Tip #4302 - Preventing Computer Theft
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Q:
I always worry about my laptop being stolen when I'm traveling for
my job. Do you have any tips on what I can do to prevent theft or
just what I should do to keep my computer safe? Any suggestions would
be great!
A:
First of all, I just want to tell you how great
I think it is that you're even asking this question! In my opinion,
people don't think about computer safety seriously enough. They just
go about their daily lives, never worrying about something happening
to their computer (or any other devices, for that matter). It's good
to know that someone is being cautious about their computer and wondering
what they can do to keep it safe!
So,
for that, I assure you that you've come to the right place! Below
are a few tips you can follow to prevent your computer from being
stolen, along with a few recommendations that will help you cope a
little easier if that does ever actually happen. Alright, here we
go!
Here's
what you can do to protect your computer from being stolen:
1.) When you first
get your computer, you should always write down its serial number
and model number. You can find those on the bottom of your computer
tower or on the bottom of your laptop. You should also write down
a customer support phone number for the manufacturer of your computer.
That way, if anything happens to your PC, you can call them right
away for assistance. They will always ask you for the serial and model
numbers, so it's very important to have that information on hand.
2.) You should
always keep the receipt for your computer and any other equipment
that may have come along with it. Your receipt is vital in these kinds
of situations.
3.) If you have
a laptop, you may want to think about getting a lock for it. Attaching
it to a lock will help keep it safe while you're traveling through
airports or even while you're at work or in a local coffee shop. There
are many different laptop locks you can purchase. A few companies
you may want to check out are Kensington, Targus and Compucage.
4.) If you travel
a lot with your laptop (like the person who asked today's question),
chances are, you spend a lot of time at the airport. We've gone over
this before, but again, always keep a close eye on your laptop while
you're going through the metal detector. That's a prime opportunity
for thieves to take your personal belongings. You should also keep
your laptop with you at all times while you're waiting on flights
and when you're on the plane. Never let it out of your sight!
5.) If you're
using a personal computer, you may even want to go as far as having
your name engraved on it, along with your contact information. That
way, if anything does ever happen to it, it'll be easier to identify.
Now, here's
what you can do to eliminate some of the stress if your computer is
ever stolen:
1.) You should
always keep an updated backup of all your important data on an external
drive. If you have all of that information on something that is separate
from your computer, you'll save yourself a lot of time and stress
if anything ever does happen to your PC.
2.) Another good
thing to do is create a password for your computer. That way, if it
is stolen, no one will be able to access it unless they figure out
your password. When you're doing this, make sure you create one that
is not easy to identify. Including a jumble of both letters and numbers
that still make sense to you is the best way to go.
3.) You should
also encrypt or even password protect any personal information you
put onto your computer. Doing that will help keep your data even more
secure.
Lastly, there
are a few companies out there today that can help you protect your
computer or in the event that it is stolen, they can help you locate
it. Some you may want to look into are Absolute Software, Safeware,
XTool and zTrace. No matter what extremes you decide to take, your
computer is one of the most important devices you use in your daily
life and I urge you to do what you need to do to keep it safe and
protected. Hopefully you have gotten some good ideas from today's
tip and now, you can go and put them to work. Go for it and keep safe!
~ Erin
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