Once you decide on the perfect laptop for you and your travels, you’re going to need to protect it both physically and digitally whether you’re going on a trip to Orlando or Johannesburg. Both are fairly easily done and with a few simple modifications and good habits can keep your laptop out of trouble in most cases.
Physical Security
Protecting your laptop physically is the first part of any cyber-security plan. Invest in a good laptop lock, they aren’t very expensive and are compatible with just about any modern notebook made within the last few years. We’d recommend getting one with a combination lock so you don’t have to worry about losing any keys. Of course you should never leave your laptop unattended but a lock will give you added protection from simple grab-and-run thieves. In addition to protecting your laptop with a physical lock, you should always remember to lock your screen whenever you’re not directly in front of your machine.
- Windows users can use Control + Alt + Delete at the same time and then select “Lock my computer” from the subsequent menu.
- Mac users can click these 3 keys at the same time: Shift + Control + Eject button
When letting others use your computer (like hostel mates or co-workers) you should be sure to use guest accounts for them. This will prevent any access of your personal files either intended or not.
Encryption
Physically protecting your laptop is only the first step in a security plan. You’ll also need to consider the data on your machine – the best way to protect it is by using encryption. Fortunately there are a number of free and effective methods of achieving this. Mac users can use the built-in FileVault application which encrypts your entire home drive with your administrator password. There isn’t anything to do after setup, once the initial encryption is done (might take a few hours), your data will automatically be encrypted and decrypted without you noticing. Windows users should download the very capable and versatile TrueCrypt. This program can encrypt your entire hard drive with a password you select, create encrypted folders for only the things you want encrypted, and even create hidden encrypted folders that aren’t visible, even to educated cyber-thieves. TrueCrypt is open source and a free download.
Select Good Passwords
Forget about trying to create your own good passwords and managing all of them. Using a program like KeePassX, you can generate random and complex passwords (the most effective kind) and store user names. You’ll only need to remember a single password for the application and can store countless other accounts there. KeePassX also allows you to share your password database with other computers you may have for backup.
Finally, when possible, you should use good browsing habits. You can make things a lot easier on yourself by using Firefox and downloading the Encrypt The Web plugin. This plugin, which is free, helps secure your online connections by automatically encrypting all of the ones it can for you. It’s a good way to browse the Internet a bit more safely.
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