That keyboard lockup, corrupted executable file or system crash may not have been caused by software incompatibilities, spyware, a trojan or a hacker. It might have been the result of inconsistent utility power.

A few years ago, IBM did a study that showed that a typical computer was subjected to over 120 power problems per month. I used to think all I had to worry about with my PC was lightning strikes. When a storm came to town, I just shut down my PC and unplugged the power cord and the phone line from the wall.

Then I went to work for a company that deals in uninterruptible power supplies. I learned that power companies are just not able to provide clean, consistent power that sensitive electronics need to work properly. As more and more circuits are crammed into CPUs and clock speeds are raised to undreamt heights, the delicate dance of electrons through a computer's motherboard requires power that does not sag or spike or surge--that definitely doesn't blackout!--and that is free of noise.

A sag, or lowered voltage, happens when motors start up, when your air conditioner kicks on. Power companies often lower voltage levels to cope with high electric demands. Sags cause frozen keyboards and system crashes, plus, they shorten the life of your hard drive motors and cooling fans.

A spike is an instant, dramatic increase in voltage, typically caused by a nearby lightning strike. It can also occur when a knocked-offline power company comes back on. Spikes cause loss of data and catastrophic hardware damage.

A surge is a short term voltage increase that usually lasts less than 1/2 second. It's what happens to your household current when your air conditioner compressor motor cuts off. Surges stress delicate electronic components and cause early failure.

Electrical noise disrupts the smooth sine wave your electronics love. It's caused by lightning, generators, load-switching, radio transmitters and industrial equipment, among other causes. Noise is responsible for glitches and errors in downloads, executable programs and data files.

All of these issues can be solved with a good quality uninterruptible power supply (UPS) hooked up between your wall power outlet and your PC. These units work by keeping a battery charged as long as there's power, and then using the power from that battery to supply voltage when the power goes out or if it sags. They also have built-in circuits to reduce or eliminate noise, smooth spikes and protect against surges. They keep the power going into your PC more consistent. The end result is that your PC runs smoothly and consistently and laughs at power problems! You keep your data, and it's more accurate. (UPSs can also be used to protect your TVs, stereo equipment, etc.)