Lightning storm outside - does turning my computer off actually lessen the chance of getting struck?

Preventing damage to you computer. Most likely the lighting would hit a transformer on a pole outside first. This can still fry the electronics in your house. I lost a very nice TV when lighting hit a transformer. Unplug it to be safe but having it plugged in doesn’t increase the odds of getting hit.

Preventing damage. Lighting struck my yard a few years back and it travelled right into my room and fried my poor computer. I was plugged into the wall instead of a power strip but I’m not sure if that would have saved it.

I have lost the modem in my computer at least twice due to lightning strikes. The modem is what connects to the internet. So I now unplug the telephone line (which connects to the modem) during a lightning storm. So whether you use a power strip or not, still UNPLUG your modem.

Thanks for all the answers. No fried equipment yet :)