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Data theft from computers and laptops is a growing menace. The data stored in your laptop, more often than not contains some amount of confidential information. This could be classified information about your company's latest business strategy or even your bank account details - data that you certainly want to keep away from falling into the wrong hands. You can follow some simple measures to minimize the threat of a data theft from your laptop.
Data thefts often happen online and it is in your best interest to use a safe browser. For example, Mozilla Firefox is a robust browser that offers better protection against spyware than other browsers.
Whenever you are connected to a network of any kind, make sure you always keep the Firewall in active mode. If you've turned off the Firewall, open ports can allow some applications to connect to your laptop, exposing your data.
No matter how confident you are about your password strength, always encrypt your files and folders. This reduces the risk of someone accessing your confidential files by loading your hard disk into another computer. Nevertheless, always use complicated passwords that cannot be easily cracked.
Another way to protect your data is to lock your operating system against all unnecessary services. This would also mean putting a stop to all unneeded update installations. But, always keep the automatic updates option of your anti-virus enabled and make sure these are checked for and installed every 24 hours to protect your system from new threats.
If you work on a network in office, ensure that you have some wireless security measure in place. Lack of wireless encryption can expose you to data security threats. You can also consider installing Virtual PC and test all applications on it before you run them on your laptop. If you are not sure about the safety of a particular website, you can use Virtual PC to browse it.
You should try and use the latest operating system for better security. Using Ubuntu Linux is a good option if you are acquainted with this OS; it is available for free, installs easily and offers better protection than Windows.
Never leave your laptop unattended and if you do, make sure to lock it. If you are working on your laptop and you come across an unknown computer to computer network, do not connect to it. In addition, if convenient, you should also use a screen guard when you are working in a public place. This will prevent people from peeking into your screen.
Some users also have the habit of carrying password and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) in their laptop bags; this is never a good practice. Even a casual check through your unattended bag can cause your valuable data to leak within minutes.
Listing your laptop with one of the various laptop recovery services is always a good idea. In case your laptop is stolen and the thief uses it to go online, the software will trace its location.
Follow these simple tips and work safely on your laptop, and you will be protected against most laptop and data security threats.
For More Information on Santa Barbara Laptop Rentals or Austin desktop rentals, contact a Computer Rental expert at Vernon Computer Source.
A lot of people are using laptops these days and it's not exactly surprising. They're easier to use and carry around. Those who need to travel need not part with their data just because now, everything could be carried around from one corner of the globe to another. Portability is, of course, the main thing that makes these gadgets a favorite. From the most mundane office tasks to the most exciting social networking activities, laptops can prove to be heaven sent. In fact, not just business people tend to have them. Anybody who wants the freedom of being able to live their computing lives at any place and time has drawn people to these laptops, whatever their personal reasons may be.
Laptops may be easy to carry around and most users appreciate this. But without proper care, this portability may just become a cause for security breach. Whether it's used for personal or business reasons, those computers will always have information that their owners would rather keep to themselves. Aside from the risk of physical theft, the owner could also lose his personal information. Because the laptop can be carried around in malls, airports, parks and everywhere else, it can also be an easy target for people who may not have the best of intentions. Good if the laptop is all that's stolen. What's more important is the information inside, Imagine if you stored there your bank account number, usernames and passwords. Anyone an use that information and soon you'll be faced with a credit card bill and you won't even remember buying those things detailed on it. Probably, you won't remember because you never made those purchases- a thief did. While you may have your credit card with you, somebody may have stolen your private information and pretended to be you while entering into a number of financial transactions. The worst part is, you'll be the one paying.
Another way to make sure you have your data safe and secure is to have a backup of all these files that you believe are sensitive or crucially important. At least, when you lose the laptop, you'll have the information you stored which is much harder to get a substitute for. You should also note down your laptop's model, serial number, and other information unique to it. For claiming and law enforcement purposes, this could be very helpful.
Your information will be the safest if you could encrypt them. Some operating systems come with an encryption feature but if yours doesn't, you can always rely on software to do the job. Some of them can be downloaded off the Internet. Of course, the golden rule in downloading from the Internet is to ascertain that the site you get the file from is safe.
Another thing you can explore is getting a software that allows you to remotely access your laptop if it falls in the wrong hands. This software will enable you to copy your important files and to delete them once you're done so the thief can't use them for his own benefit. If you have corporate information, the thief could actually sell that to your company's competitor and this could be seriously damaging to your career. Or, again, you could simply become a victim of identity theft. You certainly wouldn't like either scenario.
