| Washington University School of Medicine |
Environmental Health & Safety |
Campus Safety: Laptop Security
A Quote From A Professional Thief: " I love laptops. They’re easy to hide and fence."A Quote From A WUMS Employee: "My research has been severely inconvenienced by this theft."
COMPUTER LAPTOP THEFT FACTS | One in ten laptops sold this year will be stolen. |
| One thousand laptops are ripped off everyday. |
| 40 percent of all thefts are in the work environment. |
| 70 percent of work related thefts involve disgruntled employees. |
| Some insurers don’t cover computers without extended coverage. |
| Some insurers offer discounts for using a security device. |
SAFETY TIPS FOR LAPTOPS
| Always use an anti-theft device. Portable locking devices and motion sensor alarms are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. |
| Never leave your laptop in open view in your vehicle. Lock it in the trunk. |
| Never leave your laptop in open view in your hotel room. Lock it away or in the hotel safe if you don’t wish to carry it all day. |
| Save a copy of your purchase receipt. Copy the serial number and description of your laptop and store in a safe place. If the laptop is stolen, police, security, the insurance company or your business will need the information. |
| Permanently mark your computer in some manner to show ownership. |
| Carry your laptop in an unassuming, well-padded bag, rather than the traditional computer case. |
| Never leave your laptop unattended in a public place or your workspace. Secure it to your desk at all times or lock it in a drawer, even if you leave for a few moments. |
| Back up all irreplaceable information on a daily basis. |
Securing your laptop is vital but don’t forget to secure all the other products associated with it: batteries, power cords, cables, fax/modem cards, external drives and storage devices, printer, LCD projectors. A thief may just need one of these more.
LAPTOP SECURITY/WHAT LEVEL DO YOU NEED?Consider: Where will you be using your laptop? How accessible will it be to others? What is its value? Can you replace the stored information?
WHAT TYPES OF PROTECTION ARE AVAILABLE?
Heavy Steel Cage: Highest degree of security. Ideal for overnight in offices or labs.
Look
for solid, hardened steel for extra resistance to cutting and sawing.
Locking Cables: Portability and strength.
Perfect for travel or daily use.Braided
steel cable vs. twisted – braided is harder to cut.A
minimum cable thickness, between 5mm – 8 mm.Combination
or keyed locks – your comfort level.
Motion Sensor Alarms: Ease of use and effective. Great for travel as
well as daily use.
Ensure
quality product; use a known vendor.
Ease of use
and battery replacement.
Don’t do the "laptop hustle"
At airports one thief follows a laptop-toting passenger approaching a metal detector,
while another positions himself in front of the unsuspecting passenger. The two
"stall" until the victim puts the laptop onto the conveyer belt. The first guy
moves through the metal detector easily, the other sets if off and begins to slowly empty
his pockets. Meanwhile, the first partner grabs the laptop just as it comes off the belt
and runs.
For more information and the WUSM campus Daily Crime Log see the Protective Services webpage.
