Laptop
Computer Security Info and Tips
* Don't Bring It! The simplest solution is to leave
the computer in the office or at home and use a flash drive for access to
documents, remotely log in to your office computer over the Internet, or don't
do any computer work on the road. You won't lose or have your computer
stolen this way. But then productivity falls dramatically.
* Encryption of computer hard disk. Use an
encryption program to protect your files. If you laptop is lost your
files are safe. Read this online article about
computer data
encryption.
* Keep your anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spyware
security software applications up-to-date.
* Store important and confidential data on a device
such as flash drive, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
* Never loose sight of your computer. If you
are watching your computer it won't get stolen and it is less likely to get
lost. How can you loose it? Putting your computer bag down while
checking into the airport, leaving it in a taxi, forgetting about it after
having lunch at a restaurant, etc.
* Change log-on password frequently. Use
passwords for confidential files.
* Airport Security Screening Stations. Surprisingly,
with all the security folks hanging around, laptops are still separated from
their owners. Still vigilant throughout the airport security screening
process.
* Use a motion detection laptop alarm. Some
alarms plug into your laptop's PC card slot. When it is moves the alarm
goes off.
* Hotel Room and Vehicles. If you leave your
computer in the hotel room, at least put it in the hotel room safe. If
you have to leave it in a car - put it in the trunk. Use some
hotel security measures to avoid having your laptop stolen - such as
leaving your TV on, lights on with curtains shut, and hang a "do not disturb
sign on door handle" to present the appearance of someone in your hotel room.
If you do leave your laptop set up in your hotel room then secure it to a
piece of furniture with a security cable.
* Coffee-shop Security. In urban areas with a
prevalence of coffee shops laptops are increasing being stolen. Look up
from your computer from time to time. Never leave the laptop on the
floor in its bag next to your seat or table. Never leave the laptop by
itself if you need to run to the bathroom. Be choosy of the part of town
that you sit down in for coffee!
* Cable-Lock. These are $40 or so. Wrap
the cable around a stationary object and then lock it to the computer.
* Always Carry-on, Never Checked Luggage. Use a
carry-on bag while traveling on airlines, don't check your computer in your
checked luggage. Use a backpack instead of a computer carrying bag.
It is less noticeable to thieves.
* Record your computer serial number and model name
and number.
* If your computer is stolen visit
www.stolencomputers.org. Report the theft to hotel management and
hotel security (if there is any).
* Report a stolen computer to the local police.
More Laptop Computer Security Info and Tips
Laptop Security Guidelines for IT Professionals. LabMice.net.
Top
Ten Computer Security Guidelines. New York University
Information Technology Services.
Laptop
Theft. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Laptop Security Series. Suite101.com.
Theft & Loss
Protection for Laptops, Notebooks. TuxMobil.org.
Laptop Tracking Software, Security Locks, and Marking Tags
Computrace Laptop Security. AbsoluteSoftware.
Adeona.
Free, open source system for tracking and recovering lost and stolen laptops.
Jetico.
BestCrypt, BCWipe, BCArchive, and Personal Firewall.
Kensington.
Computer security locks.
Lojack for Laptops. Stolen computer recovery service.
StopTheft.
Laptop theft prevention, recovery and management.
Targus Security Accessories. Security cables, laptop privacy
filters, and more.
XTool Mobile
Security, Inc. Laptop security, anti-theft tracking recovery, data
encryption, and remote delete.
Security Checkpoint Laptop Bag. Aerovation, makers of a laptop
carrying bag that meets requirements of the TSA.
Computer Security Resources on the Internet
Computer Security
Institute (CSI).
Computer
Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Department of Justice.
Computer
Security Resource Center (CSRC). An extensive catalogue of
security, government, vendor, and resource sites that relate to computer
security.
Information Security Forum.
Security Focus.
Internet resource for computer security.
PGP
Whole Disk Encryption. Protect you laptop data.
