Open aerial wiring can shortcircuit two phases, bringing a low impedance surge that can damage most electric and electronic equipment.
replyAreas with lots of thunderstorms. Also more rural areas with long power lines with few taps off for customers — the long runs are both exposed to many nearby strikes and accept induction well, and the few customers are fewer power sinks to dissipate the spike. So, you're more likely to get hit, and hit harder.
replySounds like if you're in an urban area with buried lines, you don't have to worry?
replyIn urban areas you probably can just have the whole-house surge protector, which protects all costly electronics not just a single device. With just a surge strip on the PC I'd say you're under-protected, yeah.
replyIncidentally whole-house surge protection is now required by code in new houses. Existing buildings aren't required to upgrade, but I reason that what's good for the goose is good for the gander...
I would recommend a circuit surge protector in urban areas.
replyLightning getting through some structure and hitting the electric lines happens. Even when they are buried. It's less of a problem when the ground absorbs a lot of the power before it even get into copper, but it's even less of a problem if there's some cheap device that will burn and protect you from it.