How To Prevent Your Laptop Theft
Each daytime about 2,000 laptop computers are stolen. Many of these thefts could be prevented. Here are some prudent steps you can take to prevent your portable computer from becoming a police statistic.
General Rules For Protecting Your Laptop From Thefts
- Lock your notebook in your office during off hours.
- Review and understand the laptop insurance coverage involved in your commerce and homeowners policies to ensure you have coverage for theft.
- Keep only the most necessary proprietary information on the portable.
- Do not load passwords on the laptop, particularly those allowing remote and e-mail communication with clients or the office.
- Never leave your laptop unattended in a public put even for a moment.
- Consider installing a bootup password, available on most portables, so only users with your password can access the hard disk.
- Back up files and store them in some place other than the laptop carrying case.
- Consider engraving the company name or some other identification on the laptop cover.
- Be particularly cautious about installing any software from unknown sources: it may contain a virus.
- Pay attention to where you use the portable. Be aware that your computer screen can be seen by someone behind or next to you. This is especially true on an airplane.
Travel Rules
- Do not use a carrying case that advertises there's a computer inside. Carry your notebook in a strong, padded, nondescript bag.
- Never leave the laptop in full view in your car.
- Never check the computer as luggage at airports.
- Keep hold of your laptop at all times in airports.
- At airport security checkpoints, be observant
- Don't place the laptop on a conveyor belt until you are ready to walk through the checkpoint
So keep these rules in your mind if you are afraid that your laptop can get in bad hands!
Related Reading:
Laptops For DummiesGet a move on! Learn to roam free with this guide to choosing and using a laptop
Laptops come with everything you need to get going — everything, that is, except a guide to buying and using one. This book covers portable computers from laptop to lap-bottom, with useful advice on picking one, setting it up, managing power and peripherals, going online, and hitting the road.
Which one fits your lap? — learn what to look for, what to ignore, and how to find the laptop you'll love
Get acquainted — tour your laptop and locate its buttons, disk slots, security features, and keyboard peculiarities
Windows, laptop model — test-drive Windows® on your laptop and know where to find programs, files, and network access
Feel the power — discover how to monitor your laptop's power and prolong battery life
You've got connections — introduce your laptop to a network and connect to the Internet wherever you find it
Make friends with your OS — find out how to use the latest features in Windows® 7 and other laptop-friendly operating systems and keep your laptop happy
Bells and whistles, anyone? — add a portable printer, PC Card, or USB gizmo to make your laptop more versatile
Prepare for takeoff — protect your laptop and your data when you travel
Open the book and find:
Translations of laptop buzzwords
Regular maintenance and troubleshooting tips
Steps for safely unpacking your laptop
Advice on maximizing power, memory, and hard drive space
Tips for strong passwords you can actually remember
What the differences are between netbooks and laptops
How to make phone calls and video-chat from your laptop
Descriptions of ten cool laptop accessories
Learn to:
Make the most of the latest laptop features and capabilities
Synchronize your laptop with your desktop and cellphone
Set up security for mobility and social networking
Beef up your laptop's memory and hard drive capacity
Laptops For Seniors For DummiesNow's the time! Learn to pick a laptop, use Windows, and take advantage of the Internet
Tired of wondering what all the fuss is about? This book is written for people like you, who may not know much about computers but are ready to learn. In plain English, it tells you how to use a computer, the Windows operating system, and basic software; what to look for in a laptop; and how to get online to shop, e-mail, and chat — safely.
Compare — understand the differences between standard "notebook" laptops, netbooks, mids or minis, and tablet PCs
Choose wisely — consider weight, monitor size, price, how you'll connect to the Internet, processor speed, and memory
All the details — charge the battery, set up user accounts, adjust settings, and manage power
Learn what you can do — manage your finances, watch movies, research topics of interest, organize your photos, and create family newsletters
Do Windows — log on and off, manage files and folders, and use accessibility features
Communicate — set up an e-mail account and join a social networking site
Be careful — learn about online risks, how to protect yourself, and how to recognize fraud and scams
Simplify your life — shop, bank, and pay bills online
Open the book and find:
How to keep your laptop running smoothly
What you can do with built-in applications
Advice on searching the Web
Tips for protecting your privacy
How to access the Internet when you travel
How to use accessibility features for vision or hearing challenges
Where to find help
How to connect printers and other devices
Learn to:
? Choose the right laptop for you
? Work with the built-in touchpad or attach a wireless mouse
? Use Windows® 7 to manage files and optimize performance
? Safely send and receive e-mail and explore the Web
Laptops All-in-One For DummiesThe all-in-one guide to buying, using, securing, and transporting a laptop—it's ten books in one! If you want to take a computer with you on a trip, to a coffee shop, or into the kitchen when you're cooking, laptops are just the ticket. They're portable, powerful, and popular—but they're not desktops, so you’ll want to know what you’re doing from the get-go. This terrific, ten-minibooks-in-one book covers all the bases: how to choose the best laptop for you, what you need to know when you’re on the road, how to get more productive and more.
- Shows you how to keep your laptop running smoothly and safely at home, at work, in the classroom, and on the road
- Includes ten books in one: Choosing the Best Laptop, Setting Up Your Laptop, Running Basic Windows Operations, Using Common Applications, Playing with Multimedia, Managing Your Power Supply, Upgrading Your Laptop, Networking and Linking to the Internet, Protecting Your Laptop, and Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Offers advice and tips on using your laptop safely and efficiently, including what accessories you need
- Reflects the very latest technologies, including Windows 7 and the new Microsoft Office 2010
This easy-to-follow For Dummies guide tells you everything you need to know about laptops!
