Protect Your Laptop and Your Information
According to a study released by the Ponemon Institute, business travelers lose a staggering 12,000 laptops each week at airports by their count. According to a survey by the FBI, 97% are never recovered.
When you consider that 65 percent of survey respondents indicated they were carrying confidential information, this number is even more shocking. Most of the respondents also indicated they weren’t taking any specific measures to protect that information. That is a lot of unprotected information up for grabs when people get careless in the waiting area of an airport.
Remember the following prevention and mitigation tips before your next business trip. zoo xxx video
Prevent laptop loss or theft by giving yourself plenty of time at the airport. Pack lightly so that you are not overwhelmed by vast amounts of luggage. Also, security checkpoints and gates are the most common places that people lose their computer. Be particularly careful in both of these areas.
Make certain to encrypt and back up all important files. By doing this, if you do lose your computer you will minimize any risk that confidential company information will end up in the wrong hands. With the backup you will be able to quickly rebuild your files quickly and minimize your downtime. Windows XP & Vista lets you encrypt files and folders. Do this by right clicking your data, select properties, open the general tab, then the advanced box and finally check “encrypt contents to secure data box”.
You can clearly identify a stolen or lost laptop to police by using invisible, ultraviolet markings on your laptop. Another option is to store a copy of your laptop’s serial number somewhere other than your laptop.
To slow down a thief, set up a BIOS Password for your laptop. Regularly backup your information. Although you can easily replace your hardware, personal data may take months or years of work to get back.
A theft-recovery system like a LoJack for Laptops can be helpful if you do lose your laptop or have it stolen. With some theft-recovery systems, the computer will automatically call a Monitoring Center once a day, but that can be increased if your computer is stolen. Then your computer can check in with the Monitoring Center and they can remove sensitive information by initiating a data delete.
No matter your business, CMIT Solutions of the Atlanta Georgia I-575 Corridor can help you meet your business solutions by having technology work for you. We provide IT consulting and computer support services so you no longer have to worry about IT problems. For information on computer and network support contact CMIT Solutions of the Atlanta Georgia I-575 Corridor.
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Nice article.
Only two things that I can add to that.
1. Many laptops will give you the ability to set a hard drive password. If yours does, set it.
2. Sometimes, a computer is literally just lost… not stolen. Always keep your name and phone number ON your stuff…
Identify your laptop bag with a tag of some sort. I advise people to go the local pet store and get their name and phone number engraved on one of those little metal dog tags. Attach it to the zipper of your laptop bag. It's cheap and it looks nice.
Put a sticker on the bottom side of the laptop that says, “If lost please call [Owner's Name] on cell phone at [Cell Phone Number].”
You'd be surprised at how many people will try to return something when they find it… as long as there is some identification attached. I know plenty of people (myself included) who have returned wallets with the cash still in it.
The number of thieves in the world is has been greatly exaggerated by the media… AND insurance salesmen.
Nice article.
Only two things that I can add to that.
1. Many laptops will give you the ability to set a hard drive password. If yours does, set it.
2. Sometimes, a computer is literally just lost… not stolen. Always keep your name and phone number ON your stuff…
Identify your laptop bag with a tag of some sort. I advise people to go the local pet store and get their name and phone number engraved on one of those little metal dog tags. Attach it to the zipper of your laptop bag. It's cheap and it looks nice.
Put a sticker on the bottom side of the laptop that says, “If lost please call [Owner's Name] on cell phone at [Cell Phone Number].”
You'd be surprised at how many people will try to return something when they find it… as long as there is some identification attached. I know plenty of people (myself included) who have returned wallets with the cash still in it.
The number of thieves in the world is has been greatly exaggerated by the media… AND insurance salesmen.