Laptop theft is a serious threat to users of mobile computers. Many methods to protect the data and to prevent theft have been developed, including alarms, laptop locks (such as the widespread Kensington lock standard), and visual deterrents such as STOP security plates that are hard or impossible to remove thus killing the resale value. Victims can lose hardware, software, and essential data that has not been backed up. Thieves also may have access to sensitive data and personal information. Some systems authorise access based on credentials stored on the laptop including MAC addresses, internet browser cookies, cryptographic keys and stored passwords. An ultraportable IBM X31 with 12 screen on an IBM T43 Thin & Light laptop with a 14 screen A laptop computer, or simply laptop (also notebook computer or notebook), is a small mobile computer, which usually weighs 2. ... Everyday instance of theft: the bike which fits on this wheel has disappeared. ... A Kensington Security Slot (also called a K-Slot or Kensington lock) is a small hole found on almost all recent small or portable computer and electronics equipment, particularly on expensive and relatively light ones: laptops and LCDs, and even some larger electronics, such as many recent Dell PCs. ... In information technology, backup refers to the copying of data so that these additional copies may be restored after a data loss event. ... In computer networking a Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier attached to most network adapters (NICs). ... An HTTP cookie (usually called simply a cookie) is a packet of information sent by a server to a World Wide Web browser and then sent back by the browser each time it accesses that server. ... A key is a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm. ... A password is a form of secret authentication data that is used to control access to a resource. ...

With the onset of the information age, laptops have become an invaluable resource to individuals and companies everywhere. The nature of portable laptops allows users to be productive while allowing for mobility. However, laptop theft has been on the rise and as a result many organizations have found themselves victims of potential data breaches that affect their employees and customers, as well as their reputations. A stolen laptop often means loss of sensitive data that is stored on that machine, which is likely to lead to a risk of identity theft. According to the FBI, losses due to laptop theft totaled more than $6.7 million dollars in 2005. The Computer Security Institute/FBI Computer Crime & Security Survey found the average theft of a laptop to cost a company $89,000. For the last seven years, laptop theft has been found to cause the second highest amount of financial loss, second only to damage caused by viruses (2005 FBI Computer Crime Survey) -- referenced document does not make this claim, in fact claims that laptop theft is fourth. It has been suggested that Digital Age be merged into this article or section. ... Laptop with touchpad. ... Identity theft is a term first appearing in U.S. literature in the 1990s, leading to the drafting of the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. ...

Depending on what is kept on a particular laptop, without proper security precautions a thief can easily get a hold of such information as personal bookkeeping files, Word documents containing passwords, addresses, as well as employee and customer information stored on company laptops. A number of security measures have emerged that aim at protecting intellectual data. Passwords provide a basic security measure for files stored on a laptop. A more advanced technological security option,Remote Laptop Security (RLS) is available to confidently secure data even when the laptop is not in the owner's possession. With Remote Laptop Security, the owner of a laptop can deny access rights to the stolen laptop from any computer with Internet access. Alternatively, encrypting a laptops’ internal hard drive prevents thieves from accessing potentially injurious data if they do steal the device. It has been suggested that Online bookkeeping be merged into this article or section. ... A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and consists of one or more morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together, and has a phonetical value. ... This page covers security in the sense of protection from hostile action. ... Laptop theft has become a serious issue for today’s individuals, businesses and corporations. ... Laptop theft has become a serious issue for today’s individuals, businesses and corporations. ... access list 2 permit 172. ...

