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Top Tips to Protect Laptop Computers from Theft and Compromise of Sensitive Data

by Richard Cunliffe

Laptops are ideal companions for increasing productivity. Now employees can carry on working at home, on the train or in hotels. This rapid expansion in mobile computing is coupled with the increased risk of these devices being damaged, lost or stolen. This article should help provide some practical guidelines on how to protect your laptop better.

Laptops contain many pieces of information and most of these will be valuable to the individual or to a company. Confidential documents are often stored on laptops and when these are lost, they can be costly to a company through the replacement costs and damage to the company's reputation.

The following points should be considered when dealing with laptop security:

1. Avoid using a computer bag.
   Having a bag branded with Dell/HP/IBM etc. shows the world that you are carrying a laptop. Try carrying your laptop in a rucksack or padded briefcase.
    
2. Take your laptop with you.
   Never leave a laptop in the boot of your car. Insurance companies aren't impressed paying out for these sort of claims; many won't pay out. Certainly, never leave it on view in a car. Take your laptop on a plane as hand-luggage rather than checking it in.
    
3. Keep an eye on your laptop.
   Don't put it on the floor. This presents the opportunity to forget it is there or for thieves to pick it up and take it away. Try not to leave your laptop in your hotel room. If the security deposit box is big enough, put your laptop in there. Alternatively, try leaving the "do not disturb" sign on the door. This will prevent anyone entering your room during the day and reducing the risk of theft.
    
4. Ensure your laptop is password-protected.
   As a bare-minimum, set up a password that prevents a thief logging on to your laptop.
    
5. Encrypt your hard drive.
   If you carry sensitive data on your laptop, you should use encryption to protect its contents. There are many tools available but if you're a Microsoft Windows user you can learn more about how to encrypt your data with Windows XP, encrypt your data with Windows Vista, or encrypt your data with Windows 7.
    
6. Use a screen-guard.
   These devices attach to the laptop screen and ensures the content is blurred when viewed from an angle. You may have seen this in use by banks.
    
7. Use a laptop lock.
   A laptop lock attaches to your laptop and is secured to something solid such as a non-moveable table. Use the same principles that you would use when securing a pedal bike. Don't attach it to anything moveable!
    
8. Register your laptop with the police and set up a tracking device.
   Most police stations will be able to record the serial number of your laptop and mark the product in UV pen to be able to identify the laptop as yours, should it be found. There are also tracking solutions available such as mylaptopgps.com which will track your laptop and silently return your important files to you.
    
9. Change any home network security keys.
   If the thief has your laptop and know where you live, they could piggy-back off your network and retrieve ever more information than you have already lost. Ensure all home network security keys are changed.
    
10. Change all passwords.
    Yep, all of them. Your windows password, e-mail password, online banking logins, Amazon login etc... You've probably told your laptop to remember all of them and the thief could be using your account and credit card to pay for their Christmas shopping.
     
11. Pray.
    You should hope that the laptop will be returned or that the thief formatted the laptop and sold it on without causing you further distress.

Finally, if your laptop has been stolen, don't forget to notify the police and your company (if it's a company laptop). As laptops losses never seems to be out of the news, individuals and businesses alike can adopt these measures to help preserve their information assets.

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