October '06 Tools

Hundreds of thousands of laptops are stolen (or sometimes just forgotten) in hotels, airports, and other public places every year. According to the FBI, laptop theft is the second most common computer crime and less than 2 percent of those stolen laptops are ever recovered.

The information on these laptops isn’t just corporate data, but often includes personal data such as full names and addresses, ages, social security numbers, credit card numbers, photos, financial data, digital signatures, full bank accounts details and other personal details.

A few preventative steps can protect your laptop from theft, and, if the anti-theft measures fail, protect your valuable data and allow you to continue working while efforts are being made to recover your laptop. Here are some essential steps to securing your laptop...

Use A Strong BIOS Password - To create a system password (also known as a boot password), you'll need to access your computer's setup utility (also known as CMOS BIOS settings). Because of the large number of computer manufacturers there are many different ways to enter the BIOS or CMOS Setup. Usually, if you press Delete, Esc or F1 as soon as you turn on your system, and before it begins to load Windows, you'll get the setup menu. If this does not work, you can check your computer's manual or search online at your system manufacturer's site. Once you're into the setup utility, scroll through the options until you find a setting for "security," or it may even be labeled "password." Enter your desired password and make sure you press "save and exit".
Encrypt Your Data - Encryption can give you another layer of protection and, for businesses, it is now mandatory in about 25 states. No matter where your company is located, notification is required if the data of a state resident is breached, and, a single breach may lead to cumulative penalties reaching as much as $10,000 a day. Encrypted File Systems typically layer themselves on top of an existing file system. Once your file system has been encrypted, only someone who knows the password will be able to access the information stored on the encrypted partition. Windows XP Professional comes with an encryption program and there a many good commercial products available online.
Backup Your Files - Frequently the data on your laptop is more expensive to replace than the actual computer. Always backup your laptop before you do any traveling that may put your data at risk. You don't have to back up everything - just the files you will need if your laptop is lost or stolen. A USB flash drive is a great way to do this and will allow you to access your data on any computer. With the increased memory of today's USB drives, you could probably backup your entire system. Taking the time to backup your files is annoying, but losing all of your data is worse.
Cable Lock Your Laptop - One of the cheapest and most cost effective solutions to deter thieves is to attach a security cable to your laptop. About 80 percent of the laptops currently produced are equipped with a Universal Security Slot (USS) so they can to be attached to a cable lock or alarm. Make sure that the lock is sturdy - tubular cylinder locks are preferred to tumbler locks as fewer thieves are readily equipped to pick the cylindrical variety. Make sure your laptop is locked to something sturdy.
Tag Or Engrave Your Laptop - Permanently marking the outer case of the laptop with your name and contact information can increase your chances of recovery if you have accidentally misplaced or forgotten it in someplace like a hotel room or airport security check. Clearly marking your laptop deters casual thieves and may prevent it from being resold if it is stolen. There are a number of metal tamper resistant commercial tags available that could help the police return your laptop if it is recovered. One company offers a product called STOP plates which leave a permanent tattoo on your laptop or PDA. The STOP plate provides unmistakable proof that the equipment is police traceable and/or stolen, making resale virtually impossible. STOP plates link your lost equipment to an international tracking database and recovery system, accessible 24-hours a day. Tags are available at https://stoptheft.com for $25.
Use Tracking Software - If your laptop is stolen, the tracking company will wait for the laptop to send them a location signal when the laptop is connected to the Internet. When a signal is retrieved, the program is instructed to broadcast as much information as it can about the current connection - such as the originating phone number, IP address and service provider.. The tracking company will then notify the appropriate authorities. Cyber Angel (http://www.sentryinc.com) and Stealth Signal (http://www.stealthsignal.com) are two companies that provide tracking services.