Here is a short, but sweet, bit of computer advice. If you hear a thunderstorm on the horizon, unplug your computer AND unplug the cable that connects your computer to the internet. In fact, if you live in a place that gets a lot of thunderstorms (in my city we seem to be having one per day this summer — climate change??), you might want to consider leaving your computer and internet connection unplugged whenever you are not using them, at least during the storm season.
The reason I am writing this is because we had a thunderstorm yesterday while I was out and my computer and internet modem (ADSL) seem to have been hit. They are both going to need replacing as a result.
This has not happened to me before in over twenty years of owning a computer, so perhaps if you don’t think it will happen to you, then just stick with unplugging your computer when you are at home and a thunderstorm develops. If you have a good (and new, and not previously damaged by a thunderstorm) surge protector, you might not have to unplug your computer, but you still may want to consider doing something about your internet connection.
If it’s not plugged in, it can’t be fried.
I have a surge protector but will take extra precautions and unplug during a thunder storm