Learn a lesson from the Daily Mail - be careful with that laptop [BT broadband office]

Learn a lesson from the Daily Mail - be careful with that laptop

Posted 8 July 2008 at 8:46AM by Ian Betteridge in Internet security

Laptops undoubtedly lead to big benefits for business. Being able to use a computer virtually anywhere means that you can squeeze productive work out of time that might otherwise be spent staring out of a window.

But the very mobility and ease of transport which makes laptops such a boon means you need to take extra precautions with them, as the Daily Mail recently found out. According to The Register, an employee of its parent company, Northcliffe Media, lost a laptop which contained names, addresses and bank account details of the Mail's employees - information which, in the wrong hands, could be extremely damaging.

So what can you do to protect your valuable data? First of all, ensure that any laptops which leave the building with valuable data on them are not just password protected, but also have their hard drives encrypted too. Use Windows BitLocker if you are using Windows Vista, or the free TrueCrypt tool if you're using Windows XP.

Secondly, consider using security software such as Computrace or Orbicule, which allow you to track down a laptop when it connects to the Internet - even if the hard drive has been wiped. Not only will this help to ensure that you'll get your hardware back, but it will increase the chances that you can track down what happened to your data if anyone had access to it.

Finally, but most importantly, train your staff about the importance of keeping their laptops with them at all times. Don't leave the building with unencrypted data, and while you're out and about don't allow the laptop out of your sight. If staying in a hotel, ensure it's always locked up in your room safe. And most important of all - never leave it on the train!

Tags: bt, bt broadbandoffice, laptop theft, tracking

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Comments

1. At July 9, 2008 7:40 AM, David Tonks wrote:

Excellent information thank you. When the news is full of laptops being stolen , then is very useful information

2. At July 10, 2008 12:46 PM, Tony Forward wrote:

Good article and very useful. However I can't help wondering if employees took as much care with the company equipment as they would if it was their own, very few of these items would 'go missing'!

3. At July 10, 2008 9:15 PM, John McMillan wrote:

Better still, avoid putting highly sensitive data on a laptop. It's asking for trouble. Most organisations wouldn't let you take paper copis outside a secure environment, tread electronic data the same.

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