Thwart Laptop Thieves While You Travel

(ARA) – Every week, thousands of laptops are stolen from airports. Thieves thrive in the chaos and volume of travelers at most American airports throughout the year. And the cost of a stolen laptop goes far beyond the money you paid for the machine.

“On top of the financial cost, the potential data loss, security issues and identity theft associated with a missing computer can seriously worsen the situation -- and have far-reaching consequences for individuals and companies alike,” says John Livingston, chairman and chief executive officer of Absolute Software, a company specializing in computer theft recovery, data protection and IT asset management.

At airports alone, 12,000 laptops a week are lost, according to a survey by the Ponemon Institute. While the loss of an expensive laptop can dampen anybody’s spirit, the potential for identity theft will hang over the victim’s head throughout the year. Credit card, Social Security and bank account numbers are just some of the pieces of sensitive information that can be lifted from a stolen computer.

Absolute offers these five tips for protecting your laptop from loss or theft while traveling:

1. 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 computer is often more valuable than the computer 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 computer. If you’ve installed LoJack for Laptops by Absolute Software, it can report a laptop’s location information, helping the Absolute Recovery Team to track down and recover the device with the help of the police. And, while the laptop is being recovered, Absolute can also remotely wipe sensitive information from the hard drive, keeping it out of thieves' hands.

3. Keep your technical gear with you. Checking your tech gear with your luggage is a big gamble. 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 gear broken or stolen in transit. Keep your computer inconspicuous. Laptops especially should always be carried in nondescript carrying cases, such as backpacks or tote bags, instead of tell-tale laptop bags. And, if you have to keep your laptop in your car, put it in the trunk before you arrive at your destination.

4. Clearly label your laptop to distinguish it from others at security checkpoints. 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 computer to find out whom it belongs to.

5. Ask to put your laptop and technical gear 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.

Courtesy of ARAcontent