The present invention describes a method and an apparatus for preventing damage to an apparatus resulting from the consequences of a free fall. In this case, first of all, a free fall of the apparatus is identified and a measure is then carried out to protect the apparatus against damage. According to the invention, free fall is in this case identified by detecting the ambient pressure. The apparatus may have a hard disk in which the write/read head of the hard disk is parked and/or locked on identifying the free fall.