Our laptops often contain a large amount of confidential business information and personal use, and for most people, the thought of losing all that information is more than a little scary. The sudden and unexpected loss (or worse, theft) of expensive equipment and sensitive documents are not required to have a negative effect, however.
Here are some tips to outline the steps you should take your laptop will be lost. We also added some useful precautions, you can do in advance, so that the laptop has a better chance of getting home safely, if the two of you to stand out.
1. File a police report
Although it may seem obvious, many people do not bother to file police reports of lost property under the assumption that there are few law enforcement can do. While this may or may not be the case (depending on your situation), by contacting the police receive word that your computer has. Even if the police can not find your missing MacBook, stolen hardware went into a national database, so if someone tries to sell a laptop, there is a good chance that a warning when they do, even if they are throughout the country.
If you live near a university, be sure and tell the police the campus of your laptop lacks both, and do not forget to warn all private security companies in the area where you work when laptop disappeared.
2. Inform local repair and pawn shops
Tell any pledge or repair shops in your area on your computer is missing. Be sure to give them the serial numbers and describe the characteristics of identification, as in the case of scratches or paint wear. Pawn most reputable repair shops will check with the local police department before buying used laptops, but it never hurts to be aware of their situation, either.
3. Contact your insurance agent
Many home insurance policies, and part of the tenants, to cover the purchase of stolen computers, even if the goal had not been taken into your home. If your laptop was stolen from the car, its loss may be covered by your insurance. If your laptop is owned by the company, certainly covers the business of insurance. Contact your insurance agent and find out about filing claims in order to restore some of the costs of replacing the laptop. You will probably need the offense to make this announcement, but your insurance agent can assist you with the details.
4. Continue spreading the word
Getting the word to friends, colleagues and members of the Community to leave Twitter and Facebook friends to know your laptop is missing. Please send ads like Craigslist and other local directories. You may also want to tolerate flyers in your local grocery store or remove an advertisement in a local newspaper. If you can afford it, consider offering the prize of a laptop back. Premium offering, which is responsible for the handset is not the true value can save a lot of money to replace equipment, but can help to ensure that the information is returned safely.
5. Remain vigilant
Once you have submitted all the documents, get the word out to local businesses by chirping of your laptop and place a lost ad in the lost and found section of Craigslist. It may be tempting to sit back and let fate decide what happens next, but gon't give up being proactive. Check the lost and found ads themselves, and even go beyond. Many laptop thieves will try to sell the line laptop, because it is more difficult to follow, so keep an eye on sites like eBay and Craigslist. If you were a business, when your laptop is gone, check with them every day. Keep your eyes open for the local newspaper or community bulletin boards. Can screw up your laptop and if so, you should be aware of what you can qualify.
How to prevent theft and protect data
By taking the steps above to maximize the chances that your equipment will be returned to you if stolen or lost, simply. But what precautions? Here are some things you can do in advance to help ensure that your laptop is gaining ground and that the data remain protected.
1. Install Prey
Prey is a monitoring program that you can enable remote access to your laptop is missing or stolen. Prey then "call home" Prey server (or your own server, depending on configuration) when the laptop connects to the Internet. Prey report provides the IP address, geolocation (with maps) and even a screenshot of your webcam. You can also use Prey to lock your device to prevent others from accessing it.
2. Encrypt sensitive data
Personal data such as credit cards, financial and medical records should always be encrypted, this is doubly true if your computer is portable. Encrypt data that will help ensure your identity is stolen laptop and helps protect from liability for any loss of sensitive work files.
There are several good encryption tools out there, and many modern operating systems have the encryption settings for the oven in a popular encryption tools for Mac, Windows and Linux TrueCrypt. Cross platform and free TrueCrypt is an inexpensive way to protect your personal files.
3. Make your laptop easy to Return
Consider placing a text file called a show on the desktop (for example, REWARD_IF_FOUND.TXT) that contains your contact information and any other information about the reward, if you can afford to offer. These details will be easier for someone who has stumbled across his team not to return without the need to look at the data. Even a repentant thief may cause a change of heart, especially if you can provide a way for the laptop to be returned anonymously.
4. Back up your data frequently
You should already be backing up your data regularly to protect your hardware or software, but if you do not have the possibility of missing laptop is just a motivation to do so. If you move the laptop a lot, you can take advantage of online backup services like Dropbox. If you want to back up an external hard drive, do not keep your laptop bag album! Although this is a great protection to your technical questions, please back up your hard drive with the stolen laptop that does not do you any good at all.
5. Consider an engraving
If you are serious about hanging on your laptop, consider having your company or your name and a piece of contact information such as your e-mail address or phone number engraved in a prominent location on your computer portable. This greatly reduces its resale value and make it clear that the laptop belongs. Engraving is a deterrent against theft and gives pretty good just another way to leave the viewfinder of your laptop does not know who to return it to the. Of course, the downside of this is that it makes the laptop more difficult for you to sell as well, unless you replace the burned portion of the case.
Image credit: rubenhi
