| Imagine showing up to the office one morning to the | | | | Well, maybe this will only affect business travelers and |
| chilling reality of having been a victim of theft. Laptop | | | | high traffic office environments? Nope. Computer theft |
| computers are missing, LCD monitors gone and, most | | | | can happen anywhere from a presentation hall to your |
| disturbingly, the space where the file server is vastly | | | | very own home. An ING US employee found this out |
| empty. Not only are you faced with the loss of | | | | when a company computer was stolen from their |
| expensive and valuable equipment, but also the critical | | | | home exposing the personal identities of over 13,000 |
| data you are accountable for has now been | | | | employees and retirees in the District of Columbia. |
| compromised. Theft of valuable and sensitive | | | | Similarly, an employee of the Department of Veteran |
| computer equipment can have extreme repercussions | | | | Affairs had a company laptop stolen from home |
| and costs to businesses, individuals, and the general | | | | compromising the personal information of 26.5 million |
| public. | | | | US war veterans. |
| You hear it all the time but never imagine it will happen | | | | How do you protect yourself and your valuable |
| to you. Unfortunately, computer theft and tampering is | | | | equipment? Often it is just common sense, but there |
| real and occurs more often than most people realize. | | | | are many computer security solutions available to |
| As technologies improve and computers become | | | | safeguard your equipment and data. At any computer |
| even more lightweight and mobile, the risk of theft and | | | | workstation, a computer cable lock could be enough to |
| security intrusions also increases. Unsecured laptops | | | | prevent a laptop, printer, or monitor from being stolen. |
| and other computer equipment are easy targets for | | | | Computer security cables, computer locks, and laptop |
| theft in any office or public environment. Whether it is a | | | | locks are all cost effective solutions that could easily |
| school, private office, airport or library, there is the | | | | deter a thief and motivate them to move on to other, |
| potential for computer theft and tampering from both | | | | easier targets. One major retailer in the US has |
| external and internal threats. | | | | already invested in new computer security locks |
| According to a 2006 study by the Ponemon Institute, | | | | throughout their chain to comply with PCI data security |
| there was an 81% increase in the number of | | | | standards. For file servers and larger computer |
| computers reporting stolen laptops containing sensitive | | | | hardware, complete computer enclosures and |
| information. A survey conducted by the FBI in the | | | | computer lockers can also effectively secure |
| same year reported that 47% of computer security | | | | equipment from theft and tampering. |
| professionals reported a laptop theft in the past twelve | | | | It is better to ere on the side of caution and safeguard |
| months. At the office of American International Group, | | | | your computer equipment than risk losing everything. |
| a file server and several laptop computers were | | | | Thinking that computer theft will never happen to you |
| stolen and compromised the private data of over | | | | only makes it harder to deal with if it ever does. By |
| 970,000 potential customers. While traveling, an Equifax | | | | taking some time to consider computer security |
| company laptop was stolen from an employee risking | | | | options, you protect your valuable equipment and the |
| personal information including employee names and | | | | data within it. |
| social security numbers. | | | | |