Protect Your Computer Data When Traveling By Air
      By Harry Horton

      When you walk through the metal detector at the airport
      there isn't much danger of your floppy disk in your pocket
      or carry on baggage if the powerful electromagnet is mounted
      overhead. The intensity of a magnetic field decreases as the
      square of the distance from the source. If the electromagnet
      is mounted on each side of the metal detector and your floppy
      disk is in your coat pocket possible data loss is more likely.
      If your laptop/notebook has a metal case it can withstand much
      stronger magnetic fields.

      Surprisingly, the most likely airport device to damage your
      disks is not the metal detector but the X-ray machine. X-ray's
      themsleves can't erase magnetic materials, but the large
      transformers that generate high voltage for the X-ray tube can
      create powerful magnetic fields that may destroy your disk data.
      Also, if your baggage containing computer disks happens to be at
      the bottom of the bag traveling directly ove the large induction
      motors that drive the conveyer belt risk floppy disk data loss
      and possible, although less likely, hard disk data loss.

      The bottom line is that when boarding an airplane it is best to
      carry computer disks in some sort of metal container. This will
      minimize the danger to your data due to magnetic fields.