| Security should be a serious issue to anyone who | | | | passing on the virus to all subsequent memory cards |
| uses a computer. Whether at work or home, most | | | | that use that machine. |
| people are well aware of the risks associated with the | | | | Thankfully, however, even through most experts |
| internet. Trojans, spyware, viruses and other download | | | | acknowledge that in theory it is perfectly feasible to |
| traps are the equivalent of Armageddon to your | | | | infect memory cards in this way, they insist that the |
| precious computer’s hard drive and can have a | | | | risk is minimal. They are keen to point out that the |
| serious impact on your life if your computer is infected. | | | | perpetrators will gain nothing financially from such an |
| But, although most people are quite savvy about the | | | | action making it extremely unlikely to occur. In fact |
| security threats from the internet, the majority still | | | | most commentators put the chances of your memory |
| don’t consider the risks associated with imported | | | | disc being infected in this way at around 1 in 10,000. |
| storage material such as CDs, DVDs, memory sticks | | | | But even if that miniscule risk is too much for you to |
| and memory cards - especially those from digital | | | | contemplate there are alternatives to printing off |
| cameras. | | | | photos at public booths. You can print at home, either |
| Experts will tell you that inserting any foreign data | | | | on your regular printer or by using a dedicated machine |
| storage or transfer medium into your computer without | | | | that produces standard 6 x 4 prints. Currently, this is |
| checking for viruses first is not a wise move. Yet, | | | | probably the most expensive way of printing digital |
| most of us are quite happy to take a memory card | | | | photos. It is undoubtedly convenient, but the unit cost |
| out of our digital camera and insert it straight into our | | | | with a home printer can be as much as 50 pence per |
| computer, or a do-it-yourself print machine in a | | | | print. Compare that to the cost of printing photos at |
| supermarket, chemist or photo shop, in order to print | | | | do-it-yourself booths, and it can be up to ten times |
| off our pictures. | | | | more expensive! Uploading photos via the web to |
| But a memory card is a medium upon which | | | | secure storage sites is also a way to get cheaper |
| instructions can be written to by a computer. A digital | | | | photo prints. Plus an added benefit of using that |
| camera is merely a sophisticated, modified computer | | | | method is that it is also a convenient way to share |
| and the cards used in it can also be inserted directly | | | | your photos with others. By choosing to place your |
| into some computers. Therefore, it is theoretically | | | | prints in public folders, you simply send the link to the |
| possible for someone to infect a photo memory card | | | | pictures to your friends, rather than cluttering up yours |
| in their computer then insert it into a printing machine | | | | and their inbox with space-hogging photographs. |