Insurer warns iPods may be excluded

Is your iPod covered?

IPod and MP3 player users should check their home insurance policies as the devices are almost certainly not covered, Hiscox warned today.

The insurance firm said that most policies do not cover devices or the media files they hold, which can be worth much more than the players themselves.

Hiscox estimates that users who have downloaded large collections may be in danger of losing £800 of music and equipment.

The company explained that most policies do not cover portable devices because they are often taken out of the home and are easy to lose. Even computers are treated separately and not covered under standard policies.

Apple has urged users to backup all songs downloaded from iTunes to ensure that any loss does not cause disappointment.