Tips to Keep Devices Secure During Travel

When traveling, take extra precautions with your laptop and other devices. For example, never leave your laptop unattended in the car and always place your computer in a cushioned laptop bag before transporting to keep it protected. Following are a few tips that will help ensure your devices stay safe.

Always remove your laptop from your vehicle when you are not it

Theft from vehicles is one of the most common ways laptops are lost. Never leave your computer in the car–not even in the trunk! Criminals sit in parking lots and watch/wait for you to leave your devices behind.

Pack all devices in your carry-on luggage

Do not pack laptops or tablets in checked luggage unless REQUIRED to do so by airline security regulations. Devices can easily be stolen from your checked luggage.

Retrieve devices at TSA checkpoints

Double-check that you have all of your belongings before walking away from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other such checkpoints.

Take your devices with you

Keep track of your devices while you're waiting in the airport gate area, for example. If you need to visit the restroom or buy something, bring your items with you. It's easy for someone to watch you walk away and then take your items.

Securely store your devices

When on a plane, bus, or train, secure your devices that you've stowed. Phones, tablets, and laptops can easily be stolen from the overhead bins, your seat, or even a seat pocket when use the restroom.

Double-check your area for devices before you leave

Before stepping off of a plane, bus, or train, check your seat area and seat pocket to ensure that you did not leave any devices behind. Every year, millions of devices are left behind and stolen, or never recovered.

Lock devices in the hotel safe

Whenever possible, lock your devices in the hotel safe when you are not in the room.

Exception: If you are traveling in a high-risk country, such as <China>, keep the device with you, as safes are not secure.

Latch and lock the door

Whenever you leave your hotel room, remember to pull the door closed and check to ensure that is is locked. Hotel thieves walk down the halls pushing on doors to find doors that are not properly locked.

Enjoy your trip!

Avoid a ruined trip caused by a stolen device. Instead, follow these tips to keep your devices safe to ensure you have a great travel experience.