Credant Technologies (http://www.credant.com), an endpoint data security specialist, says laptop users should turn off their Wi-Fi signals before stowing their laptop in the boot of their car or stashing their laptop in the office cupboard or desk drawer, apparently out of sight of thieves.
Why? Due to the widespread availability of low-cost keyfob WiFi detectors and sophisticated directional detectors that can be used by thieves to detect the presence of an out-of-sight laptop,” he added. Plus, auction sites are selling WiFi detection kit for “pocket money prices,” says Credant.
Apparently, the real focus of identity thieves is the company laptop, which, as well as being a saleable item in its own right, can also contain valuable company data that can potentially be sold to the highest bidder online. Just because the latest laptops have a set time — sometimes up to 30 minutes — before they go into sleep mode when the laptop lid is shut, doesn’t mean that shopping malls from around 6 pm on weekdays can’t be a prime source of potential notebook computers, just waiting to be stolen from cars.
You may not be able to totally prevent your laptop being stolen, but only switching on your WiFi when you really need it can help, notes Credant. And, of course, encrypting your data on the notebook drive will go a long way to preventing your computer becoming just another statistic.
— Dennis Sellers