Protecting your computer with an operating system login and password might be good but this will not be absolutely fool proof. You can strengthen your PC's protection by providing a passwords fro your computer at the BIOS level. That means your laptop can't even work without the required password.
As for Internet security, you can count on an IP hiding software which is a program that allows you to surf with your laptop's IP address hidden. This way, you won't be identified by hackers who may be on the loose. And when you're not identified, you're inevitably safe.
Computer identity theft is increasingly common.
Computer identity theft is what happens if someone gets access to your personal information, such as your social security number, credit card number, driver's license number and passports without your knowledge by accessing the information on your computer. Often this information is from your laptop computer that has been stolen.
How common is it for laptop computers to be stolen?
It is estimated that more than 500,000 laptops are stolen annually in the United States alone and the number continues to rise. This is a staggering amount of laptops that are on the streets and in the hands of people that may want to steal your personal information. Stolen laptop computers are a very common event which is why the police find it difficult to have the time to assist with the recovery of the laptop let alone deal with the criminal access of your personal information. Laptop security software is a common sense practical solution to prevent computer identity theft.
How secure is the information your laptop computer?
Your laptop is usually your link to the cyber world. It connects you to many business and social networking sites as well as allowing you to order items online. It is now normal to send private information across the internet. It has become a normal part of the world that we live in. What would happen if your laptop was stolen? You may not only lose personal and commercial information stored on your computer, but also the thief would have access to your personal identification details which could mean that the thief could steal your identity. Thieves use this information to carry out illegal transactions purporting to be made by you. Preventing this occurring can save you a lot of money, time and inconvenience.
Top 10 reasons for using laptop security software for protection from computer identity theft.
1. The number of laptops being stolen along is constantly increasing and the chance that your laptop computer will be stolen is constantly rising.
2. Laptop security software helps prevent you from being the victim of computer identity theft.
3. It helps you protect your personal information and keep it secure even in the event of computer theft as you can remotely retrieve files from your laptop and delete them.
4. When you remotely delete files they are deleted to a high forensic standard that prevents them being recovered by computer hackers thereby not only protecting your personal information, but also commercially sensitive information.
5. With one remote command you can render the stolen laptop unusable if you wish.
6. It allows you to access files on the stolen computer without the thief being aware that it is occurring. The laptop security software can record all activity that occurs thereby allowing you to backtrack any unauthorized activity that occurs.
7. Provided you purchase the best laptop security software it allows you to geo locate the stolen laptop to within 60 feet of its location to assist with recovery.
8. If you have valuable business information on your laptop computer laptop security software is a cheap method of insurance.
9. If you are a professional or business person your laptop computer may not only have business information in its files, but confidential personal information of your clients that could be accessed and misused.
10. Protecting yourself from being sued for negligence for not taking reasonable risk management steps to your protect clients' personal information from identity theft is a clear benefit.
What you want from laptop computer software:
The following features and benefits of laptop computer software are essential:
* Invisible internet access to your stolen laptop.
* The ability to remotely access your files on your stolen computer from another computer to delete the files or retrieve them and then delete them.
* To have a Geo locate feature which you can use to locate where your laptop is which allows you to alert the authorities to recover your stolen property.
* Monitor and record what the thief is doing because this not only helps law enforcement officials recover your stolen computer, but also allows you to undo any damage they may have already been done.
* To render your stolen laptop unusable remotely once you realize that it has been stolen.
Read the Resource Box to discover how to the find the recommended solution to help prevent computer identity theft.
Jack Taggerty is a freelance author who owns a number of websites and blogs and knows that the security of your personal information and that of clients is essential to prevent computer identity theft. Follow this link to read his recommendations to help prevent it: http://www.identity-theft-scout.com/laptop-security.html
More and more details are emerging concerning lax security of data and I am becoming increasingly concerned at the absence of even basic precautions to prevent unauthorised disclosure of data.
There have been laptops stolen, lost or simply forgotten at airports which contain sensitive information. Not long ago a Cabinet Minister had a desktop computer stolen, which had data not normally allowed outside Whitehall. The Minister concerned told the Press that it was safe as it was protected by a password. There was incredulity among those present as passwords are so easily overcome. One wag even enquired if the password was 'PASSWORD'.
