4 Critical Security Tips For Traveling With Ultraportable Laptops
Just like desktop computers, laptops need to be kept secure. Whilst many laptop security risks are the same for desktops, laptops also have a host of their own unique security issues. This is particularly true if you want to travel with your laptop, so here are some laptop security tips to help keep you protected.
1) Antivirus Software: Install some good antivirus software on your laptop. MacAfee and Norton Antivirus are top brand names that will help keep your computer virus-free for a fee, but there are also some good free antivirus programs available such as AVG. It's also important to make sure that your antivirus software protects against adware and malware, as well as phishing scams. Some programs warn you in advance of potentially harmful websites through icons that appear alongside Google search results, which is an extra layer of security that helps prevent you from getting a virus in the first place.
2) Password Security: Although antivirus software should keep unwanted viral software from getting onto your laptop, it's still important to keep your passwords secure. Should a virus manage to breach your security measures, or should your laptop fall into the wrong hands, it is possible that your login details may be compromised. For this reason, keep your passwords safe. There are many ways to do this:
* Don't allow your ultraportable laptop to remember your passwords for any websites,
* Choose long, difficult passwords with a mixture of numbers and letters in both upper- and lower-case that don’t contain any parts of the username which they go with,
* Have different passwords for each online account that you have,
* To defend against keystroke logger software, scramble your passwords by typing one password character into the password box, then clicking outside of the box and typing a selection of random characters before clicking back inside the password box and entering the next character. Repeat this process for all of the characters in your password.
3) Unsecured Wireless Networks: Be wary of using unsecured wireless networks. Connecting to networks that you don't know can allow other computer users to access your data remotely. If you absolutely have to use unsecured networks, then the top laptop security tips would be:
* Change your passwords every few days,
* Copy and paste links when you want to post share them with friends on Facebook rather than clicking “share”,
* If a site has an http and an https address, use the https address,
* Avoid using any usernames or passwords during the session if possible,
* Don’t log into your laptop on its primary user account – use a secondary account with only restricted computer access,
* Switch your computer off at the first sign of any unusual activity.
4) Be Vigilant In Public Places: Remember to be careful when using your laptop in a public place. Ultraportable laptops usually look more high-end than other laptops, immediately attracting attention, and thieves who are aware of the technology they target will know that ultraportable laptops are worth much more than the average machine. Several laptop security tips for public usage are:
* To choose a laptop with fingerprint recognition, ensuring that only you can log onto the machine,
* Purchasing tracking software which allows the device to be satellite tracked whenever it is connected wirelessly to the internet,
* Only using the laptop in public places that seem safe.
Remember, not everyone is out to get you, but if you’re using a laptop and don’t want to encounter any serious problems of this nature, these laptop security tips should help to keep you safe.