| Every time I purchase a new laptop with | | | | There are some kind of software, that will |
| updated OS, more hard disk space, more RAM, | | | | monitor the health of your system. It's worth |
| nice-looking design I think about possible | | | | paying attention to SMART hard drive |
| security problems I might face. | | | | technology, it gathers the valuable |
| | | | information about your hard disk health and |
| It's not a desk PC, which is placed at home | | | | share it with you, giving you an estimates |
| or office where the access is limited, laptop | | | | about how long you will be able to use your |
| is a portable device, which is easier to lost | | | | hard disk. I'm sure your laptop already have |
| and it can be stolen. So, it's a good idea to | | | | some software that will represent you this |
| think about proactive security measures that | | | | information, but there are also, some nice |
| can be performed to prevent security | | | | third-party tools. |
| accidents. | | | | |
| | | | Pay attention to your firewall and |
| First, I prefer to keep important data on | | | | web-browser. Installing a good firewall |
| encrypted disks, there are a number of | | | | software or just configuring firewall |
| software programs that helps to do it. The | | | | software suggested by latest version of |
| most well-know tools are PGP and TrueCrypt. | | | | Windows, will help you to protect laptop |
| The last is open source product and can be | | | | against spyware software. Don't forget to |
| used for free. | | | | clear browser history and cache from time to |
| | | | time, as it also might contain a valuable |
| Second, if I delete some file I want it to be | | | | information about your traces online. |
| irrecoverable, that's why I'm running file | | | | |
| shredder which stays in background and wipes | | | | Some other security measures, that might |
| all files that I delete. Also, as additional | | | | work. Flash drivers can be used now as a keys |
| measure I managed to run wipe free space in | | | | to your laptop. For instance, you will not be |
| the end of every week. | | | | able to log into the Windows unless your |
| | | | flash drive is inserted. Well, this is for |
| Third, password and login information. It is | | | | sure, a kind of protection, but there are a |
| probably the most valuable one, so I prefer | | | | number of ways to get information without |
| not to use auto fill option in browser and | | | | starting Windows, so you need a real |
| type the passwords every time I need to log | | | | protection, then USB flash drive key should |
| in, it's a simple rule and I don't waste a | | | | contain not the password for a Windows login, |
| lot of time doing this. | | | | but the key which is used to encrypted the |
| | | | whole data on your hard disk. |
| So here are my tree rules, there are some | | | | |
| minor ones. For instance, the probability | | | | But again, before using strong protection |
| that someone will steal your laptop is much | | | | consider checking the possibility of |
| lower that probability of data lost due to | | | | corruption of encrypted volume. It's much |
| system crash, so it's really important to do | | | | more harder to recover corrupted encrypted |
| a backup every time you fill it's necessary. | | | | volume, than just a hard disk with |
| It's a good idea to do a backup every month | | | | non-encrypted FAT system. So, the main rule |
| or every two weeks. | | | | about security is to do enough to protect |
| | | | yourself and not to try to do more. |