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There is no denying laptop theft happens. Nearly half a million were stolen in the US last year so we thought we would put this quick tip list of what you can do to help prevent it from happening to you.

  1. Lock it down - One option is to secure your laptop to a stationary object when you’re not using it or moving it. Most laptops have security slots in the side or back, which can be connected to a security cable that releases with a key or code.
  2. Keep it out of site – When travelling with your laptop in the car keep it out of site when you are not using it e.g. lock in the boot.
  3. Carrying it with you – Take your laptop with you on the plane
  4. Keep your eyes on it and avoid putting it on the floor – When you are in a public place like a waiting room or coffee shop avoid putting your laptop on the floor and if you have to put it down keep your eyes on it at all times.

Since being careful is no guarantee that your laptop won’t get stolen here are a couple of things you can do to ensure your data is safe should laptop theft happen to you.

  1. Back up your data – You should backup the files on your laptop regularly e.g. weekly to minimise the amount of data you will lose if your laptop is stolen. For instructions on how to do this backup click here.
  2. Encrypt your data – Encrypted files need an encryption key to be read, which means that if your laptop is stolen others will not be able to view them. In Windows XP and Windows Vista you can select files and folders that you would like to encrypt. To learn how to do this in Windows XP click here, to do it in Windows Vista click here.