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<b>Consider using offline storage for transporting sensitive documents</b>
Backing up your hard drive before you leave can help you retrieve your data when you return from your trip, but it doesn't do you any good when you're still out in the field. There are several vendors that offer inexpensive external storage solutions that can hold anywhere from 40Mb to 30GB of data on a disk small enough to fit easily into your pocket. By having a backup of the files you need with you, you can work from another PC in the event your laptop is damaged or missing. As a plus, many of these devices support password protection and data encryption, so your files will be safe even if you misplace the storage disk. Iomega makes a variety of products that are ideal for road warriors. Their new USB Zip Drive is light enough for travel, doesn't require an external power supply, and each ZIP disk can hold up to 200 Mb of data. Our favorite new toy is the Iomega PocketZip drive that fit directly into your laptop's PCMCIA slot. The disks are are only 2 inches wide and can hold 40Mb. Other solutions include Imation's SuperDisk, and Castlewood's Orb Drive. Remember, when traveling keep these disks on your person, not in your laptop case or checked baggage, and be careful when passing through the metal detectors at airport security checkpoints. For additional security, lock or encrypt the files and have them sent by FedEx or UPS to your destination hotel or office.
Preventing Laptop Theft

<b>No place is safe</b>
Never assume your laptop will be safe just sitting around. Treat as if it were $1,000 in cash lying around, and lock it down using a cable lock or secure docking station. Qualcomm's CEO has his laptop stolen from him during a news conference while he was standing no more than 30 feet from it. A State department employee had his stolen from a conference room and lost his job. Despite a $25,000 reward it was never returned. Never assume that your laptop is safe.

<b>Use a non descript carrying case</b>
Nothing says "Steal me" like walking around a public place with a leather laptop case with the manufacturer's or your company's logo stamped to the side. Consider buying a form fitting padded sleeve for your laptop, and carrying it in a backpack, courier bag, briefcase, or other common non descript carrying case. For men, backpacks make it easier to keep you laptop with you when you go to the bathroom. (A prime target area for laptop thieves in hotels, bars, airports, and convention centers). If you are traveling in airports and train stations, consider putting small locks on the zippers of your case (especially backpacks) so no one can simply reach into your bag and rip you off as you are standing in line.

<b>Beware of payphones...<b>
Cell phones are great if you are within your calling area, but the lack of a nationwide standard means that business travelers often have to use the payphones in airports, restaurants and hotel lobbies. Incidentally, these are also places that thieves like to hang out . While you are worried about covering up you credit card number as you dial the keypad, opportunistic thieves are waiting to see if you set your laptop case down. If your traveling with someone else, use the buddy system to watch each others backs instead of making calls at the same time.

<b>When traveling by air....</b>
There are a number of sophisticated professional crime rings that prey on business travelers carrying laptops. They look for brand new, high end laptops and often shadow the airport curb side check in, airline and rental car check-in counters, airport shops and security checkpoints. Anywhere where you might set your laptop bag down for a minute to attend to other things, thieves may lay in wait . There is a well known two person scam that attempts to steal a business travelers laptop as they pass through the security checkpoint. If the thieves can't steal your laptop while you are occupied with the security process, they will often wait until you have a seat in the waiting area or in the airport bar. A good rule of thumb is that if there is a sudden diversion in front of you, a laptop thief is probably behind you. A common scam is for a beautiful young lady to walk behind you, smear mustard on the back of your shirt (without you knowing it), and then stop you and gleefully offer to help you clean it up. While you are occupied with the shirt stain, her accomplice is standing a few feet behind you waiting for you to set down your laptop bag. Another 2 person scam involves one person dropping a semi-valuable item in front of you in the hopes that you'll chase them to return the item. While your back is turned, their accomplice calmly walks away with your laptop case.

<b>When traveling by car...</b>
While I was working for a large international oil company, 5 executives went on a business trip to Australia and rented an SUV. On their first day, they stopped at a restaurant to have lunch, put all 5 brand new $4,000 Dell laptops in the back of the Ford Explorer and went in to eat. An hour later they came out to find the back window smashed in and all 5 laptops were gone (along with their passports). This illustrates 2 points. Always rent a car with a locking trunk (not a hatchback/minivan/or SUV) and never leave your laptop in a vehicle where a passing thief can see it through the window. If you do place your laptop in the trunk, use your cable lock to secure it to the trunk lid so that they still can't take it easily even if they manage to open the trunk. If possible, rent a car with an alarm system and no external stickers identifying it as a rental. Thieves target popular lunch spots with crowded parking lots, and they often look for rental cars. If you store your laptop in the vehicle for any period of time, keep in mind that the extreme temperature ranges within the vehicle could wreck havoc with your laptop. In the summer, the inside of a parked car can reach temperatures that will melt your laptop's components. In the winter, LCD screens can freeze solid and split.

<b>While staying in a hotel...<b>
Savvy road warriors already know the hazards of leaving valuables in hotel rooms, and professional thieves know that business travelers almost always have a few goodies that can be sold for a quick profit. If you keep your laptop in your hotel room anchor it securely to a metal post or fixed object. Consider a motion alarm for your laptop as well as one for your room. When not in your room, consider locking your laptop up in the hotel's safe. (Make sure you get a receipt).
When attending conventions and conferences...
Laptop thieves target business conferences and conventions because they know you'll feel more comfortable around your peers. They look for events that use the same facilities for a few days, because they're counting on you to become lax as you become used to the surroundings and start to feel safe. Most conventions only check ID's at the beginning of the morning. By the afternoon when you're tired and have let your guard down, thieves can walk in and out of conference rooms without being challenged or even noticed.

<b>Make security a habit</b>
People are the weakest link in the security chain. If you care about your laptop and your data, a healthy dose of paranoia will help keep it safe. (We hope we haven't made you too paranoid!) Get into the habit of locking your laptop up when you're working with it, or when storing it. (A cable lock takes less time to install then it does for your PC to boot.) Use common sense when traveling and try to stay in physical contact with your laptop at all times. If you are traveling with trusted friends or business associates use the "buddy system" to watch each others back (and laptops). A determined thief or industrial spy may still be able to get your laptop if they set their mind to it, but why make it easy for them?