US PREVENT THEFT OF YOUR COMPUTER RedOrbit - Technology - Prevent Theft of Your Computer

Prevent Theft of Your Computer

By Mikusch, Rita

Computer theft is a growth industry (especially when it comes to laptops), and the damage to victims isn't just the cost of the computers-it's also the cost of peripherals, software, data, and inconvenience.

Here are some steps you can take to mitigate or even prevent this damage:

Use anti-theft hardware

Numerous companies provide hardware devices you can attach to your computer to prevent theft. Here are a few options:

* Cable locks - An old favourite, cable locks physically secure computers by locking them to nearby objects. Most laptops come with special security ports to which you can connect the cable; some cables, however, require specific types of security ports, so you'll need to do some research and make sure the cable you're buying will work for you. Kensington, Targus, Computer security Products, and securtech are some of the companies that provide cable locks (website addresses are provided at the end of this article).

* Alarms - Most alarm systems consist of a motion sensor or a wired sticker that triggers the alarm when removed. Targus's "DEFCON 1" combines a steel cable with an alarm system; the alarm is triggered if the cable is cut or the computer is moved while the motion sensor is activated. "PC Tab Alarm System," by Computer security Products, consists of a series of wired stickers or "tabs" that connect to an alarm panel; the stickers are attached to the computer, and the alarm is triggered if a thief removes them.

* Enclosures - An enclosure is a steel cage into which you can lock your computer, thereby preventing it from being stolen or, at the very least, opened (the thief won't be able to remove components). Similarly, a laptop locker can be used to secure your laptop when you're not using it. One interesting variant on the laptop locker is the pizza box-the rationale is that nobody's ever going to look in a pizza box for a laptop! A couple of companies to check out are Tryten and Computer security Products.

* Other - Disk-drive locks can be used to secure disk drives and prevent anyone from inserting unauthorized disks. Cover locks are more general purpose, and can be used to lock a case and block disk drives, on/off switches, and more. Manufacturers include Computer security Products and PC Guardian.

Use anti-theft software

Anti-theft software can be used to track down your computer after it has been stolen. The software works by using the Internet to stay connected to a central registry, which then traces your computer using the phone number or IP address it used to connect to the Internet. When the stolen computer is connected to the Internet, some anti-theft systems will even allow you to delete certain files (which helps prevent valuable data from falling into the wrong hands). If your computer is stolen, let the central registry know; the next time your computer is connected to the Internet, the central registry will trace your computer and notify local law enforcement officials.

A typical system includes of a piece of software for installation on your computer and a tracing service for which you must pay a yearly fee. Manufacturers include Lojack for Laptops, Computer security Products, and Absolute Software.

Of course, these anti-theft systems only work if the thief connects the laptop to the Internet instead of just disassembling it for parts. Some other concerns to keep in mind are how much of your data the central registry has access to, and whether you can ever really uninstall the software in question.

Protect your data

Thieves get more than just your hardware when they steal your computer-they also get all of your data. Actually, they get more than just your data: If you've got automatic log-ins set up to an email account, the thief could send out damaging messages from your account. And if you've got automatic log-ins connected to a corporate network, the thief could compromise your company's entire computer network.

To protect your data, the first thing you should do is set really good passwords for your BIOS (basic input/output system) and user accounts. The BIOS password is built into the hardware, while the user-account password is built into the operating system. Once a thief has your laptop in their possession, they have plenty of rime to crack your password; use a good one, and it'll take them a lot longer (for someone who knows how, bypassing a BIOS password is pretty easy on a desktop computer, but potentially a lot more challenging on a laptop).

Then you might want to consider encryption for important data. Some versions of Windows have built-in encryption you can use to secure files. Another option is to use an add-on program such as PGP (see the January 2005 issue of Beyond Numbers for my article on encryption; archives are at www.ica.bc.ca under News/Events, "Publications").

A data back-up system is also an important way to mitigate computer theft. Somewhere, someday, your computer might get stolen; if your data isn't backed up, you'll undergo the added cost of recreating all the work you lost.

Talk to a technical expert

To make sure you get the theft prevention device that's best suited to your needs, I suggest discussing your requirements with your technical consultant. A solution that works for one person might not work for another-it all depends on your requirements and how you use your computer.
Product websites in order of mention:
* Kensington
www.kensington.corn
* Targus
www.targus.com
* Computer security Products
www.computersecurity.com
* Securtech
www.securtech.com
* Tryten
www.tryten.com
* PC Guardian
www.pcguardian.com
* Lojack for Laptops
www.lojackforlaptops.com
* Absolute Software
www.absolute.com

Some tips to help prevent laptop theft:

1. Never leave your laptop in a car. If, for some reason, you must, make sure nobody sees you leave it there and that it's well hidden.

2. Never leave your laptop unattended in a public place. If you're using it in a library or similar location, take it with you whenever you leave your seat. This may sound like a hassle, but it's nothing like the hassle of having to replace a stolen laptop.

3. Consider using a nondescript carrying case for your laptop. If a thief doesn't know you're carrying a laptop, he might be less inclined to steal your bag.

4. Lock your laptop up in an office desk or drawer during off- work hours.

5. Label your laptop to make it easily identifiable (Computer security Products makes the "S.T.O.P. security plate," which the police can use to trace the stolen computer back to you in the event that it's recovered). Also, consider "uglifying" your laptop by adding stickers or markings to it; the thief might well pass over your laptop in favour of one that will be easier to sell.

6. Purchase one of the hardware or software anti-theft devices specifically made for laptops.

7. Flying somewhere? Don't check your laptop as luggage. And don't put your laptop on the metal-detector conveyor belt until you're ready to go through it yourself. You'll want to make sure you're there to pick up the laptop as soon as it goes through the machine.

By Rita Mikusch, Webmaster