Stealing Laptops During the Holidays
When you take your laptop with you everywhere you go, there are a number of times when you put your laptop down and maybe turn your head away for a second or two. That time likely doubles when traveling through an airport. Though a couple of seconds is not a long time, that’s all the time a thief needs to grab and getaway with your electronic companion. If you plan on traveling with your laptop this holiday season, then travel prepared. Remember, statistics are not on your side. According to Gartner, one laptop is stolen every 53 seconds. In addition, according to a Ponemon Institute study, 12,000 laptops a week are lost by business travelers alone. Of that number, only 35% say they protect the information ingested in to their laptop.
The greatest risk a stolen laptop poses is losing the data on the PC that might be used for identity theft. Many people use their computers for online banking, e-commerce, household accounts, and personal correspondence. Information on the computer could be used to charge up credit and buy merchandise in the owner’s name. Plus, as more companies issue laptops to employees, corporate data is also at risk. If confidential information, like a customers’ personal data, is lost it can cause major damage and liability to a company.
To help ensure a safer and less hectic holiday season, Absolute Software and Security World News offers some tips:
Back Up Valuable Data Before Traveling. Travelers should back up data as often as possible to minimize the risk of lost information if the laptop is stolen. Use an encrypted thumb drive to back up files and keep it separate from your laptop.
Use Laptop Recovery and Data Protection Software. Laptop recovery tools are highly effective in the event thieves do make off with your gear. In addition, the security vendors’ software solutions, such as Absolute Software’s Computrace LoJack, can help track the laptop.
Don’t Put Your Laptop in Checked Luggage. A Traveler should always keep their laptop with them. If you leave it up to a baggage handler, then you run the risk of having your laptop broken or stolen in transit.
Carry your laptop in a case that is protective and padded. For extra protection attach a motion sensor device to the laptop that sounds off after detecting movement.
Clearly Label Your Laptop. When going through the metal detectors, you should hold on to your laptop until the last second. Once through the metal detector, clearly labeling the laptop will help you find it quickly. Put your name, contact information, and address on the label.
Do Not Log On to Unsecured Wireless Networks. If the wireless network you want to use doesn’t require a password, don’t use it. If anyone can access the network, then someone on the network may be able to access your laptop.
Do Not Access Financial or Bank Records While Traveling.
Deselect “Remember Me” when Browsing the Internet. Allowing the Internet browser to remember passwords or usernames negates the security those username and passwords offer.