When travelling abroad with your laptop for business or pleasure there
is always a risk of your computer being damaged, lost or stolen. Not
only can this have a direct financial impact as you have to replace the
hardware and software you've lost, it can have a much larger impact on
your time and effectiveness if you have lost important data. The seven
suggestions below will help keep your laptop and data safe and, if a
problem does occur, minimise the disruption to you.
1. Back-up before you go
Losing
your data is a massive inconvenience and isn't worth it for the short
time it takes to back-up all your key files before you travel. Some PC
security products come with back-up software or you can save to a
separate external drive you leave at home or to a web-based service.
Whichever option you choose, this is the most important way to protect
the information on your laptop.
2. Set a secure password
This
won't stop someone stealing your laptop but if they do, you want to
make it as hard as possible for them to access your data, especially if
you have personal or financial information on there. There isn't much
that a high-end hacker can't get into with enough time, but your laptop
is very unlikely to be stolen by that elite group unless you work in
particular industries.
For most cases you want to set a secure
Windows password to make it harder for petty criminals to access. Choose
a password with at least 8 characters and a combination of upper and
lower case, alphabet and numerical characters and ideally symbols.
If you want additional security look at encryption options and passwords for individual files or folders.
3. Keep firewalls and laptop security up to date
This
is especially important if you will be using public Wi-Fi as many
scammers set-up fake Wi-Fi hotspots to gain access to laptops. Ensuring
your laptop security is up-to-date will help prevent unauthorised access
to your machine, files and personal data.
It is also sensible to
minimise your use of public Wi-Fi or any network you are unfamiliar
with. Check them as much as you can before carrying out any sensitive
activities over the network and if it looks suspicious, stay away.
4. Carry your laptop in a proper laptop bag
There
are a wide range of well-designed laptop bags available on the market
that not only offer excellent protection for your laptop from bumps and
scrapes, but are also practical, spacious and comfortable to carry.
Opt for a laptop backpack rather than a traditional laptop case to make it less obvious that you are carrying a computer.
Choose
one that has a zipped laptop compartment and for extra security ensure
the main zips can be locked with a TSA padlock. Make certain the laptop
has good padding, is the right size for your laptop and is comfortable
to carry.
5. Keep your laptop with you at all times
Leaving
your laptop unattended is the most likely way you will lose it - either
through forgetting it or having it stolen. Whenever you can, keep your
laptop with you and hold onto it. If you have to leave your laptop
behind, find somewhere secure - such as the hotel safe if it will fit.
6. Don't use your laptop in public
If
you use your laptop a lot in public, it makes it much more visible to
potential thieves. Keep public use of your laptop to a minimum and if
you do use it in public, find a quiet corner to work in. It also helps
if your laptop doesn't look obviously expensive.
7. Use your bag straps if you put the bag down
It's
unrealistic to think you'll hold your laptop bag in your hand all the
time. One trick I use is to put one of the laptop bag straps around my
leg when I put it down. This works in two ways. First, if someone tries
to grab it I'll feel it and can react. This is especially true in
restaurants and bars where you can be easily distracted.
The
second benefit of this is that it makes it much less likely that you
will walk off, forgetting your laptop, as again you will feel the strap
tug at your leg. For all the concerns about theft it's surprising how
often people simple walk away from their belongings only to remember
them when it's too late.
Following these tips won't guarantee
your bring your laptop safely home with you, but they will significantly
reduce the chances of a problem on your trip.
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