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Last updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Travelers lugging laptop computers worry about losing them — with good reason. The hardware is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, and lost or stolen data could be priceless. But safeguarding your machine is no cinch. Just ask Luke M. Ford, founder and chief executive of My Computer Works Inc., a tech-support company in Scotts-dale, Ariz. On a recent jaunt to San Diego, he stashed his $1,400 laptop under a desk in his hotel room. When he returned 30 minutes later, it was gone. His traveling companion had left the door open. Fortunately, Ford had encrypted his data and backed up his files on a remote Web site. He bought another laptop, and “by 9:18 a.m. Monday, my office team had my new computer working with all the data.” It takes just a moment to lose your laptop, but by taking precautions, you can reduce the chances and minimize your loss. Here are some tips from several experts, including Ford and the Transportation Security Administration, on keeping your laptop safe: Tie it up and lock it up: Would you leave your wallet or purse in full view in a hotel room? So why do that with your laptop? If Ford had secured his laptop to the desk with a security cable, which many newer computers have fittings for, he might have it still. Travel incognito: Carry your computer in an inconspicuous bag, not one that screams, “I have a $2,500 piece of machinery in here!” But don’t go entirely undercover. TSA employees suggest taping a business card, or at least your name and phone number, to the bottom of your laptop. That helps anyone who finds your lost computer to return it. Take care at airport checkpoints: Many laptops get lost or stolen there. To thwart thieves, walk through the metal detector before your computer goes through the scanner. Retrieve it…

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Safeguarding Laptop Data Is No Easy Task

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