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"So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike what is weak." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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Greyhat Windows Security Tips
A laptop is stolen every 53 seconds according to the FBI and 97% are never recovered. These stolen or misplaced notebooks, tablets, and UMPCs may expose your personal data. You can try the solutions discussed here to prevent theft and remain secure against computer Identity Theft. The following information will direct you to some software and hardware tricks on how to guard your computer as well as guard the data residing in the computer.
Computrace LoJack for Laptops is a recovery service that enables law enforcement to recover stolen laptops. When your laptop is protected with this service, software installed on your laptop works behind the scenes to silently and securely contact Computrace Monitoring Center, and if stolen, report its location using any Internet connection. Security Locks and Hardware approach Kablit Security Package kit - A computer slides into the case while a locking bar in front and a security bar in the rear prevent removal. You can also use a laptop security cable. We get numerous reports of laptop theft when the owner leaves his or her office or cubicle for just a moment to go down the hall or to get a drink of water. Another time to be cautious is during meetings, laptops are used, a quick break is called and when everyone returns, some of the laptops are missing. Remember thieves have better access than you might think and are very quick.
Get Insurance for your Notebook and PC If your notebook or PC is stolen, you'll want to replace it, so think insurance. Check your coverage; you may need a business policy at the office. The alternative is a policy from an insurer that specializes in covering PCs. One choice is Safeware; with no deductible, the premium on a new $1500 notebook is $90 per year. Prevent Notebooks theft in Airports, Hotels $50 Targus DefCon Ultra combines a stainless steel cable, motion sensor technology, and a 95dB alarm to create a combination locking alarm system that easily attaches to your notebook or carrying case in any setting. The locking device sets off a piercing tone if the cable is touched. Another approach to safeguarding the data on your notebook is the $120 SecuriKey, a token-based USB dongle. Without a special key from SecuriKey inserted into the USB port, the notebook just won't boot. The CD-ROM drive is locked down, too, so booting from it is impossible. SecuriKey also frustrates computer-savvy crooks who try to boot with a floppy or external drive. Storage tricks: When traveling, you can keep your notebook's data safe by removing the hard drive and stashing it in another location. If the data it contains is critical, keep it on a flash thumb drive and then load it on your notebook when you need it. A second option is biometrically protected storage, which uses your fingerprint as a password equivalent. ThinkCP's 1GB biometric flash drive costs $289. Absolute Software has licensed LoJack, the car-theft prevention technology for tracking stolen laptop. It embeds a special agent in a computer's BIOS and when that computer connects to any IP networks, the embedded Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute's Monitoring Center providing its IP address or phone number to identify its physical location. Absolute works with local law enforcement to recover the computer. Why should I worry about notebook theft?Hundreds of thousands of notebook computers are stolen every year. Which represents nearly 1/4 of the notebooks sold. A statistic too high to ignore. Not to mention the risk of losing the important and sometimes personal data on the notebook, makes it imperative that measures be taken to prevent this from occurring to you. The hot spots for notebook theft are as follows: office, airports, your car, and hotel rooms. Lastly, notebook computers are ideal for a thief. They are portable, valuable, easy to pawn off, and difficult to recover.
What can I do to help prevent my notebook computer from being stolen?First be sure to backup the data on your notebook regularly. Second, buy a security device to use with your notebook even when you are nearby and don't believe it could be taken from you. Never leave you notebook unattended. When going through airport security, don't put you notebook on the conveyer until it's your turn to walk through the metal detector. Keep your notebook in an inconspicuous case rather than an obvious notebook/laptop case. Record your notebook serial number, or place a UV mark on it so you can identify the notebook if it is ever recovered. Also, be aware that some notebooks/laptops have an IRDA (infrared data-acquisition port built in to them. These port can allow someone to gain access to your computer through that port with out you even knowing about it. By covering the port with either duct tape or Mylar you can prevent this type of hacking. How do I know if internal PC component's are being stolen?You may not. A lot of IT shops place orders for replacement memory and processors under equipment maintenance or repair parts. This being the case, you should audit the individual line items of the POs or invoices to see what parts are being ordered. Also, require that all bad parts be turned in before replacements are ordered. 99% of the time, if memory is being replaced, it's not because it was bad, it's because it was stolen. One quick way to monitor the situation, is to see the relationship between your companies new hardware purchases and your maintenance expenses. If they're running about even, you probably have a problem. Why should I worry about theft, that's why I have insurance?With six-figure claims more the rule than the exception, insurers are paying more attention to the issue of high-value components. Furthermore, some losses are uninsurable because they result from disappearance or inventory shortage. Then there are the companies that have been hit several times and are now at risk of having their policy canceled. Laptop Travelers Beware!
Your laptop is a prime target for would-be thieves, especially when you travel. Keep it safe by making it as inconspicuous as possible?pack it in a brief case or ordinary piece of luggage. Make a record of your laptop's serial number! Less than 10 percent of all stolen laptops can be recovered by the serial number because most people do not have a record of them. While you're at it, make a list of all software that is on your laptop. If possible, engrave your company's name and ID on your laptop.
Corporate IS departments should maintain an updated list of all equipment, software and an accurate list of all assignees, assigned equipment and the serial numbers
Special Alert: Some airports are confiscating steel security cables as a part of their increased security measures. If you are travelling with your notebook computer, we recommend you put your security cable in with your checked luggage rather than take it as a carry-on. Notebook computers themselves are still fine as a carry-on, but they must be removed from their case and put it through the security screen separately.
Laptop Travelers Can Be an Easy Bull's-Eye for Sharp Thieves
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| Updated 09.07.07 dated |      |