Release Issued by TDK:

Half of digital photos face Digital Wipeout as people fail to back up their memories

26th June 2005 - In research launched today TDK reveals that while 87% of computer users take the time to transfer their digital photos to their home computers, nearly half of them don’t bother to back them up. Millions of treasured memories are therefore at risk from computer crashes and viruses.

People are taking more and more photos with digital cameras – not just of a friend’s wedding, summer holiday or child’s graduation, but every aspect of our lives is becoming chronicled digitally. Photographers may be snap-happy now, but many are risking losing all these memories because they fail to back them up. TDK is calling to digital camera owners to face the threat of Digital Wipeout.

Hartmut Kulessa, optical storage product manager, TDK, said, “We’re leading this call to action because people are just not aware that their digital photos may be at risk. Even if they are saved on a computer, a lifetime of memories can be lost within minutes. Viruses and computer crashes are a real danger and we strongly advise people to burn a back-up copy onto a DVD or CD to make sure they don’t lose their best snaps. That way you can leave a copied disc at a friend’s house, or in a drawer at work to keep your snaps safely stored.”

For those worried about losing treasured photos, back-up takes less than five minutes and TDK offers a full range of affordable, quality DVDs which can be found at most high-street stores. www.tdk-europe.com.