Ojith Nishantha's Web Portal

While the technology powering notebooks keeps on getting better, businesses’ efforts at guarding them do not seem to be keeping pace: the headlines in 2008 include a record number of notebook losses.

Here, we list a number of physical and software-based steps which you can take to keep notebooks and their data safe.

When in a public place, keep the notebook in sight
Notebook thieves often work in pairs: one to distract you, one to steal. If you’re sitting in an airport café with your bag on the chair opposite you, out of your eyeline, you’ll be a target. All someone needs to do is make you look to one side (“Do you have the time?”) and you won’t notice someone else stealing the bag containing your notebook.

Play

 Keep the notebook cabled
There’s a reason every notebook on sale includes a Kensington lock socket. By keeping a notebook cabled, you’ll make it far less attractive to a thief. Famously, the co-founder of Qualcomm, Irwin Jacobs, had his notebook stolen while he took a break during a presentation. Also beware of cheaper notebooks that use Kensington lock sockets made of flimsy plastic – one firm rip and the notebook is free.

Don’t relax just because you’re in an office
It’s easy to assume that because you’re in a trusted environment your notebook will be safe. However, some of the best notebook thieves are also very good actors: they’ll wear a suit, slip through the office security gates while innocently munching a sandwich, then carry away any notebooks that are easy to grab. In fact, according to notebook security specialist Detective Kevin Coffey, offices are the number one venue for notebook theft.

Never leave your notebook in a car
It may seem obvious, but this policy should be explicitly stated as part of any business’ mobile strategy. Earlier this year, a manager at Colchester General Hospital was fired after he left a notebook in a car, which was then broken into. As a result, over 21,000 patients’ records were put at risk.

Use the fingerprint reader
Modern notebooks designed for business use often include a fingerprint reader. This isn’t just a gimmick: by forcing your staff to use the fingerprint reader rather than passwords you’ll instantly reduce the number of “I forgot my password” support calls, but more importantly it enables you – the administrator – to set a much tougher password that even the user doesn’t know. So, they can’t give it away, and if the notebook does fall into the wrong hands then the thief will find it much more difficult to access the data. Especially if you implement encryption (see below).

Encrypt vital files, folders or the whole hard disk
Both Windows XP and Vista include the ability to encrypt a file or folder: right-click on a file or folder, then select Advanced from the General tab. “Encrypt contents to secure data” will be one of the options. With the addition of extra software, such as McAfee Endpoint Encryption, you can even encrypt the whole hard disk. While encryption can’t guarantee the data will never be unravelled, it’s makes it far less likely and also helps to protect you from legal consequences.

Keep internet security software up to date Most internet security suites update themselves as soon as a notebook logs onto the internet, and if you buy business editions of the software you’ll have more control over this behaviour – in some cases to the extent that a user can’t overrule the update. For even more control, you can also invest in extra software that allows you to track exactly what software is on the notebook – for example, ComputracePlus, which we discuss in our How to manage your mobile fleet article.

News :- http://www.itpro.co.uk/html/toshiba/secure-notebooks-on-the-move.php