SECURITY IN A MOBILE WORLD! ---- PART III

It is a well known fact that most every Laptop user could stand to improve their privacy (and overall security) when utilizing their PC for everyday use. This installment is geared towards getting you started on the right path towards accomplishing this goal. On your Laptop:

The Problems: In my experience, the easiest Mobile device to compromise is the laptop computer, due to it’s relatively non-secure configuration when it ships from it’s manufacturer. Most of the laptops that clients have brought to me for repairs have been compromised in some way, either by a Virus, a Spyware program, a Trojan program, an overload of "spam", or the Wireless Wi-Fi network connection is not configured for any kind of Encryption or Firewall, ready for a hacker to exploit. As a result, these laptops were found to be running noticeably slower, and/or suffer from increases in problems with program and application stability, as well as increased system lock-ups and crashes. In these cases, the removal of these unwanted security issues and an overall "securing" of the laptop had the following additional benefits:

- Returning the PC to peak operating speed.
- Returning the PC to a more stable configuration (less crashing).
- Securing the personal information on the PC against hackers.
- As well as reducing the proliferation of spam.

I have put together a list of software providers who can assist you in resolving these problems, so that you can realize most (if not ALL!) of these improvements, have several options available to chose from in each category, and the whole process is either low cost or free.

ON PHYSICAL SECURITY

The good news is that most Laptop owners take good physical care of their devices, so Physical Security (an umbrella term covering Physical Access + Application/Data Access + Network Access + Device Theft or Data Loss Mitigation) is significantly less of an issue when compared to PocketPC’s. Unfortunately, plenty of laptops are stolen every day, so I will still touch on some common sense aspects of Physical Security for Laptops:

- Never transport your laptop without a carrying bag. It’s more secure keeping it out of sight, and since most vendors provide additional padding in their bags, your laptop will be better protected in case of short drops or falls. For additional security, don’t use a bag that looks like a “computer” bag. If it isn’t obvious that the bag is carrying a computer, it will be safer from thieves. Several vendors make backpacks and briefcases that were designed to carry laptops.

- Never leave your laptop in a vehicle’s seating area. If you plan to leave the vehicle without the laptop, please store it in your trunk compartment. If it’s out of sight, a thief won’t be enticed into breaking into your vehicle.

- Always keep your laptop secure when not actively in use. For your day use on a desktop, consider using a laptop cable, because thieves even exist in high-security buildings. At night, or when you are done for the day, you should lock the laptop in a drawer or cabinet. If you are at a coffee shop and leave that laptop to go get a refill, take the laptop with you, or put it back in the bag to carry with you. If you left it on the table, it might be gone by the time you get back.

MORE IMPORTANT HIGHLY RATED SECURITY RISKS

Unfortunately, a large percentage of computer users are not well-protected when connecting to the Internet from their laptop computers. As defined earlier in “Security Defined”, here are the "big hitters", which I have placed in order of the highest probability of exposure to the threat based on my experiences.

1.) SPAM: (97%)
2.) SPYWARE: (90+%)
3.) VIRUS/WORM INFECTION: (35%)
4.) KEYSTROKE LOGGERS: (15%)
5.) HACKERS: (5%)

A brief description of each Threat was provided at the beginning of the first installment, under the section “Defining Security: The Major Security Threats”, which defined what each Threat can do to your system, as well as possible symptoms to look out for.