Laptop Theft: A real problem

It’s no lie, laptops go missing more often than car keys. Only, missing laptops are never under the couch cusion, are they?

That’s why the folks over at Absolute Software, are capitolizing on the facts, launching a PR push to help sell their software and keep your laptop safe.

Absolute let me know about a study by the Ponemon Institute, which found 12,000 laptops are lost in any given week. That breaks down to about one laptop stolen every 50 seconds!

So, what do you do to make sure your data is safe and you laptop won’t walk away from you? It’s a solid question, and maybe everyone should think about it before heading out on business with the laptop in tow.

Absolute came up with the following tips:

    1.  Back up valuable data before traveling. Back up your data as
        frequently as possible to minimize the risk of data loss in the event
        that your laptop is stolen. Use an encrypted thumb drive to back up
        sensitive or valuable files and keep it separate from your laptop.
        Because the information stored on the laptop is often more valuable
        than the laptop itself, it is important to treat the data with as
        much care as possible.

    2.  Use laptop recovery and data protection software. Laptop recovery
        tools are highly effective in the event thieves do make off with your
        gear. If you've installed Absolute Software's Computrace(R) LoJack(R)
        for Laptops, the Absolute Theft Recovery Team can use information
        sent from the stolen laptop to track it down, assist your local
        police in recovering it and help prosecute the alleged thieves. And,
        while the laptop is being recovered, Absolute can remotely wipe
        sensitive information from the hard drive, rendering it inaccessible
        to the thieves.

    3.  Don't put your laptop in your checked luggage. Checking your laptop
        is a big gamble; always keep it with you. Apart from not having your
        valuable and expensive gear under your control, baggage handlers
        don't know what is in your bag. You run the risk of having your
        laptop broken or stolen in transit. Keep your laptop inconspicuous.
        Laptops especially should always be carried in nondescript carrying
        cases, such as backpacks or tote bags, instead of tell-tale laptop
        bags.

    4.  Clearly label your laptop to distinguish it from others at security
        checkpoints. When going through the metal detectors, hold on to your
        laptop until the last second. Clearly labeling the laptop itself will
        help you find it among other laptops once through the metal
        detectors. Make sure to put your name, contact information and
        address on the label, as most airport lost-and-founds won't power up
        the laptop to find out whom it belongs to.

    5.  Ask to put your laptop in the hotel safe when you're not using it.
        Most hotels have a safe that guests can use in their room or at the
        front desk. When making a reservation, ask whether the hotel offers
        this service. If they do not, stow your laptop in a secure cabinet in
        the room.

    6.  If you are using a public computer, be aware of keyboard
        loggers/trackers. Identity thieves will often install keyboard
        loggers on to public computers (like those in hotels or public
        libraries). These programs invisibly track the keystrokes of
        unsuspecting victims. A thief can come back at any time and see where
        you've been on the Internet and gather the usernames and passwords
        you've entered.

    7.  Do not log on to unsecured wireless networks. If the wireless network
        you're logging on to doesn't require you to enter a password, don't
        use it. Unsecured networks are a two-way street. While anyone can
        access the network, anyone on the network may be able to access your
        laptop, and subsequently your information.

    8.  Do not access financial or bank records while traveling. Avoid
        accessing financial or banking records while traveling, especially on
        public wireless networks. This will help to prevent your bank records
        and financial information from ending up in the wrong hands.

    9.  Deselect "remember me" when browsing the Internet. Clicking "remember
        me" on websites, or allowing the Internet browser to remember
        passwords or usernames, negates the security those username and
        passwords offer. If a thief gets a hold of your laptop, they will
        have the ability to easily steal your online (and possibly offline).

    10. Clear your history and cache after using a Web browser. Web browsers
        remember everything about your session even after you've logged off.
        Before ending an Internet session - particularly on a public laptop -
        clear the private data (cookies, history, Internet files) stored in
        the browser. This can be accessed through the "tools" menu on most
        Internet browsers.