As laptops increase in popularity, students may begin to consider methods of keeping their laptops safe and secure.

Jim Fatz, director of information security and operations, said laptops are usually equipped with a square port that utilizes a “universal connector,” that allows the user to anchor the computer to one spot.

“The biggest problem with laptops - people like them because they’re convenient and portable,” Fatz said.

He offered advice to those who carry their laptops with them.

“If you’re going to carry your laptop around, you should treat it like your wallet,” Fatz said.

Fatz said that if someone steals one, they have an “unlimited amount of time” to hack into it. Important information such as bank account numbers or other identity-compromising information should not be stored on a laptop, Fatz said.

“I make sure I don’t store passwords or anything on there because I know I’m not always on secure networks,” said Brent True, a junior math education major.

Hayley Suitts, a junior mathematics and physics double major, said it may be more secure for her to store her important information on her laptop.

“If I keep it on a scrap of paper I’d probably lose it,” Suitts said.

Fatz said if compromising information is kept on a laptop, then users should have several methods of protection, thus making it more complicated for thieves.

“A lot of people who steal laptops are just naive crooks,” Fatz said. “If you make it tough for them, they’ll just get frustrated and dump it in a trash can. For a sophisticated thief, if they really want to get into it they still can.”

Fatz said all laptops should either be password-protected or take use of fingerprint scanners. Laptops usually have the option to include a fingerprint scanner for an additional $100, Fatz said. If a fingerprint scanner is unaffordable, students should make their log-in passwords long and complicated.

“It should be a combination of uppercase, lowercase, alphanumeric and special characters,” he said.

Users can password-protect specific files where information may be stored, or even encrypt the entire hard drive.

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