A run down of major laptop thefts in 2006

• An unencrypted hard drive containing names, addresses and Social Security numbers of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) members was lost when it was shipped back to the organization by a computer repair company. Potentially 330000 members were affected.
• A laptop that belonged to an Ernst & Young employee was stolen from a vehicle. The computer contained personal information of 243,000 Hotels.com customers.
• Two Federal Trade Commission laptops were stolen out of a locked car when staff attorneys took them home to work on a lawsuit. As a result, names, addresses and Social Security numbers of 110 people were exposed to thieves.
• American International Group, a major insurance company, became responsible for private data of 970,000 potential customers when their file server and several laptop computers were stolen from its Midwest offices.
• An Equifax Inc., company laptop was stolen from a travelling employee. Information compromised included employee names and Social Security numbers.
• 13,000 District of Columbia employees and retirees were put in danger of identity theft when a laptop belonging ING U.S. Financial Services was stolen from an employee’s home.
• A laptop containing debit card information and Social Security numbers of 65,000 persons was stolen from YMCA’s seemingly safe administrative offices.
• Personal data of 26.5 million U.S. veterans was on a laptop taken from the home of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee.
• Four laptop computers containing names, Social Security numbers, and addresses of 72,000 customers were stolen from the Medicaid insurance provider Buckeye Community Health Plan.
• A Boeing employee’s laptop was grabbed at an airport, compromising 3,600 employees Social Security numbers, addresses and phone numbers.

Typical hard drives of the mid-1990s. ... Sample United States Social Security Card In the United States, a Social Security number (or SSN) is a 9 digit number issued to citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, codified as . ... With over 330,525 CPA members (in August 2006), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the largest professional organization of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in the United States of America. ... Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, and one of the Big Four auditors, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte) and KPMG. Ernst & Young is a global organization consisting of many member firms. ... Hotels. ... FTC headquarters, Washington, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission (or FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act. ... American International Group, Inc. ... Equifax, Inc. ... ... link title Debit is an accounting and bookkeeping term that comes from the Latin word debere which means to owe. ... This article is about the association. ... The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for administering programs of veterans benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors. ... Medicaid is the US health insurance program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ...

2005

Stolen UC Berkeley laptop exposed personal data of nearly 100,000^[1]. The University of California, Berkeley (also known as Cal, UC Berkeley, UCB, or simply Berkeley) is a prestigious, public, coeducational university situated in the foothills of Berkeley, California to the east of San Francisco Bay, overlooking the Golden Gate and its bridge. ...

Tips for preventing laptop theft

• Keep your laptop in an inconspicuous case. Flashy cases expose your computer by attracting thieves’ attention. A simple padded messenger bag can suffice as a protective container.
• Protect information stored on the laptop with a secure password. It should consist of a combination of numbers and upper and lower-case letters.
• Implement advanced security measures such as Remote Laptop Security and laptop encryption.
• Make use of such security measures as locks and cables. These security devices make theft more difficult and thereby discourage thieves from taking your machine.
• When leaving a laptop in the office, make sure it is hidden and secured.
• Be sure that all important data contained on the laptop is backed up.
• When using a laptop for meetings or conferences, always keep it in your sight. Do not leave the room without taking the laptop with you.

Messenger bag by Timbuk2. ... Password strength is the likelihood that a password can be guessed by an unauthorized person or computer. ... Laptop theft has become a serious issue for today’s individuals, businesses and corporations. ...

Laptop tracking software

See also: Remote Laptop Security

These products make "call home" over the Internet in order to help recovery and some also lock the content of hard drive to prevent data loss. Laptop theft has become a serious issue for today’s individuals, businesses and corporations. ...

• XTool Laptop Tracker by XTool Mobile Security, Inc.^[2]
• LoJack for laptops^[3].
• PC PhoneHome by Brigadoon Software, Inc.
• nTracker by SyNet Electronics, Inc.
• Products by CyberAngel Security Solutions, Inc.

LoJack is a popular device, installed in some cars, that allows them to be tracked after being stolen. ...

References

1. ^ Stolen UC Berkeley laptop exposes personal data of nearly 100,000By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Business WriterTuesday, March 29, 2005
2. ^ XTool Mobile Security, Inc
3. ^ LoJack for laptops.

External links

• 3 Ways To Protect Your Laptop - information and tips for laptop security
• Theft and Loss Protection for Linux Laptops and Notebooks - includes useful tips
• The spy who lost me - laptop thefts from the British Ministry of Defence
• STOP Security Plates - information on STOP Security Plates, which help deter thieves
• Laptop Theft Statistics - additional information about laptop theft
• XTool.com Laptop Security Tips - XTool.com Remote Laptop Security Tips to prevent laptop theft
• 2005 CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey - statistics and information about computer crime