Protecting Laptop Computers From Identity Theft
Used laptop computers are regularly being bought and stolen by identity thieves in order to steal your information. With hardly any effort, they can easily get you name, address, social security number, and credit card information. If you’re sharing your laptop with your family, thieves could get their information as well. There are simple ways you can protect the information stored in your laptop from identity thieves.
Ways To Protect Your Laptop
Although locks can be picked or destroyed, thieves are sill deterred by them. Thieves prefer to take items that are easier to take away. It takes too much time and makes too much noise to pick or destroy a lock. A good, sturdy lock is a cheap way to protect your laptop computer.
As much as possible, don’t leave your laptop lying around the house. Hide your notebook in the drawer or cabinet after use. Or get a laptop lock that locks your laptop to the table. Laptop locks costs from $15 to $30, a small price to pay to keep your laptop computer secure.
One way identity thieves get personal information is through used laptops that are resold or thrown away in the garbage. Before getting rid of your laptop, make sure you erase your hard drive. Completely erasing your hard drive makes sure that they wouldn’t be able to get any information from your laptop. You can easily download hard drive erase programs on the internet to help erase the information in our hard drive quickly and easily.
Encrypting your files will make it harder to for identity thieves to get information from your laptop computer. They’ll be able to see your files, but they wouldn’t be able to use it unless they have your password. Check if your operating system has an encryption function or you can download encryption software from the internet.
Lastly, if your laptop computer does get stolen, there’s a service that you can subscribe to that can help protect your files. MyLaptopGPS is a service that transfers and erases the files in your laptop once you report that your laptop is stolen. You go to their website to subscribe and download their security software. Once your laptop is stolen, you call MyLaptopGPS to activate their service. When the thieves turn on your computer and go online, MyLaptopGPS will transfer your information to a secure server and delete the contents of your hard drive. They’ll also contact the police and provide the location of the laptop by activating a GPS locator that came with their software.
Protecting your laptop computer is one of the most effective ways of protecting yourself from identity theft. With these simple tips, you can be assured of the safety of your identity and that of your family.
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my laptop is stolen before, now i have ideas to prevent my laptop to be stolen again.