SCOTS have a huge collection of items stored digitally, with experts valuing it at more than £2 billion.

And they are among the most security-conscious in the UK as more people north of the Border change online passwords at least once every six months compared with other regions.

Family photographs are listed as the most valued digital items by Scots.

Analysts said Scottish consumers' digital assets are valued in the region of £2.122bn and for individuals in Scotland this is calculated to equate to a collection of around 44 e-books, 22 films, 35 TV programmes and 2566 songs. More Scots have a digital camera, 81%, than any other area of the UK, with only 71% owning one in Northern Ireland.

According to a UK-wide survey of digital values and attitudes by PwC, however, many are still not doing enough to protect their digital assets. While just over half of Scots (58%) are confident they will be able to replace most of their digital content - one of the highest responses across the UK - around one in three would not.

Colin Tait, valuation director, PwC in Scotland, said: "Almost everyone nowadays buys or stores digital assets from books and games to music, spreadsheets, family photos and personal messages, across a range of different devices.

"As we continue to grow our digital world, many of us haven't truly calculated just how valuable this content is and, as a result, may not be doing enough to protect it.

"While we can't put a price tag on the more sentimental items, we do know that if we lost them it would affect us dearly."