Desktops and laptops often store system passwords in CMOS which is a volatile store chip within the computer and is kept alive by a small coin type battery on the motherboard. This same chip holds the date and other start-up data. If you remove the battery and leave it for a few minutes, this data is lost and the password is removed. The other type of start-up password is held in an encrypted form on hard disk.
It is relatively easy to boot the computer from a CD or alternative operating system, access the password files and delete them. Rebooting the computer in the normal way shows that the password has been removed.
I am no computer expert, but this easy routine is readily available on the internet and it beggars belief that anyone, let alone, those in Government think that their data is secure when 'protected' in this flimsy way.
In my job I travel widely and I have a laptop which is protected by a password but the data I carry is on a separate removable drive which is encrypted at file level so that even if the drive was stolen and put into another laptop the data could not be accessed.
I use Folder Lock to secure my data. There are many other programmes available but I like this one.
Folder Lock is a fast file-security program that can password-protect, lock, hide and encrypt any number of files, folders, drives, pictures and documents in seconds. Protected files are hidden, undeletable, inaccessible and highly secure. It hides files from anyone other than the authorised user, safeguards them from viruses, trojans, worms and spy ware, and even protects them from networked PCs, cable users and hackers. Files can also be protected on USB Flash Drives, Memory Sticks, CD-RW, floppies and notebooks. Protection works even if files are taken from one PC to another on a removable disk, without the need to install any software. It locks files in Windows, DOS and even Safe Modes.
I know that my sensitive files are protected and that my Clients data is protected.
Chris Eden FIBC, MISSA, ACQI is a director of Quality Matters Limited an established independent management consultancy based in Essex, UK which specialises in ISO27001 Information Security Management consultancy.
Desktop security software is just a common way for referring to software that protects your computer. ?Now that many people only use a laptop as their primary computer, the distinction almost seems unnecessary. ?Just to clarify, there is never any distinction between desktops or laptops when talking about security software.
Let's just get on to the tips for secure traveling with your laptop!
Before You Go
Be sure to install all of the latest security patches. ?This should include your OS and third party applications (chat, PDF viewer, browser, etc.). ?As part of this, make sure all of your desktop security software, as well as the software you use normally, is up to date. ?This will guarantee?protection against any threats you may encounter on a public WiFi connection.
As tempting is it may be, it is best not to mention anything about going on vacation on your social network of choice.
Make a backup of your computer. ?This is one of our ten rules to keeping your system secure, but make sure you definitely make a backup before you leave. ?Should you get some sort of infection while out and about, you will be able to enjoy your vacation much more if you know the contents of your disk are safe at home ready to restore when you get back.
If you haven't already done so, encrypt or password protect your data and/or any data devices you are taking with you. ?Just like pickpockets hang out in crowded tourist areas, hackers look for chances to exploit unprotected public WiFi.
During Your Trip
Most people who travel with a laptop are very quick with the computer usage they need. ?Usually, they just need to log in quickly to check and send e-mail. ?Because of not wanting to be on the computer too long, you may be tempted to bypass any virus definition updates from your antivirus or other security software. ?Because new threats are flagged everyday, please, don't forget your updates. ?This is a must!
If on an unknown network where you are unsure about the security of the connection, do not enter personal details such as credit cards or passwords. ?If you want to be extra careful, disable autostart for programs that use the internet to log on with a password (Skype, MSN, etc.).
In addition to the above, avoid Internet banking on networks that are not your own. ?This even includes your hotel. ?Just because they have high speed Internet does not mean that it is secure and virus free. ?If you have kept your security software up to date, your system should catch any threats. ?But why risk it? ?If it is really necessary to do business while away, invest in a portable wireless option from your Internet Provider before you go.
Because flash drives and other USB devices are a common source of malware infection, turn off the "Autoplay" option in the control panel. ?Another suggestion is to give each one a quick scan with your antivirus or anti-malware software before opening any files.
Optional: ?Change your wireless network settings and avoid connecting to unsecured public WiFi. ?This can be done from the control panel at "Network and Internet Connections."
When You Get Back Home
Scan and patch the computer you work on, if it should be different from the one you had on your trip. ?Remember, as long as you have been away, it has been sitting there, collecting dust on its virus definitions and other security updates. ?This is a pain on a busy day back in the office, but know it will be part of your first day back and schedule it in so you don't skip over it in a rush.
