Security Concerns for the Laptop and Notebook Computer

There is no doubt that security is one of the most important concerns
for any computer owner. Any person who owns or uses a computer must
always take the steps necessary to secure the valuable information it
contains, but laptops and notebooks can be far more susceptible to
theft, damage and data loss than desktop PCs.

If you think you do not need to be concerned about the security of
your laptop or notebook computer, take a minute to think about the
information it may contain. If you have ever shopped online, chances
are good that your credit card number, debit card number and PIN number
are hidden somewhere within it. If you have ever checked your bank
balance or paid a bill online, your bank account number, Social Security
number and password may be on the hard drive.

To this vital personal information, add the valuable business
information that may be lurking on the laptop or notebook. More and
more laptop owners use their computers to connect to the office network,
and that means that downloaded files, passwords, account ids and the
like may be vulnerable to prying eyes. There have been many high
profile accounts of laptops containing information on tens of thousands,
or even millions or customers and clients, and the companies involved
in those losses may be subject to substantial fines and penalties, in
addition to all that bad publicity.

The good news is that securing your laptop or notebook computer is
not as difficult as you may think. In many ways, securing your laptop
is merely a matter of common sense, knowledge and planning. The common
sense part is making sure your laptop is securely on your person at all
time. The laptop or notebook should never be left unattended even for
an instant, and it is important to always keep a close eye on the laptop
as it travels through airport security. Many laptops are stolen off
the conveyor belts at airport security checkpoints, so it is important
to keep one eye on your laptop as you endure the ever increasing
security lines at the airport.

Of course physical security is only one part of the equation, and the
other part is securing the valuable data the laptop or notebook
contains. One of the simplest to implement, yet most often overlooked,
aspects of laptop security is the power on password. Establishing a
strong power on password is one of the most effective ways to keep
prying eyes away from your computer, and to render it useless to many
thieves.

Implementing strong virus protection is another important aspect of
securing your laptop or notebook PC. Every PC, whether desktop, laptop
or handheld, should have a good virus scanning program installed. After
the virus scanning program is in place, it is important to have the
software check for updates on a daily basis, as there are always new
viruses being released. This protection is even more important if the
laptop will be connecting to the office network. After all, no one
wants to be responsible for bringing down the office network through an
unprotected personal laptop.