Phone: 250.764.7043
Email: help@computercarekelowna.com

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Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

On the Road
by Cate Eales

Appeared May 30, 2012 on castanet.net

Last week I wrote about keeping your laptop cool. That column seems to have chased away the hot weather, but it DID result in a lot of really great questions about laptops, including questions about travelling with laptops. So if you’ve got a laptop or you’re thinking of buying a laptop or even if you just enjoy giving advice to your friends who have laptops, read on.

How do I protect my laptop while travelling?
You want to protect the laptop itself from damage and theft. Start with a good laptop bag. Whether you go with a briefcase style, a messenger bag, or a backpack is up to you, but get something actually designed for a laptop. Don’t throw the thing into a shopping bag and expect it to survive.

To protect the laptop from theft, buy --- and use --- a notebook lock. Kensington is the gold standard for these, but Targus also makes good ones. You can have either a key lock or a combination lock, but whichever you choose, get a decent, brand name one.

Kensington Lock

Here's a video showing one kind of Kensington lock . And here is a fancier version. Yes, those locks can be picked or the cables can be cut, just like on a bike. But locking your computer will slow people down or discourage them completely, just like "the club" on a car steering wheel.

And speaking of cars, there is a LoJack program for laptops, here, and there are programs like LoJack for laptops (and phones). LoJack will cost you. I use a free service called Prey, which you can see here. I have it for my netbook, and my Android phone.

If your laptop is stolen, these programs help you locate it. Even if you can't locate it, you can wipe the data from it remotely, and that brings me to my next point, which is: Make a complete backup before you leave home. And leave the backup at home. If someone steals your computer AND your backup, you're out of luck.


What about protecting the stuff that’s on the laptop?
Besides protecting the machine itself, you want to protect your files and information that are on the computer. Make sure you have a password on your computer, so someone can't just grab it and start using it. The extra three seconds it takes you to logon with a password every time you start up your computer is well worth it in terms of security. I always recommend a password on laptops even when you’re not travelling.

There are also precautions you should take when you are using WiFi in a hotel, restaurant, campground, airport, library, coffee shop, or anyplace that isn’t a secured network. This excellent article explains five things you can do to protect yourself from data and hardware theft while using public networks. This article from Microsoft covers much of the same ground, but it’s worth a quick read.


What should I consider when buying a laptop?
As luck would have it, I have a little checklist on just that very topic! You can download it from this link. I hope that helps you!


30K Club Bikeathon
On June 16, 2012 I am riding in the 30k Club Bikeathon as part of Team Tweet4OK. The event will raise money to help find homes for those who have none and fund programs so they can stay housed. The event is run by the Kelowna Gospel Mission.

Please sponsor me in the 30K Club Bikeathon

If you would like to sponsor me, it’s very easy to do that. Any donation, large or small is welcome and much appreciated. You can click on this link to make a secure donation online. If you would like to sponsor me and are uncomfortable about online payments, please send me an email at help@computercarekelowna.com with your name and a phone number so I can contact you. Many thanks!

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I welcome your comments and questions. I can also visit your home or office to help you and your computer get along. Call me at 250-764-7043, email help@computercarekelowna.com or visit Computer Care Kelowna on the web.

You can read previous columns here: http://rlis.com/column.htm. If you'd like to subscribe to this column by email, please visit this link: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=20618. It's easy, and free. If you'd prefer the RSS Feed, click here: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml.

Links
Keep Cool http://rlis.com/columns/column353.htm
Kensington MicroSaver Keyed Notebook Lock Video http://youtu.be/L41BtPQfKsk
Kensington ClickSafe Keyed Lock Video http://youtu.be/L41BtPQfKsk
LoJack for Laptops http://www.absolute.com/lojackforlaptops/
Prey http://preyproject.com/
Five tips for using your laptop on WiFi hotspots http://www.logichotspot.com/five-rules-for-using-your-laptop-on-public-wi-fi-hotspots/
Four Safety Tips for Using WiFi http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/public-wireless.aspx
Looking for a Laptop? http://ge.tt/4mdy47I/v/0?c
30K Club Bikeathon http://30kclubbikeathon.com/
Tweet4OK.com http://tweet4ok.com/
Kelowna Gospel Mission http://kelownagospelmission.ca/
Cate’s Bikeathon Sponsorship page: http://bit.ly/catebike
Computer Care Kelowna http://computercarekelowna.com/
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=20618
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml

 

© Cate Eales 2012 – All Rights Reserved

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