Safeguarding Your Laptop

Ways to keep your laptop computer from vanishing when out and about.

Federal Trade Commission

A laptop computer is great for convenience and mobility. But it can be an easy target for thieves ─ when you least expect it. Treat the laptop as if it were cash! Here are some tips on how to safeguard your laptop.

A laptop computer defines convenience and mobility. It enables you to get things done from a hotel room, a conference hall, or even a coffee shop.

Maybe you have taken steps to secure the data on your laptop: You have installed a firewall, updated your antivirus software, protected your information with a strong password, encrypted your data, and you're too smart to fall for those e-mails that ask for your personal information.

But what about the laptop itself? A minor distraction is all it takes for your laptop to vanish. If it does, you may lose more than an expensive piece of hardware. The fact is, if your data protections aren't up to par, sensitive and valuable information in your laptop may be a magnet for identity theft.

Chances are you have heard stories about stolen laptops on the news or from friends and colleagues. No one thinks a laptop will be stolen ─ at least not until they find the trunk of their car broken into, notice that their laptop isn't waiting at the other side of airport security, or get a refill at the local java joint only to turn around and find the laptop is gone.

OnGuardOnline.gov ─ a Web Site managed by the federal government that is devoted to computer security protecting personal information and guarding against Internet fraud ─ suggests keeping these tips in mind when you take your laptop out and about:

Treat your laptop like cash. If you had a wad of money sitting out in a public place, would you turn your back on it — even for just a minute? Would you put it in checked luggage? Leave it on the back seat of your car? Of course not. Keep a careful eye on your laptop just as you would a pile of cash.

Keep it locked. Whether you're using your laptop in a hotel, or some other public place, a security device can make it more difficult for someone to steal it. Use a laptop security cable; attach it to something immovable or to a heavy piece of furniture that's difficult to move — say, a table or a desk. Be especially careful of leaving a laptop in a hotel room.

Keep it off the floor. No matter where you are in public — at a conference, a coffee shop, or a registration desk — avoid putting your laptop on the floor. If you must put it down, place it between your feet or at least up against your leg, so that you are aware of it.

Keep your passwords elsewhere. Remembering strong passwords or access numbers can be difficult. However, leaving passwords either in a carrying case or on your laptop is like leaving the keys in your car. There is no reason to make it easy for a thief to get to your personal information.

Mind the bag. When you take your laptop on the road, carrying it in a computer case may advertise what is inside. Consider using a suitcase, a padded briefcase, or a backpack instead.

Get it out of the car. Do not leave your laptop in the car — not on the seat, not in the trunk. Parked cars are a favorite target of laptop thieves; don't help them by leaving your laptop unattended. That said, if you must leave your laptop behind, keep it out of sight.

Don't leave it “for just a minute.” Your conference colleagues seem trustworthy, so you're comfortable leaving your laptop during a break. The people at the coffee shop seem nice, so you ask them to keep an eye out while you use the restroom. Don't leave your laptop unguarded ─ even for a minute. Take it with you if you can, or at least use a cable to secure it to something heavy.

Pay attention in airports. Keep your eye on your laptop as you go through security. Hold onto it until the person in front of you has gone through the metal detector ─ and remain watchful when it emerges on the other side of the screener. The confusion and shuffle of security checkpoints can be fertile ground for theft.

Use bells and whistles. Depending on your security needs, an alarm can be a useful tool. Some laptop alarms sound when there is unexpected motion, or when the computer moves outside a specified range around you. Or consider a kind of “lo-jack” for your laptop: a program that reports the location of your stolen laptop once it's connected to the Internet.

Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more tips on securing your computer, protecting personal information whether you are using a wireless connection or a traditional one, and guarding against Internet fraud. OnguardOnline.gov is maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

This article, and hundreds more, can be found on the NEA Member Benefits web site in the “Member Library” section: www.neamb.com/consumer_articles.jsp