a home fire. Any comments or thoughts are appreciated. -- Bob Summers A: I understand why putting your financial information in the hands of others would worry you. And, after I've explained why -- if you deal with the major players in the online storage market -- I think it's safe, you still worry, I can understand that, too. Online storage companies such as Carbonite, Norton Online Backup and Mozy store an encrypted version of your data. You are the only person who has the key to decrypt the data. So even if an employee wanted to steal your data, he would have to defeat the encryption scheme to see it. The same would apply if an outsider somehow was able to breach the company's security and reach the data it stores. Anything is possible, but -- in my opinion -- your financial information is safe when stored with a reputable online storage company. Q: Whenever our HDTV is on, all my AM radios have static. Any good guesses what I can do to fix this annoying problem? I go to bed before my husband, and I want to listen to the radio before I go to sleep. -- Betty Guerrero A: One possible cause of static from the TV is a power supply that's going bad. So it might be sensible to have a technician check out the set. I've also seen static created by low-quality connecting cables that don't use enough shielding. Such cables are used to connect the set to other devices such as a cable or satellite box, sound systems and DVD players. Q: You wrote about using the System Restore feature of a computer. Does that cause me to lose everything I have on my computer -- things like my documents? I have been afraid to use it. -- Bob Mackey A: System Restore does not change or delete any of the data you create. It only acts on programs and updates to programs. So your own data will remain after using System Restore. Q: What are the ramifications of having two anti-virus programs on my computer? -- Tom Knorr A: It's a bad idea to use two separate anti-virus programs. That can create conflicts. While I have seen installations that successfully used two anti-virus programs, more often I've seen computers that were brought to their knees when a second anti-virus program was installed. HAVE A QUESTION? Please send your questions to Bill Husted at tecbud@bellsouth.net. While he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood that the answers will be of general interest. 