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I'd recommend surge protectors for the computer and everything connected to it - the monitor, the printer, the modem, and the Ethernet cables to protect against a power spike. Or even better, get a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). That will give you a chance to do a proper shutdown in case of a power failure - or keep the system from shutting down due to a momentary glitch.

During a lightning storm, I try to disconnect most of my equipment. But if I had a direct hit by lightning, there is no guarantee that the equipment is absolutely safe even with those measures.

There is also the possiblity that your video card or monitor had a bad component. There have been a lot of bad capacitors used in electronics lately. They might like like a small bulging tin can if that is the problem. Do any of them smell smoky?