How to Secure an HP Laptop
Due to its portability, an HP laptop can be a prime target for thieves. The theft of an HP laptop not only means the loss of expensive hardware, but also the potential loss of valuable data, including proprietary business information if the machine is used for work. Securing an HP laptop involves protecting it on two levels – physically locking it down so it cannot be removed, as well as restricting access to the data and software contained in it so even if you lose it, it will be difficult for hackers to gain access to your sensitive information.
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Instructions
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Lock down your laptop while you are using it by securing it with a metal cable to your desk or another secure anchor. HP laptops usually have a locking port into which you can insert one end of a cable lock. You can also secure some laptop cable locks to the VGA connector of your laptop. You can loop the other end of the cable lock around a strong support structure like the leg of a desk.
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Hold on to your laptop when in public areas such as airports and do not leave it unattended. If possible, carry your HP laptop in a generic-looking piece of luggage rather than a laptop carrying case to avoid giving away that you are carrying a laptop.
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Record the serial number of your laptop and keep it in a safe place. Register the laptop serial number with HP and notify them and the police in the event of theft. If your laptop does get stolen, it will be easier to track it down, especially if the thief tries to resell it.
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Use a long and non-intuitive password to log into your laptop.
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Activate built-in security features on your HP laptop, such as fingerprint scanners, to have additional layers of security beyond just a password. The fingerprint scanner is a metallic strip located on your HP laptop, usually near the keyboard. Set it up to recognize your fingerprints by activating the VeriSoft Access Manager software that comes with your laptop (see Resources).
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Use data encryption software from HP (HP ProtectTools) to scramble the contents of your hard drive. This will make your data less easy to crack, and it will also lock down your hard drive so it cannot be used on another machine. To activate this option, after installing HP ProtectTools software, restart your computer, press the F10 key while it is starting up, and use the arrow keys to selected "Security" and "Setup password." Select "Embedded Security Device - Enable", "Save Changes" and "Exit." (See Resources.)
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Plug the memory ports of your HP laptop, such as the USB ports, using special locks that block access to these ports.
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Back up your files on a server so you have access to them even if your laptop gets stolen. It is also a good idea to always work on your important files directly on a server, rather than using a local copy on your laptop hard drive, so your files are always stored remotely.
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References
Resources
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