“10 Tips to Keep Your Notebook Safe When Traveling” by tech blogger Chris Pirillo is a collection of helpful notes for preventing your laptop from being stolen on the road. Three of my favorites are: “Keep It On You”, “Back Up Data” and “Use a BIOS Password”.
Keeping your laptop on you at all times is very important. In addition to not giving thieves a window of opportunity, keeping your computer close is a preventative measure. Someone who is going to steal your laptop will probably observe you from a distance first. If they realize your body language is that of a person who is cautious and alert, they may not take the chance.
Backing up your data is one of the most important safeguards for traveling with a computer. If your laptop gets nicked, you will at least know that your important data is safe at home. The alternative is losing weeks, months, or even years of work, photos, music, and documents.
Finally, having a BIOS password may give you a little bit of comfort in the event that your laptop does walk. It is probably gone, but you know that the thief is probably not smart enough to crack your password. Hopefully, that makes it difficult for him to sell it on the street.
Photo by Piyush Chandra.
