Laptop security

Those folks at NetworkWorld have done a totally unscientific study on how security-minded (or not) people are at various WiFi locations. They went around various WiFi hot-spots (airports, coffee shops, etc.) & asked laptop users what precautions they were taking.

What’s interesting is that pretty much everyone (with the exception of the technician) is playing roulette with the security of their (& their employers’) data. In fact, none of them at all has taken measures to protect the laptops themselves, such as a laptop labeling or tracking service to aid in recovering a lost/stolen machine.

Of particular note was the CFO who was too cheap to buy a cellular data service & relies wherever possible on free connectivity.

NW does give you some tips on how to minimize your chances of self-immolation with your data. Some of them seem to be stating the blindingly obvious (don’t send anything via email that you wouldn’t want everyone at the coffee shop to read), but what’s obvious is that most of the people they polled were blissfully ignorant of the danger.

So take a look, see what you can implement for yourself. When all else fails—put down the laptop & get a life.