| Identity theft is quite rampart today. | | | | must be on the floor they should be by our feet |
| Consequently, we can't say that we weren't | | | | (or in between them) so we have a continual |
| warned, if ours is stolen, because there is | | | | reminder of where it is at. |
| information everywhere on how to protect our | | | | We don't leave our bank account numbers laying |
| important and personal information. We also read | | | | around or write out ATM PIN's on our bank cards, |
| much about protecting the data on our computers | | | | so why should we leave or write our passwords |
| from prying eyes as well as from viruses and | | | | on our laptops? |
| other harmful malware. But one thing we don't | | | | When traveling in foreign countries where there is |
| hear too much about is keeping our physical | | | | danger of being robbed, we don't carry all of our |
| computer safe. | | | | money in a bulging wallet in our hip pocket |
| Granted, if we have a regular desktop PC, there | | | | advertising to all criminals where our loot is. No we |
| is only so much we can do to protect it. But what | | | | carry our money in a breast pocket or carry it in |
| about the gazillions of laptops that people take | | | | a special holder under out shirt. Same with laptops. |
| with them - just about anywhere they go - | | | | Why carry them in laptop bags and advertise to |
| traveling in airports, staying in hotels, the local | | | | the world we have a laptop PC in our laptop bag. |
| coffee bistro, bookstore or other hangouts. What | | | | We could just as easy carry them in another bag |
| can be done so that we don't lose just our data | | | | of some sort, like a backpack, brief case or piece |
| and important information - but our whole physical | | | | of luggage. |
| laptop? | | | | We don't leave cash laying on the seat or dash of |
| Someone has best said it as this - "treat your | | | | cars, so why leave laptops locked in our car |
| laptop just as cash". Now think about it. It makes | | | | where they can be seen by anyone walking by. |
| perfect sense. | | | | We should at least hide them - if possible. |
| We wouldn't leave a couple of hundred dollars | | | | When in crowds we are mindful of pickpockets so |
| setting on a table top while we go buy a coffee. | | | | we pay attention. Same as with laptops. We need |
| We wouldn't leave a pile of money on the seat of | | | | to be vigilant when we have them with us. When |
| our car. We wouldn't leave a bunch of hundred | | | | we are in security lines at the airport we cannot |
| dollar bills laying on a dresser in a motel room. So | | | | leave them out of our site for one minute. |
| if we wouldn't do it with money, why would we | | | | When staying in hotels, we don't leave money or |
| do it with out laptops? | | | | jewelry laying around on the dresser or bed. No |
| Based on this, here are things that you can do to | | | | we put them in a safe if we are going out for the |
| prevent your laptop from being stolen: | | | | night. Same with laptops. If there is a safe big |
| We don't let our money lay around loose on a | | | | enough for it, that is the safest place. But if not, |
| table, but rather keep it secure in a wallet, in a | | | | we should at least attempt to hide it somewhat |
| money clip, or in the bank. While we can't hide our | | | | and secure it down to an immovable object. |
| laptop in our pocket, we can keep it locked and | | | | If we have a bunch of cash or valuables at home, |
| secure. We can tether it to an immovable object | | | | we usually have a burglar alarm. Same as with |
| so that it doesn't disappear. | | | | laptops. Some laptops can be alarmed to sound an |
| We don't keep our wallets on the floor. No we | | | | alarm under specific conditions. |
| keep them up, within close reach, and keep them | | | | Our laptops can be kept safe if we only think a |
| in our pockets or purses. Same thing with our | | | | little. If we think about this basic premise of |
| laptops. We should not just let them lay | | | | treating our laptops as cash we will save |
| unattended and out of the way on the floor, we | | | | ourselves a lot of cash, headaches and frustration |
| should keep them up and by our sides. If they | | | | by not having our laptops lost or stolen. |