Protect Your Laptop

A laptop is stolen every 53 seconds and only three percent of stolen computers are ever recovered. In 2003, a joint study by the Computer Security Institute and the FBI estimated that the average cost to a company per mobile PC stolen is more than $47,000 per incident reported.

According to ITAC (WorldatWork's Telework Advisory Group), there are some simple steps you can take to protect your laptop whether you’re at home or on the road. Here’s what they advise:

Alarm it. If your laptop is touched by an unauthorized person, the motion alarm will go off, and presumably thieves aren't going to want to carry around a shrieking notebook.

Disguise it. Carry laptops in a case not specifically designed for laptop use.

Lock it or lose it. Use a cable lock to anchor your laptop the same way you would a bicycle. The idea here is you chain it to your desk so that if burglars break into your home, they can't just walk away with your laptop. This could also work in a hotel setting.

Hide it. Do not leave your computer in plain sight in your vehicle or in your home, locked or not. Cover the computer or place it in the trunk of your car where it is not easily seen.

Of course, remember to always back up all your data on a regular basis, so that if the worst happens, you can recover your important information.

Best,
Jacquelyn Lynn