Laptop Security Measures

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Laptop Security Measures

• Cyber Security Month
• October 2006

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What are we going to talk about today?

• Keeping your laptop safe secure
• Traveling with a laptop
• Policies
• Resources

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Laptop Security, How to keep it safe and secure

• Register your personal computer or laptop with
  the manufacturer
• Will flag it if a thief ever sends it in for
  maintenance
• Increases your odds of getting it back
• Write down your laptops serial number and store
  it in a safe place
• Get a cable lock and use it!
• Over 80 of laptops on the market are equipped
  with a Universal Security Slot (USS)
• Allows laptop to be attached to a cable lock or
  laptop alarm
• Between 30-50 at office supply stores or online
• Tubular locks are preferable to the common
  tumbler lock design
• Tether laptop to a strong immovable and
  unbreakable object

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Laptop Security, Keeping it safe secure cont

• Use tracking software to have your laptop call
  home
• Stealthy software solutions that enable your
  laptop to check in to a tracking center
  periodically using a traceable signal
• If your laptop is lost or stolen, these agencies
  work with the police, phone company, and internet
  service providers to track and recover your
  laptop
• Most services are under 100

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Laptop Security, Keeping it safe secure cont

• Choose a secure operating system and lock it
  down!
• Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP
  Professional both offer secure logon, file
  security, and the ability to encrypt data
• If you are using Windows NT/2000/XP on your
  laptop, use the NTFS file system to protect your
  data from laptop thieves who may try to access
  your data

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Laptop Security, Keeping it safe secure cont

• The Administrator Account
• Create a separate local account with
  administrative rights (give it a complex
  password)
• Disable The Administrator Account (XP Pro and
  2000 Pro)
• Do not log onto your computer as an
  administrator
• Disabling the Administrator account will stop
  some amateur hackers cold, and will annoy the
  more determined ones
• Backup Backup Backup!!
• Always backup your laptop before you do any
  extended traveling that may put your data at risk

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Laptop Security, When traveling cont

• When traveling
• Never assume your laptop will be safe just
  sitting around
• Use a non descript carrying case
• Consider buying a form fitting padded sleeve for
  your laptop
• Carry it in a backpack, courier bag, briefcase,
  or other common non descript carrying case
• When flying, never check your laptop and never
  leave your laptop unattended
• If you keep you laptop in your hotel room, anchor
  it securely to a metal post or fixed object

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Laptop Security, When traveling cont

• Make security a habit
• Get into the habit of locking your laptop up when
  youre not working with it or when storing it
• Use common sense when traveling
• Try to stay in physical contact with your laptop
  at all times

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Laptop Security, Policies cont

• Policies
• View them at the http//cybersecurity.gonzaga.edu
  website
• Workstation Security
• Gonzaga University workstation users will use
  workstations in a manner appropriate to the
  sensitivity of the information contained on
  university IT assets and will minimize the
  possibility of unauthorized access to such
  information
• Only authorized personnel will access electronic
  data, including the hardware and/or software on
  which the data is stored. Users must
  authenticate prior to use of resources
• Confidential and sensitive data should be stored
  on centralized server(s)

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Laptop Security, Policies cont

• User Responsibilities
• All users must log out or lock their computers
  when they leave for the day
• All computers should remain powered on in order
  to facilitate patching and upgrading computers
  with minimal impact to users
• Auto lock screen savers will be utilized to lock
  the workstation after no more than thirty (30)
  minutes of inactivity
• User access will be granted in accordance with
  the Acceptable Use Policy

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Laptop Security, Policies cont

• User privileges on the workstation shall be
  restricted to the minimum necessary level of
  access for that user to perform their work, this
  is the default configuration for all users
• Locking workstations does not prevent data loss.
  It is recommended that users save work frequently
  and prior to leaving their workstation

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Laptop Security cont

• Mobile Computing
• Mobile computer users are responsible for backing
  up data stored on the mobile computer on a
  regular basis. Sensitive information must be
  backed up after each use
• Mobile computing data backups must not be stored
  with the mobile device
• Passwords and user identifications must not be
  stored with the mobile device
• When traveling, equipment (and media) should not
  be left unattended in public places portable
  computers should be carried as hand luggage
• Loss of mobile computing equipment refer to the
  Mobile Computing Policy ITS124
• Backing up data on mobile devices refer to the
  Mobile Computing Policy ITS124

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Laptop Security cont

• Resources
• http//www.lojackforlaptops.com/learn-more-lojack-
  for-laptops.asp
• http//www.secure-it.com/shop/index.php/cPath/54
• http//www.xtool.com/p_computertracker.asp
• http//www.ztrace.com/zTraceGold.asp