How can you protect data if your laptop is stolen?

For those who have a laptop only for personal use, there’s always the risk of losing the computer and not knowing how to protect any private information on the hardware. Certain scenarios don’t leave much room for being careful, as current computers will typically allow someone to make a guest account, leaving your account untouched. Particularly techie thieves can even remove a laptop’s hard drive and install it on another PC. However, there are still some methods giving you the upper hand if your laptop is stolen.

Encryption, which is the conversion of electronic data into another form that can only be understood by authorized people, is often the only worthwhile protection someone can install on a device. VeraCrypt is a highly recommended encryption system, adding “delay only to the opening of encrypted partitions,” to make it more difficult for an outsider to access encrypted data.

For those less technically inclined, there is also the option of full disk encryption (FDE), which is built into all major operating systems. “It’s the only way to protect your data in case your laptop gets lost or stolen, and it takes minimal effort to get started and use,” writes technologist Micah Lee. Emphasizing the fact that no one has privacy rights when crossing borders, Lee also explains that encrypting your hard drive does not protect your computer from Internet surveillance and hackers. However, installing a full disk encryption will reduce your files to ciphertext when seen by another person – all because of an encryption key that will allow you to open files normally, but shields anyone else from snooping. This kind of encryption is possible to do in Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

The disadvantage of FDE is that it’s mandatory to remember your password, because there is no way to retrieve it if forgotten, and then you cannot use your computer. A privacy option with less pressure to remember is to encrypt important files and back them up somewhere else. Windows 7 Pro has a built-in encrypting file system, while Microsoft Office also has built-in encryption for Office files. Working with any file compression program is also a viable choice.

Another safety method involves biometric systems, using the classic identification of fingerprints. Some laptops have had built-in fingerprint readers since the early 2000s, but only now is fingerprint and face recognition becoming a valid protection mechanism in computers. Linking a biometric to a device’s encryption system is ideal, as seen with Dell’s Digital Persona Fingerprint Suite offering one-touch logons. Face and fingerprint recognition are also part of Windows Hello, which is a Windows 10 feature that aligns with the U.S. Defense Department’s move towards increased computer security. The Department announced in March 2016 that by January 2017, the entire department would use Windows 10 to improve cyber security.   

With files taken care of, the other most crucial elements to protect on a laptop are email and website passwords. Passwords usually save in browsers, so you would have to remove them or use a password manager, which stores all existing passwords. Many quality mangers are available for free downloads, such as LastPass 4.0, which was praised for its emergency access and automated password updating features. In the absolute worst scenario – a computer is stolen before you installed any security – there are programs available that will help you locate the device, as well as ones that will permit a “remote wipe” to the entire laptop. Prey allows you to remotely lock devices and delete any stored passwords, immediately protecting your personal data. For a small fee, it even offers a remote wipe for three devices.

While it is stressful if you lose your laptop, following some of these safety methods will hopefully make the process less taxing and allow you to protect your personal information.

Source: The Guardian, U.S. Department of Defense, VeraCrypt, The Intercept, TechTarget, PCMag, Prey