TEXAS COMPUTER PROTECTION A MUST Consumer Watch: Protect Laptop From Identity Theft - Money:

Consumer Watch: Protect Laptop From Identity Theft

The theft of a laptop computer containing personal information of 26.5 million military veterans points out how important laptop security is. In this Consumer Watch Report, there is information on what can be done to secure a laptop and the information stored in it.

Laptop computers are everywhere. A lot of people use them to get on the Internet with the help of a wireless or Wi-Fi connection. But the experts at Consumer Reports have uncovered some very real privacy risks with laptops.

'Well, the worst situation is if someone physically steals your computer. But if you're logged into an unsecured wireless network, anybody on that network can be watching what you're doing online,' said Consumer Reports Dean Gallea.

Gallea explained just how vulnerable a computer can be.

'This laptop is logged into an unsecured wireless network. I'm going to go to a Web site I use for my family e-mail and type in my name and my password. Now, Rich over there (assistant on a different computer) is using a password hacking program. He's going to tell me what I just typed.'

'Well, it looks like you went to codere.org, and your password is 'password,'' Rich said.

'That's right. And that's how easy it is,' said Gallea.

Whether through theft or wireless eavesdropping, thieves can gather enough information from a system to make someone a victim of identity theft. But there are things people can do to protect themselves.

Get a lock for your laptop, because it will keep someone from walking away with it.

Try one of the new biometric devices. There is one that scans a fingerprint before allowing the user to sign on to the computer.

Enable your laptop's encryption software. This scrambles the data on your computer, making it accessible only with a password or by plugging in a device that unscrambles your documents.

Consumer Reports said taking these steps will help you keep your private information much more secure no matter where you use your laptop.

They also said that newer high-tech protection allows the tracking of a computer if it gets stolen. You can buy special software that secretly sends a coded signal with location information when the thief signs on to the Internet.

For more helpful consumer information, visit Consumer Reports on the web. Just click on the link: Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports is a fee-based Web site. Many of the articles require a subscription.