Tips For Keeping Your Laptop Safe When Traveling?

To ensure the safety of your laptop while traveling, consider the following tips:

1. Carry your laptop with you at all times.
2. Use a VPN to protect your internet connection and prevent information interception.
3. Enable storage on your laptop.
4. Shut down completely, protect it from the weather, avoid direct sunlight, ensure safe charging, and consider using a laptop lock.
5. Keep your laptop in your trunk or with you.
6. Secure your laptop bag, be safe at the hotel, get a security cable lock, buy insurance, use antivirus software, use a VPN, and install Theft software.
7. Keep your laptop case locked to prevent theft.
8. Protect your laptop digitally by avoiding public Wi-Fi or using a VPN, using strong passwords, keeping software updated, and using multi-factor authentication.
9. Use a virtual private network (VPN), back up all data before travel, and use a properly padded laptop case with a lock.
10. Keep your laptop or tablet in your possession at all times.
11. Do not store confidential data on the laptop or tablet.
12. Be cautious in certain situations.
13. Use universal power adapters, backup your data, don’t use public Wi-Fi, invest in a good laptop, use hard drive encryption if possible or use a second hard drive, turn off file and printer sharing, and configure your firewall to block inbound traffic.

By following these tips, you can ensure the safety and security of your laptop during your travels.

What if my laptop is stolen while traveling?

To report a laptop loss, contact local police, airline baggage offices, and airport lost and found offices. If it’s a business laptop, report it to your employer. If there’s another location where the laptop could have been left or gone missing, add it to your list of calls. If you have an Apple laptop, don’t report it to the company. Although customer service expresses sympathy, they don’t have a system for tracking serial numbers of lost laptops. Apple offers a prorated refund on the unused portion of the prior AppleCare service contract as a courtesy when purchasing a replacement.

How do I protect my laptop at the airport?

To keep your tech safe during the holidays, follow these tips:

1. Securely pack your laptop in a padded case or bag, zip or fasten it completely, and keep it close during travel.
2. Cover your screen and wrap it up to prevent damage.
3. Carry your laptop in a close-fitting bag to prevent loss during travel.
4. Keep your laptop safe from digital threats during travel and ensure it arrives in good condition for the new year.

How do I prepare my laptop for travel?

To prepare your laptop for travel, remove confidential information from the hard drive to prevent loss or theft. Prepare the wireless card by keeping it off when not in use to conserve battery power and prevent the system from advertising networks. Disable auto-connect features to avoid being set up to connect to a hacker, who can make their system look like a viable access point (AP). Configure the card to use infrastructure networks only, as these are client-to-network versus ad-hoc networks.

Be vigilant when using public wireless, as most hotels, airports, and “hot spots” have little to no security, making connections easy to be sniffed. Always assume that the hot spot network has at least one hacker on it. Never connect to an ad hoc network, especially in a hot spot, and check your documentation to understand what an ad hoc network looks like in your client software.

Establish a VPN connection into Brown if working with sensitive information or on a public or guest network. This will ensure that all network traffic coming from your PC is encrypted, at least until it reaches Brown’s VPN concentrators. Once connected, all application traffic, such as email, IM, RDP, etc., is sent through the tunnel and encrypted.

Do not purchase a replacement laptop when traveling to certain countries, as they may be stolen or fake, made of worthless components, or installed with malicious software to collect usernames and passwords, steal intellectual property, and monitor activities once stateside again. For recommendations on protecting your smartphone and tablet, refer to the companion document, “Prepare Your Mobile Device For Traveling”.

How to protect your laptop in a hotel room?

It is advisable to refrain from leaving your laptop unsecured in your hotel room. Instead, utilize a security cable or lock the device in the safe. It is advisable to place trust in the hotel staff and to avoid any unnecessary risks in the event of someone gaining unauthorized access. In the event that your itinerary includes beach surfing, it is advisable to refrain from bringing your laptop computer, as the sand and seawater may cause irreparable damage to your system. As an alternative, utilize a blanket and sunscreen, and engage in relaxation.

How do I make sure my laptop is not stolen?

To maintain data security on your laptop, keep track of its serial number, invest in strong security measures like passwords and full disk encryption, use a laptop lock when not in use, enable tracking software for theft detection, and be cautious when using it in public places. Encrypting your data is a powerful method, and modern operating systems like Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer built-in encryption options. BitLocker, for example, uses a Trusted Platform Module chip to perform pre-boot system checks, preventing unauthorized bootloader attempts.

Where should I put my laptop when flying?

Keep your laptop with you on the flight as carry-on baggage, not in the overhead storage area or with other baggage. Baggage handlers may not expect expensive electronics in stored baggage areas and may not treat them as fragile objects. If you are required to remove your laptop from its carrying case and turn it on to demonstrate its functionality, turn it on earlier and leave it in suspend mode. Ensure your laptop battery is charged and keep it charged during the visual inspection, also known as “hand checking”.

How do I keep my laptop safe while traveling?

To protect your laptop while traveling, buy a backpack or bag with a dedicated laptop compartment with thick, solid padding on both the outside and inside walls. Check the bottom for padding and ensure the compartment is large enough for your laptop but not too large for excessive movement. Some backpacks may come with anti-theft features, such as combination locks, cut-proof fabric, or hidden pockets, which may be beneficial for higher-end laptops.

How to keep a laptop safe when travelling?

To protect your laptop while traveling or commuting, use a well-padded bag with a dedicated compartment, keep your bag organized, shut down completely, protect your laptop from the weather, avoid direct sunlight, ensure safe charging, and consider using a laptop lock. Laptops are essential for content creators, professionals, students, and casual travelers, but traveling with electronic devices can pose risks. Ensure safe charging, avoid direct sunlight, and consider using a laptop lock for added protection.

How can I protect my laptop while on a plane?

To protect your laptop while traveling or commuting, use a well-padded bag with a dedicated compartment, keep your bag organized, shut down completely, protect your laptop from the weather, avoid direct sunlight, ensure safe charging, and consider using a laptop lock. Laptops are essential for content creators, professionals, students, and casual travelers, but traveling with electronic devices can pose risks. Ensure safe charging, close the bag completely, and avoid direct sunlight.

How to secure your computer when traveling?

To ensure security while traveling, set secure passwords, codes, or screen locks on all devices, create new passwords for accounts you need access to while traveling, and disable “remember me” functions in applications. Protect sensitive intellectual property with low-cost or loaner tablets or laptops for internet and Northwestern resources, and store copies of cards or documents in secure locations. Keep data on a University server and access it through a secure VPN connection.

Store documents in the cloud with services like Google Docs or Dropbox for sharing and collaboration without exposing information to compromise or theft. Encrypt devices, install antivirus software, and run updates to systems and applications before travel. Enable firewalls, screen locks, timeout functions, and automatic wipes that were disabled while at home. Ensuring the security of your devices and information is crucial for maintaining a secure and productive travel experience.