Airports and hotels are favorite places for thieves. Laptops disappear from both and that is bad enough. But often, irreplaceable data has gone with them.
Here are some tips to leverage your lost.
Encrypt sensitive data. If your laptop has Windows XP or Vista Business, you have built-in-file-encryption system. Encryption will protect your business secrets, but it will not retreive your data. To do that, you have got to back up your information to another computer. If your laptop should be stolen on your trip, you may be able to borrow a computer at your destination and download your important files.
Set a system password. This way, a system password prompt will appear each time your start your computer before Windows even begins to load. It will prohibit any access to the computer at all. To create a system password, you will need to access your computer’s setup utility (also known as CMOS BIOS settings)
Consider laptop PC insurance. A few insurers, such as Safeware (www.safeware.com), specialize in insuring computers.
Trace a stolen laptop’s location. There are programs that will report the location of a stolen laptop. They work when the laptop connects to the Internet. Tracing programs include zTrace (www.ztrace.com), CyberAngel (www.sentryinc.com) and ComputracePlus (www.computrace.com). Laptop tracking and recovery software
- LAPTOP COP (www.computersecurity.com/laptop-tracking/)
- Computrace (www.absolute.com)
- XTool Laptop Tracker (www.stealthsignal.com/xtooltracker.aspx)
- PC PhoneHome (www.pcphonehome.com)
How most tracking and recovery software work
Mostly you have to install a special software to your laptop. The software will continuously report the current location when the laptop connects to the Internet. Once you report the laptop is stolen, the software vendor starts tracing your laptop. Most software also offer triggering the software to capture theif’s picture, capture vdo, deleting files.
How it reports your laptop’s location
Most of tracking and recovery software use IP2Location. IP2Location is database-driven solution to identify visitors’ geographical location such as their location (country, region, city, latitude, longitude, ZIP code, time zone), connection speed, ISP and domain name using their IP addresses.
Some software use Geolocation based on Wifi and GPS. Geolocation can be performed by associating a geographic location with the Internet Protocol (IP) address, MAC address, RFID, hardware embedded article/production number, embedded software number (such as UUID, Exif/IPTC/XMP or modern steganography), invoice, Wi-Fi connection location, or device GPS coordinates, or other, perhaps self-disclosed information. Geolocation usually works by automatically looking up an IP address on a WHOIS service and retrieving the registrant’s physical address.
What to do if your laptop is stolen
- The first thing. You have to go to the nearest police station and file a police report. While some police will not be particularly interested or concerned about helping you recover your laptop, others are surprisingly helpful.
- Change all of your online passwords. Whoever has your computer can now gain access to your online bank and brokerage accounts, email, PayPal, eBay, Amazaon and any social networking websites you belong to. Change those passwords now to prevent online accounts from being compromised.
- Keep an eye on Craiglist and eBay. It’s a long shot, but if you are really desperate to get your computer back, you could try monitoring Craigslist and eBay. You could also check local resale stores and computer repair shops. There’s always a chance that it might turn up.
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