10 tips to help protect your laptop in public places

Notebooks are synonymous with mobility and this is one of their main advantages. Being able to take one of them anywhere is excellent to save time with certain tasks, but when using them in public places we are exposed to threats, both virtual and to our security and integrity. But there are some tips and precautions we can take to avoid exposing our information or losing our notebook to a criminal. Check it out below.

1 – Assess if you really need to take your notebook.

huh? But isn't the notebook made to be taken anywhere? Yes, but if you, like me, live in Brazil, you know that violence is high here and we cannot create risky situations. Therefore, evaluate if your notebook will really be necessary.

See if the task you intend to perform cannot be done using your cell phone, or a tablet (if you have one), so you lighten the weight of your luggage and protect it from unnecessary risks. If you really need to bring your notebook, take advantage of the following tips.

2 – Keep it in a discreet place.

This tip is useful for those who walk, bike, bus and subway. Avoid using laptop backpacks, after all, thieves are not stupid. Laptop backpack is an easier target, so opt for a regular, discreet backpack and place your laptop in a protective case inside the backpack. If you are going to transport it in the car, store it in the trunk so it doesn't draw the attention of criminals.

3 – Do you use your notebook a lot outside the house? Make an insurance and backup.

If you travel a lot for work and use your notebook in the most diverse places, it's good not to risk losing your gadgets and breaking important files. Look for insurance for your notebook, so if you lose it, you'll have another equipment in case of theft or damage. Some companies, like Dell offer insurance against falls, liquid spills and other accidents.

In order not to be without your data, choose to make backups, it can be in a external hard drive, flash drive, or in the cloud, in services such as Google Drive, Dropbox e OneDrive, that can be accessed from any device with internet.

4 – Choose a really safe and secure place.

" - There's no way, I really need to go out there with the notebook“. So, choose safe locations. No more sitting on a bench in the square just because you have free Wi-Fi and start typing. Choose malls, cafes with movement, and that have security and have no history of robberies. Sit in an inconspicuous place and away from windows and the sidewalk so you don't lose your device to someone smart.

5 – Keep the screen out of the reach of curious people.

To do this, the user can reduce the screen brightness or apply a protective film, such as the 3M Privacy Filter, which makes the screen “invisible” to the curious, for example.

notebooks from Samsung in the current Essentials, Expert and Style lines (we talk about them here) still bring a feature called Privacy Protection, which dims the screen or just the window of the program that is in use – which can also be made transparent, in addition to blocking the camera and microphone, preventing unwanted recording of images and ambient sounds. Thus, the action of eavesdroppers is difficult.

6 – Wow, free Wi-Fi!? Be careful with open networks.

Reliable Wi-Fi signal has a name… If you find an open network lying around, think twice before connecting. They could have been created by malicious people, who would be able to intercept the traffic between the laptop, smartphone or tablet and the server of the website being accessed and thus obtain passwords and other data.

Even if the place offers free Wi-Fi, it's best to be careful when connecting. Check the network name to make sure it is correct and be suspicious if you need to provide too much data before connecting.

7 – Use a password to lock the notebook.

This tip is kind of obvious, but still valid. Always use a password on your device, so if the user needs to step away for a moment (we do not recommend), others will have difficulty using the device and accessing information without authorization.

The ideal is to adopt a strong combination, with numbers, letters and symbols, or even use extra resources. In Windows 10 it is possible to use a photo to unlock the system by drawing a drawing on it, or if your device has a biometric reader, a very common item on devices Lenovo ThinkPad e Dell Vostro, only your fingerprint unlocks the notebook.

A Samsung also offers in its notebooks an interesting solution, called touchpad Logon, which allows you to unlock the device with a “drawing” made on the touchpad.

8 – Install a VPN, especially if the notebook is used for professional purposes.

VPNs aren't just for when the WhatsApp is blocked in Brazil. These virtual private networks can help prevent intruders from intercepting data traffic between the user's device and remote servers, protecting potentially sensitive information and documents.

10 – Turn off the webcam and microphone to protect your notebook from remote intrusion

Thus, any intruders who are physically distant (but sharing the same network) will not be able to hear or see what the user is doing, guaranteeing a little privacy even in a public place.

10 – Do not share folders.

This is the most important tip when it comes to protecting your data from any unauthorized access and ending up in bigger problems later on.

The directories (folders) shared on the network can be exposed to everyone who has notebooks connected to the same Wi-Fi. Note that you may have even enabled this sharing without realizing it – this is one of the first questions Windows asks when the notebook is connected to the internet for the first time. So pay attention when connecting to a Wi-Fi network and the Windows ask you what type of network it is, there are currently three types.

Choose Public network for networks in public places (such as cafeterias or airports). This location is designed to prevent your computer from being visible to other computers near you and to help protect your computer from any malicious software on the Internet.

Choose work network for small businesses or other workplace networks. In this network, you see other computers, and vice versa, choose this one only in a work environment where the exchange of files between devices is necessary.

And finally, choose home network only on your home network, or when you know and trust the people and devices on the network, such as at the home of friends and family. This option allows file sharing between computers.

If you finally have no way out, at least try to get robbed by a “honest thief".