Portable Device Security

Theft of tablets, laptops, smart phones, and other portable devices is on the rise. Originally stolen for their street value, these devices are becoming more and more a target for the information they carry. As these devices become smaller and lighter, they become more vulnerable to theft.

Common high risk areas of concern continue to be:

• airport security checkpoints
• airport curbsides, ticket counters, and gates
• airplane overhead compartments
• hotel rooms, and
• inside cars.

Losing a laptop is not just the loss of money: it is a significant loss in productivity and resources, especially if the data contained on it is not backed up. Even more serious is the loss of potentially sensitive information.

Basic common sense steps can be taken to help protect these now ubiquitous targets.
• Do not check your laptop with the rest of your baggage. It may become damaged, lost, or stolen.
• Keep your laptop in sight. When going through security checkpoints, do not place your laptop on the belt until the checkpoint is clear for you to walk through. Be especially careful when using the restroom or making a phone call. It takes a thief only a moment to walk off with your belongings. On the plane, if not using the laptop, stow it under the seat in front of you, not in an overhead compartment.
• Do not rest your laptop on top of a rolling luggage carrier.
• Keep your laptop with you on a train instead of putting it in the luggage compartment near the exit, where thieves have easy access.
• Don't leave your laptop or briefcase inside a car. If you must, store it inside the trunk, out of view.
• Never leave your laptop unsecured in a hotel. Use the hotel safe or a locking cable, or hide the laptop. Do not assume that your laptop is safe just because you are staying in a reputable hotel. Consider leaving the TV on at a moderate volume and placing a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door when leaving the room so potential thieves will think the room is occupied.
• Avoid temperature extremes. To avoid damaging your laptop and data, don't start the computer when it is extremely cold or warm. Manufacturers recommend ambient temperatures of 45-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow your laptop to come to room temperature before powering it on.
Protecting the Information
• Ensure current antivirus protection. Connecting from a hotel or other travel site puts you outside the protection provided by the County's firewall, so be sure your laptop's virus definitions are up-to-date before traveling. Virus definitions are normally automatically updated on PCs managed by the company, when connected to the Internet.
• Never store a password on the computer or in the computer bag. A stolen laptop with a stored password provides easy entry to a company’s network.