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Preventing Laptop Theft this Back-to-school Season
7/21/08 (1:02 p.m.) ARA – Today’s students gear up for
back-to-school season by stocking up on expensive technology, from MP3 players
to laptops. However, most students are unaware that dorm rooms and schools are
some of the most dangerous places to store precious electronic equipment.
Dormitories and schools are among the top five places from
which laptops are most likely to be stolen, reports Absolute Software, a firm
specializing in computer theft recovery, data protection and asset tracking.
“Students have a false sense of security on campus,” says John
Livingston, chief executive officer of Absolute Software. “Many students are
bringing thousands of dollars of electronic equipment into their dorm rooms
with little to no security precautions. It’s just open season for criminals.”
It’s not just the hardware costs that students need to be
concerned about. Since these devices are often used for school work and
personal computing as well as entertainment, losing a laptop can negatively
impact academic performance or put a student at risk for identity theft.
Students need to know how to protect themselves.
Computers now play multiple roles in a student’s life --
notebook, library, photo album, stereo, television and telephone. Computers
also serve as a primary means of communication for students with faculty,
family and friends through e-mail, instant messaging and social networking
sites. Protecting a computer is part common sense, part hardware and part
software. Absolute Software offers these tips to students:
1. Use visual deterrents. A cable lock or other locking
mechanism can act as a deterrent to would-be criminals. Although they can be
ripped off the plastic exterior of a laptop with a strong tug, they do force
some criminals to think twice before taking the risk.
2. Avoid leaving unsecured laptops unattended. Lock them in
cabinets, safes or other secure facilities when not in use. If they must be
left in a vehicle, they should be covered up or locked in the trunk.
3. Keep laptops inconspicuous. Laptops should always be carried
in inconspicuous carrying cases, such as backpacks or tote bags, instead of
tell-tale laptop bags.
4. Use complex passwords and change them regularly. Don’t use
simple passwords that can be guessed easily. Always use a combination of
numbers and letters and never leave your password in obvious places on or near
the computer.
5. Leverage anti-virus software, encryption solutions,
anti-spyware and firewalls. Prevent unauthorized access and spyware from
invading your computer and protect valuable information with data encryption
software. Make sure your systems are properly installed and kept up-to-date.
6. Back up valuable data on a scheduled basis. Data backup
needs to happen as frequently as possible to minimize the risk in the event of
theft or loss. The information or ”knowledge” that is stored on the computer
is often more valuable than the computer itself.
7. Understand the dangers of pirated software and file sharing.
Both piracy and over-deployment of purchased licenses can lead to significant
lawsuits or other financial penalties. Not only is it illegal, but pirated
software can increase susceptibility to viruses, Trojans and other attacks.
8. Check your insurance policy. In the event of a loss, some
homeowner’s insurance policies will cover computers that are taken outside the
home. If a student lives in a dormitory, renters insurance may be in order.
9. Use asset tracking and recovery software. Install an asset
tracking and recovery tool such as Computrace LoJack for Laptops (www.lojackforlaptops.com)
to track and recover a computer that is lost or stolen. Computrace LoJack for
Laptops’ Student Edition includes remote data deletion capabilities, which
significantly reduce the risk of identity theft if your laptop is stolen.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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