Just close the lid, of my laptop.
I completely turn off and unplug from sockets.
Oh, interesting tidbit I forgot to mention.
That modem in the computer that was killed by lightning… it was a Zoom modem with “Zoomguard Lightning Protection” advertised on the box. The surge through the phone lines that killed all the phones also killed this “lightning protected” modem and the motherboard it was attached to.
Modem looks exactly like some modems that were analyzed; then repaired to never fail again. Yes, all modems (like all electronics) contain surge protection. But protection from which type of surges? If it does not list each ‘type’, then it has protection only from surges that typically cause no damage. Why do you know? If it has protection, then each ‘protection’ is always defined by numbers.
What failed in modems? In most every case, modem was destroyed by a surge entering on AC mains. Seeking earth ground destructively via that modem. Most often damaged part was a PNP transistor that drives an ‘off-hook’ relay. Anyone who does not do analysis that detailed has no idea what causes damage. Most with near zero knowledge automatically assume the surge entered on a phone line.
In one case, a surge was earthed via two plug-in protectors connected to two powered off computers. Surge entered a third powered off computer via network cards. Then out to earth ground via modem and phone line. Yes, every NIC was also fixed by replacing the destroyed semiconductor. If I did not do that, then I knew (learned) nothing.
Why is a PNP transistor damaged inside modems? The off-hook relay ‘coil to wiper’ voltage was only 500 volts. 500 volts for surge protection. Surge easily jumped that 500 volt galvanic isolation. (Notice the always required numbers.) Destructively through PNP transistor, through that off-hook relay, then to earth ground via phone line.
Why to earth via phone line? All lines already have a ‘whole house’ protector. Installed for free by every telco because it is both so inexpensive and so much more effective. Most phone appliances are damaged when surges enter on AC mains. Find earth destructively via phone line. This contradicts popular myths that most everyone is told to believe using only observation and junk science reasoning.
But again, how many learned about surge protection by working at this level of detail, technical expertise, and making lightning damaged electronics never fail again? Most do not learn or do any of this which is why so many post outright lies and myths about surge protection.
Fundamental bottom line. Surge protection is always about where energy dissipates. If you let surge energy inside a building, then that energy must hunt for earth destructively via appliances. That modem’s PNP transistor is one ‘easiest’ path to earth ground. Which is why surges incoming on AC mains so often found earth ground destructively via modems. Damage occurred because surge energy was permitted inside the building.
In my case the equipment destroyed by the lightning strike was either only connected to the phone line or was on one particular electrical circuit inside the house. There was no way the surge from the lightning strike could enter the house and not affect equipment on any of the other power circuits as well unless it entered via the phone line. The only things plugged into both power and phone line were plugged into that particular electrical circuit and other equally sensitive equipment not plugged into the phone line were plugged into other electrical circuits within the house. There was no reason for a surge on the power line to specifically target equipment on just one of the power circuits unless the surge entered that power circuit inside the house and since the lighning strike was outside the only way it could have got in was via the phone line.
Routine is for lightning to enter on AC electric, confront all appliances, and only damage a few. Which few? Which ones made the better connection to earth ground? Phone lines are earthed (via a protector installed by telcos on all subscriber interfaces). Therefore an excellent path for an incoming surge to earth is outgoing via phone line appliances.
You are making a classic assumption. A surge enters on a wire. Destroys the first thing it encounters. Then stops. Surges do not crash on appliances like waves on a beach. It is electricity.
First a surge conducts everywhere in the path from cloud to earth. Much later, something in that path fails. Often a weakest device is the phone wire side of an appliance. Damage is where the current was outgoing.
Demonstrated from too many years of doing analysis is how surges actually do damage. Reality that contradicts so many urban myths.
Why would a surge ignore a telco’s earthed protector. Then pass through your telephone appliance to obtain earth ground? It doesn’t. It does to earth via that protector. Most common source of damaged phone line appliances is AC mains. Therefore answering machines, modems, fax machines, and portable phone base stations are often damaged. Conventional phones (without an AC connection) remains functional – no incoming surge path. Installing a ‘whole house’ protector on AC mains ended telephone appliance damage.
Protetion is always about disspating energy harmlessly outside the building.
Fellgal, do the phone lines and mains power enter your house via overhaed cables or underground?
I always shut it down to safe electric bill. Also I notice that if I shut it down and start new the next day, it can restart the memory so the computer can run faser
All I was implying was that my house has been struck by lightning several times and I’ve never had ANY damaged equipment, the most that has happened is my PC cut out when the fuses went off (upon the lightning striking) and I lost a word document. Other than that I’ve never suffered the loss of electronics. 
[QUOTE=AlexDawson;4526299]All I was implying was that my house has been struck by lightning several times and I’ve never had ANY damaged equipment, … Other than that I’ve never suffered the loss of electronics. /QUOTE] You demonstrate that all appliances contain surge protection - are that robust.
Earth only one ‘whole house’ protector so that the rare surge (that actually can cause damage) does not overwhelm protection inside appliances. In most nations, that is typically one surge every seven years. In the UK, destructive surges are less frequent. So spend about £1 per appliance so that even that surge causes no concern. And waste no money on mythical plug-in solutions.
One effective protector means a rare and destructive surge does not overwhelm protection inside all appliances. Which appliances most require protection during the rare surge? Furnace? Telephone appliances (most often destroyed by surges on AC mains)? RCD? Appliances that most requires protection during a rare and massive surge are smoke detectors or the fire alarm system. Those are also protected only by earthing a ‘whole house’ protector. A least expensive solution is also the only solution well proven for over 100 years.
Most smoke detectors in the UK are battery powered so don’t need any protection.
Usually true in homes but in apartment buildings and office buildings smoke detectors are wired into the building’s fire alarm system, so they can be monitored from the main panel and set off the building’s alarms.
I am evil! As a recovering tree-hugger I really should shut down completely, but the iMac sleeps and wakes so effortlessly that I have become rather lazy and I hit sleep most of the time 
i shutdown it completely and also unplug,
plug or unplug…this is the question
Actually when I go for a small break in between day time then I hibernate my computer. But when I have to end my work for a long break then I shut down my computer.
shut down is better than hibernate !
All 4 of my main computers are left on 24/7 the only ones that are switched off are my laptops.
I turn off the PC at the end of the day.
you are really working hard