Do I need UPS or Surge Protector? I am confused.

Which one? Many completely different devices are all called surge protectors. Profits for some (ie Monster) are obscenely massive because so many recommend them without bothering to learn what they do.

For example, for RVs, the surge protector is for a low voltage or reversed polarity. How does that harm a computer? It doesn't. But it is called a surge protector. Therefore it must do surge protection? Hardly.

Ineffective protectors (with near zero protection numbers) claim to magically block or absorb surges. View their numbers. A destructive surge can be hundreds of thousands of joules. How many joules does an APC, Belkin, Monster, or Panamax protector claim to absorb? Hundfreds? Thousand? BTW, why does a maybe $10 protector from Walmart have similar numbers? Those other manufacturer know many if not most will recommend near zero protector by completely ignoring specification numbers. Sometimes foolishly believe a more expensive protector must be better. And yes, another here has previosly become angry when these facts with numbers were posted.

Companies with integrity sell a completely different device called a surge protector. This is the only solution found in all facilities that cannot have damage - even from direct lightning strikes. This superior solution costs about $1 per protected appliance. Provided by Siemens, Polyphaser (an industry benchmark), GE, Leviton, Ditek, Keison, Clipsal, Interamtic, Square D, Syscom, Novarix, and ABB to name but a few. A Cutler-Hammer solution is sold in Lowes and Home Depot because even informed layman can install it.

Again, protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules are harmlessly absorbed. So effective protectors connect low impedance (ie 'less than 3 meter') to what actually doss protection - single point earth ground. Those near zero protectors also have no dedicated wire for the always essential aerth ground. And will not discuss it.

How does a 2 cm part in those plug-in protectors stop what even three kilometers of sky could not? That is what some others here have claimed.

Some effective protection systems have no protector. But every protection system always has the only item that defines each layer of protection - earth ground. Where do hundreds f thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Only valid recommendations answer that question.

Best protection means a surge current is not anywhere inside the building. Because if anything needs protection, then everything needs protection. If a surge is inside, then that current goes hunting for earth destructively via appliances. Nothing (no matter how many others make this claim) nothing will stop a destructive surge current. Anything that tries means a surge voltage increases as necessary to blow through that blocking device (ie a 2 centimeter part).

More numbers. A direct lightning strike far down the street is a direct strike incoming to every appliance. Lightning is maybe 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Because effective protectors protect from all types of surges - including direct lightning strikes. And do not fail after many direct lightning strikes.

Grossly undersized protectors (with too few joules) fail. That gets the naive to recommend on a myth of "My protector sacrificed itself to save my computer." Total nonsense. If a surge current is incoming to a protector, then at the same time, that current is also outgoing from that protector into adjacent appliances. Never forget how electricity works.

Appliances (especially electronics) already contain protection that is often superior to what grossly undersized protectors claim. A surge too tiny to overwhelm that existing internal protection can also destroy an ineffective, undersized, and adjacent plug-in protector. Then naive consumers recommend that near zero power strip - that can only absorb how many joules? Never ignore these numbers.

So that protection inside all appliances (dishwasher, furnace, air conditioner, dimmer switches, GFCI, clocks, TV, etc) is not overwhelmed, then informed consumers earth a 'whole house' protector - ie from those companies of integrity.

A\gain, nothing stops or blocks a surge. Nothing. Best protection for cable TV is a hardwire connected low impedance (ie less than 3 meters) to single point earth ground. Other incoming wires (ie telephone, AC electric) cannot connect directly to earth. So a 'whole house' protector does what that hardwire does better - connect hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly to earth ground.

Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules are harmlessly absorbed. Always.

Bottom line: a protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Protectors without that dedicated connection to earth do not even claim to protect from destructive surges. Only claim to protect from surges already made irrelevant by what is already inside appliances.

Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. That is the only solution always found in every facility that cannot have damage. And typically costs a residential homeowner about $1 per protected appliance.

I have been doing this stuff for too many decades. Am not manipulated by advertising myths and hearsay. This proven 'whole house' solution means damage happens when the installer makes a mistake.

You telco's CO will suffer about 100 surges with each thunderstorm. How often is your town without phone service for four days while they recplace that $multi-million switching computer? Never? Because they also properly earth 'whole house' protection. It is that well proven for over 100 years.