Finally, you probably took some pictures. ?Maybe you took a lot. ?You will also probably want to share those pictures. ?However, JPG files also have an EXIF field that many are unaware of. ?If you took these pictures with your iPhone or other smart phone, this field will have GPS coordinates. ?This is not necessarily a concern for everyone, but say you were staying in a vacation home that you or a friend owns. ?Some one could find this picture online, see your comment how the vacation house now has a new TV, and find out exactly where this unoccupied house is from the JPG. ?For more information, learn how the EXIF field can be? cleaned.
Safe and digitally secure travels!
Nate enjoys keeping up with desktop security software news, reviews, and tips to help his readers be aware and prepared for any situation that might endanger online security. For more articles on the subject written by this author, please visit the links below.
[http://www.edesktopsecuritysoftware.com/]
[http://www.edesktopsecuritysoftware.com/desktop-security-software/desktop-security-software-tips-for-traveling-with-a-laptop]
Today you could find lots of laptop computers in computer shops they are more popular than desktop computers for they are more convenient to bring along to school or work or to other countries. HP produced lots of different laptops and one of this is the HP Envy 14-1110NR.
The HP Envy 14-1110NR this model is an upgrade of their previous 13 inch model, this new model has a strong performance, has a better screens, an excellent graphics plus it serves as a great competitor for the MacBook Pro.
This model of HP has a 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory and an Intel Core i5-460M Dual Core Mobile Processor. Aside from that it also has a 640GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive.
It has a wide screen that is 14.5 inch WXGA (1366x768) LED Backlit display and with a 2.0 Megapixel webcam.
The models also has a built in 8x DVD+/ -RW Dual Layer Burner plus it has an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 Dedicated Graphics with a 1 GB Memory.
Has a connectivity of 802.11a/g/n Wireless, a Bluetooth and a Gigabit Ethernet.
The advantage of this model is that its build quality is excellent as well as it has a strong general and graphic performance plus it has a very comfortable backlit keyboard that allows you to see what you're typing even in a dim corner.
Its disadvantages are that it has a lot of unnecessary software and has a glossy display.
It is installed with a windows 7 home premium operating system plus it has office starter, a cyber link DVD, some Photoshop elements, MS Security and a MediaSmart. It weights 5.7 lbs it's much easier and lighter for individual to carry especially those who are always on the go or always travels from one place to another due to their work.
Always see and asses yourself what you want in a laptop so that you won't have a hard time finding the right one for you.
You can learn more about the HP Envy 14-1110NR online, along with other cheap HP laptops.
Click on the links above to find out more.
Coming from a group of false and fake antivirus programs, cyber security actually enters the computer with the help of a link, which has a hidden Trojan in it. The user would be tempted to click on the link to download the latest antivirus software and by doing so; the computer is no safer.
Cyber security like most of the others in the same family of disguised viruses, do not have anything to do with security. The program is out and out a virus that puts the security of your computer at stake. The only and the best way to get around this is to effectively run a cyber security removal program.
A cyber security removal program is nothing but the downloading of a reliable and genuine antivirus or antispyware program that will do on its own the entire task of removing the fake antivirus from the system. Mind you, this security has the capability of disabling any existing antivirus program that is already running in the background. You will have to install another antivirus program to help in the speedy cyber security removal process. The following two steps should be kept in mind while removing cyber security:
Do remember to switch off your internet connection after you have downloaded an antivirus or antispyware. This will help in preventing entry of further Trojans and prevent the existing Trojan to send information of your computer to another remote set-up. This information may also include all your personal financial and bank information if you have them stored already in your PC or laptop.
Do not at any point of time log out of the antivirus removal program that you have just begun. Never try to interrupt the process since that will cause a break in the normal scanning that might miss the rogue program completely.
Once your computer has been scanned through, click on all the files that are shown as infected and proceed to delete them. Generally, the program itself will take care of this; no manual operations are involved. Once done, you have completed the cyber security removal successfully.
Are you frustrating that viruses/trojan infect your computer and disturb your computer performance? Need to get cyber security removal in easy and fast way? Scan your computer now with free antispyware scanner and delete/uninstall the virus. When you've fixed them, be amaze how fast your computer is.
http://spyware-removal.online-product-reviews.net
About Author:
Bryan Adam Miller is software expert that review many antispyware and antivirus software in the market. He is also Virus thread analyst that contribute to the security software company.
