The Ultimate List of Laptop Security Tips to Keep Your Data Protected

Are you looking to protect your data? Did you know that every minute there's $17,700 lost from phishing attacks? 

In order to keep your data protected whether you're travelling or back in the office, there are certain tips that you'll want to take. In this article, explore the ultimate list for laptop security to protect your computer from cyber threats. Read on to explore these tips to keep your data protected and secure today. 

What Is Data Protection? 

Did you know that it takes half a year to find a data breach? Data protection is where you protect information from loss or corruption. As data continues to be stored and created over time, it's even more important to protect your data. 

Another important component is to ensure that you can restore the data if it's ever lost or corrupted. Under data management, you have information lifecycle management and data lifecycle management. 

Information lifecycle management is protecting, cataloguing, and valuing information from virus attacks, user errors, machine failure, and malware. Data lifecycle management is automating critical data to offline and online storage. 

Data Corruption

This is when data is deleted or corrupted. With snapshots, your storage systems can track them. Using snapshots, the data can be copied or replace the existing volume. This means that very little data is lost. 

Data Hacks

One problem you'll want to avoid is what's known as ransomware. Today, ransomware is growing to avoid backup processes. To avoid this, you'll want to look into different recovery products and backup that can help you avoid this.

Hyper-Convergence

You can find different appliances that offer backup and recovery for virtual and physical environments. You can find hyper-convergence options that offer archiving, disaster recovery, backup, and copy data management. They can also help backup applications in the data center. 

Security vs Privacy

Did you know that Bangladesh has the highest mobile malware infections? Data security is speaking about the measures you take to protect your data against malware and manipulation.

Privacy is about controlling access to the data. Privacy breaches can lead to security issues. 

1. Lock-It

When you're not using your laptop you should always keep it locked up. Whether that's in a cabinet or in a secure bag. This can include locking your office door as well. The harder you make it for a robber to access your computer, the less likely you'll be a target. 

2. Be Careful When Traveling

During 2020, 80% of firms have had an increase in cyberattacks. When you head off on a business trip, you'll want to keep your laptop with you at all times. Hotel rooms and airports are common places someone might leave their laptop behind.

Avoid leaving your laptop in a car. Someone can break into your car and steal your laptop for an easy gain. While car trunks are slightly more protected, your best option is to keep your laptop with you at all times. If you have to keep your laptop in a hotel room then place a do not disturb sign on the door, and hide your laptop as best you can. 

3. Encryption

You'll want to have system-wide encryption on your laptops. You can find that it's the default setting on newer computers, but might not be the case at all times. Encryption makes it harder for a person to pull a disk drive out of your computer. 

To check to see if encryption is on in Windows, you can click on the Start menu and click settings. Click on update and security and device encryption. If it's not turned on, you can access it from here. 

You can turn it on with MacBooks as well. MacBooks do encryption unless you opt-out of it. Open up the Apple menu and choose System Preferences, Security & Privacy, and FileVault. You can turn on FileVault from here as well. 

To take your encryption safety to another level, you can use an encryption tool. It'll lock data onto hard drives. 

4. Up To Date Software

You should ensure that software is up-to-date at all times. A great option to ensure it's updated is to turn on automatic updates.

Use Chrome to protect your information since it has built-in security updates. You'll also want to ensure that your Java, Flash, etc. are up to date as well. 

5. Avoid Suspicious Emails

You can find phishing scams on both telephones and emails. They'll attempt to trick you into giving them personal information. This can include your password, login ID, credit card information, etc. 

6. Use Strong Passwords

Avoid passwords with personal information that someone can figure out. Don't use the same password for multiple items either. What happens is if someone figures out your password for one site then they can try it for others, and access everything. 

You can use a password manager to ensure that your passwords are strong and unique. They can generate a password for you if you're not sure what to use. Many of them will remind you to update your password after a certain period of time as well. 

7. Don't Click Everything

Don't download software or click on websites you're not sure about. Websites can host malware that will install on your device without you knowing. Never click on any sites that you're not sure about. 

8. Data Backup

It's a good idea to protect your data on your computer by backing it up. This can include either cloud storage or backing up your hard drive. You can delete copies on your laptop if you're travelling. 

9. Disk Encryption

You can use disk encryption products that'll help encrypt flash drives, USB drives, etc. They can allow you to have secondary passwords, a master password, etc. 

