In today’s society, traveling with a laptop seems like an everyday occurrence, whether for “mobile office” or just personal use. There are some things you should be aware of when traveling with your laptop. Since it is portable and portable items can be easily lost or stolen. Here are a few tips to help avoid heartache and an employer’s wrath.
#1 Treat your laptop like cash. Some of the information might be replaceable. Other information, however, may be irreplaceable. There is also the risk of someone using the information to further their cause (attempt to sell it back to you, or one of your competitors). If nothing else, it will be the hell and countless hours you have to go through to get another machine and get it setup just like the laptop which disappeared.
#2 Never leave your laptop alone and exposed, ANYWHERE! Not in the car, not in a conference, not anywhere someone armed with a crowbar or just a bag can easily grab it. Airports are especially notorious for this type of theft.
#3 Invest in a security lock. These long steel cables can be used to lock your laptop to a bench, table, or other stationary object, via a dial (or padlock) which can only be removed by someone with the code or key. Otherwise, the computer has to be damaged to remove it from this lock. One way to increase the difficulty of taking your laptop from an exposed area is to run the cable through the handles of your briefcase, thus adding a damper to a swift pull. That is: if your handles absorb some of the tug of someone trying to make off with your laptop, it will be much harder for them to yank the lock mechanism from your laptop. Evidence Solutions, Inc. requires its employees to use a lock even if their laptop is in the trunk of the car. If attending a conference, the laptop must be locked to a table or some other object which is difficult to move. The idea is to deter the casual thief. Most thefts are non-targeted and opportunistic. By placing a lock on your laptop you are preventing this from possibly happening. A good lock costs about $25 and can be found at most electronics retailers.
#4 Never carry written passwords with your computer. If you must write down passwords (we recommend you never do, but we realize this is not realistic for some) keep them in a separate bag or in your wallet. So in the event your computer is stolen, you still have your passwords which can be changed if needed.
