You can safeguard yourself against laptop loss or theft by taking a few simple precautions. Such measures include creating a complex password that no one else can easily guess, Keeping a record of the ID number, backing up your files, staying away from places or areas of suspect, and so on.
These are only a few of the many steps that you can take to protect your personal information, should you lose access to your PC. The question that remains is, “what happens when the laptop eventually gets stolen or is misplaced?”
Immediately secure your information
The first, and most important step is to secure all of your passwords saved on the computer by changing them one by one. If you don’t, you could become a victim of identity theft, financial fraud, or something else.
You should also inform your company’s IT staff of the situation, so that they can monitor your account for any signs of repeated unwanted access attempts using the previous logins.
Start monitoring your device
Most modern computers have a tracking system which gives the current location of your PC with greater ease. Built-in computer tracking systems often include Lock, Sound, and Erase functions.
Once you’re able to locate your device, you can initiate one of the three options and the computer will respond. The “Sound” option is helpful if the laptop is somewhere around, where you can hear the triggered sound.
Contact the right people
This can be your colleagues, family members or even your financial institution. This is important especially if the device has been stolen. Every financial institution has security measures in place to protect you and your money in the event of fraud attempts.
If you’re a business person, then you also need to inform your clients or customers so that they will alert you if they receive any questionable messages from your email address or social media accounts.
Do a thorough investigation
Check in on your accounts periodically to see if you can spot any unusual activity and take appropriate action if necessary.
Among the places you should look for suspicious activity are your online banking platform(s), email, and social media accounts.
In summary
No one enjoys the feeling of losing a laptop, as it is vital part of our daily work lives. For this reason, you should immediately implement the aforementioned steps on realising that your PC is stolen or misplaced. The less severe the consequences will be if action is taken quickly.
