Two ways to secure your portable computer

Shouldn’t you secure your notebook or handheld computer the same way you secure your desktop systems? Well, yes and no. Because of their mobility, portable machines are more vulnerable to security breaches, so extra precautions are advised. All of the usual security best practices apply, but in addition, you need to consider what happens if your portable is lost or stolen.

Cable locks are great for situations where you may have to leave your portable unattended—if you use them properly. For instance, if you wrap the cable around the leg of a lightweight table, a thief can simply pick up the laptop, slide the cable down to the ground, lift the leg of the table, and make off with computer and cable lock.

We like the tracking software, such as Computrace and zTrace, which “call home” the first time the thief uses the computer to connect to the internet. For more info, see www.absolute.com and www.ztrace.com.