Laptop Computer Security Tips

Laptop Computer Security Tips
by Debbie Jacobsen


Due to their portability, laptop computers tend to require a bit more care than a traditional desktop PC. They are also a lot more expensive. Following are some tips to help protect your laptop investment as well as your privacy:


Use a Computer Security Suite with an Annual Subscription Most new laptops come with preinstalled security software, but it is often "trial period" software only. Check to see that the "automatic updates" subscription is good for at least a year. If not, either renew it or uninstall and purchase new software. Here is some information on Computer Security Suites

If you use Peer to Peer (P2P) File Sharing Applications, P2P Doctor is a MUST!

P2P applications like Kazaa, Morpheus, BearShare, and Limewire are file sharing programs that will not run unless the user agrees to the installation of many advertising-based applications. These "extra" applications are known as Spyware, and can be very dangerous. If file sharing applications must be used, a program like P2P Doctor is a must. This software removes file sharing add-on programs without causing the P2P program to stop functioning.

Purchase an Extended Warranty

Most laptop computers come with a standard 12 month warranty, which will cover any system defects that arise during the first year. Although this is fine for a desktop computer, I have found that many laptop hard drives and displays actually break down during years 2 and 3. The cost of replacing a laptop hard drive is around $300, and the cost of replacing a display can easily be $800. Extended warranties don't cost that much extra, and are a wise investment.

Utilize an Online Backup Service

Laptop hard drives crash more often than PC hard drives. Your hard drive might last several years, or only several months - there's no way to tell. Because a laptop hard drive is often exposed to more "abuse" than a PC hard drive, it is imperative that your data be backed up on a regular basis. Carbonite Online Backup is the cheapest, most reliable way to protect the data on your laptop - costing only $5 a month. An excellent investment, and cheap price to pay for piece of mind.

Use Windows XP Professional, NTFS, and a Regular User Account

Windows XP Professional has a ton of security features, and is designed to provide a stable and secure operating environment for a networked computer. Make sure the hard drive is formatted with the NTFS file system, which will enable the strongest security. Create a "user" account, and a strong password (at least 6 characters, using a combination of upper and lower case + numbers). The user account does not have the power to install applications or make system registry changes, which gives you a lot of protection. Operate the laptop under the user account, and only log into the administrator account when you need to install new software. This ensures that "unknown" software is not installed without your knowledge.




About the Author
Debbie is an information technology professional and author of antivirus-firewall-spyware.com and long-distance-savings.com.