Safeguard Your Data & Yourself

10 Tips to Safeguard Laptop Data
Credit: The Hartford Group

1. When traveling, never transport your laptop in checked luggage. Carry it on with you, and keep an eye on it at airport security.
2. Apply distinctive paint markings to make your laptop unique and easily identifiable.
3. If you step out of a meeting or conference room, take your laptop with you – or it may not be there when you return.
4. Carry your laptop in a non-descript carrying case, briefcase or bag. A case designed for computers is a clear signal to thieves that you are carrying a laptop.
5. Back up your information regularly and keep the information stored in a safe place.
6. Don’t let unaccompanied strangers wander around your workplace. Offer assistance and escort visitors to their destinations.
7. Parking garages are common theft locations. Cover your laptop to hide it from view or place it in the trunk.
8. If leaving your laptop in the office overnight, place it in a locked cabinet or secure it with a cable lock that wraps around a desk or chair leg.
9. Consider purchasing a theft alarm system specifically made for laptops.
10. Avoid automatic log-ins. They may be easier, but if your laptop is ever stolen, your information is all the more vulnerable.