10. Hide Data

Another option is to hide your data with a steganography. This allows you to hide data within data. Keep in mind that they don't encrypt the information.

This means it's important to combine it with encryption software. Steganographic techniques can include private key cryptography or a secret key.

You can find steganography software for free downloads. Ensure that before you download any software that it's trustworthy. 

11. IP Security

When your data travels over different networks, a hacker can pick it up. In order to protect yourself, you can use what's called Internet Protocol Security.

You'll need to ensure that your receiving and sending systems support it. Some operating systems have the support built-in. 

12. Rights Management

If you're sending data to others, it's a good idea to protect it. One option is to use what's called Windows Rights Management Services to decide what those who receive it can do with it. 

For example, you can decide that they can read it, but can't save or copy it. You can also prevent them from forwarding the email messages to others. Another option is to have the email expire after a certain period of time. 

13. Old Computers Are Unreadable

Protect your personal data by ensuring that the hard drives on your old computers are unreadable. After transferring the files and backing up your data, you can shred the disk, use software that cleans it, or you can magnetically clean it. 

14. Secure Wireless Networks

Ensure that your wireless network is protected with a password. This will prevent others within your location from entering your wireless network. Even if they're trying to get internet access, you don't want them to see your private information. 

Whether you're at home or work, ensure that the wireless network is protected. Ensure that the router doesn't broadcast the network's name either.

Webcam Security

Along with protecting your device, you should protect your webcam with items such as webcam covers. When you're using a webcam that plugs in you'll want to either unplug it when it's not in use or cover it. If not, someone can spy on you when your camera is connected. 

Many computers have built-in webcams. If it comes with a small lens to cover it you'll want to do so. Avoid using tape since that can leave a sticky residue behind. 

Some laptops have an option to turn off the webcam when it's not in use. You can find it on the side to disable it. 

Protective Software

You'll want to have strong computer security software on your device. You should have different items such as a firewall, anti-spyware, etc. Keep all of this software up to date at all times as well. Avoid social media messages or links in emails that you're not sure about. 

How To Tell If Your Webcam Is Hacked? 

Do you notice that browser extensions are turning on your webcam? Or, maybe that the light turns on at random times? 

If you notice that the light on your webcam turns on whenever you open up an internet browser, that's a sign that you might have an add-on or other extension that's downloaded without your permission. First, disable all extensions. Next, enable them one by one.

After doing so, you'll want to restart your browser. This can help you figure out which extension is causing a problem. It can mean that there's a badly designed extension as well. 

Strange Webcam Video Files

If someone gains access through your webcam they might have advanced malware that can be hard to spot. The recordings might be saved to your hard drive though. 

First, head to your hard drive folders and see if there are any webcam video files that aren't saved by you. It's easy to miss these if you don't check for them. 

They might have strange tags or names for the video files. To begin your search you can head to a webcam folder. You can also check out other video folders as well. 

Keep Your Laptop Safe When You Travel

First, use a secure laptop bag when you're travelling. The harder you make it for potential thieves, the less likely they are to steal it from you. Not only for this reason but when you're travelling, your computer might crack or scratch when you're on the move. 

Choose a secure laptop bag that's plain to avoid attention. Keep it on you at all times. 

Security Cable Lock

Consider having a security cable lock to deter thieves. It works similar to a bike lock. You place it around a fixed object, it connects to your laptop and locks it. 

For a more secure option, you can pick out a high-tech cable lock that has a motion sensor system and alarm. If someone tries to remove the laptop, it'll have an alarm that'll go off to let you know. 

Use a VPN

Whether you're travelling or not, using a VPN is a way to ensure that your web browsing is secure. This is important as well if you're using public Wi-Fi networks.

VPN stands for a Virtual Private Network. It encrypts all of your data that you receive and send online. When you travel, it allows you to access content that you can't in certain locations. 

Have Theft Recovery Software

Consider installing theft recovery software. If your laptop is stolen, it'll help you locate where it is.

Then the proper authorities can go and grab it for you. The top software programs out there will work even if the thief tries to erase all of the data with new operating systems. 

Laptop Security To Keep Your Data Protected

Now that you've explored laptop security tips to keep your data protected, you should have a better idea of what steps to take. Are you ready to protect your webcam from spies, keep your laptop safe while travelling, or other security measures?

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