A laptop computer defines convenience and mobility. Maybe you've taken steps to secure the data on your laptop: You've installed a firewall. You protect your information with a strong password. A minor distraction is all it takes for your laptop to vanish. If it does, you may lose more than an expensive piece of hardware. The fact is, if your data protections aren't up to par, that sensitive and valuable information in your laptop may be a magnet for an identity thief.
Chances are you've heard stories about stolen laptops on the news or from friends and colleagues. No one thinks their laptop will be stolen– at least not until they find the trunk of their car broken into, notice that their laptop isn't waiting at the other side of airport security, or get a refill at the local java joint only to turn around and find their laptop gone.
Treat your laptop like cash. Keep a careful eye on your laptop just as you would a pile of cash.
No matter where you are in public – at a conference, a coffee shop, or a registration desk – avoid putting your laptop on the floor. When you take your laptop on the road, carrying it in a computer case may advertise what's inside. Don't leave your laptop in the car – not on the seat, not in the trunk. Parked cars are a favorite target of laptop thieves; don't help them by leaving your laptop unattended. That said, if you must leave your laptop behind, keep it out of sight.
Your conference colleagues seem trustworthy, so you're comfortable leaving your laptop while you network during a break. Don't leave your laptop unguarded – even for a minute. Keep your eye on your laptop as you go through security. If you stay in hotels, a security cable may not be enough. Try not to leave your laptop out in your room. If you're using a security cable to lock down your laptop, consider hanging the "do not disturb" sign on your door.
Some laptop alarms sound when there's unexpected motion, or when the computer moves outside a specified range around you. Or consider a kind of "lo-jack" for your laptop: a program that reports the location of your stolen laptop once it's connected to the Internet.
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