Computers

Computer Security: Steel Padlocks

June 23, 2008 – 12:10 pm
Theres a good reason more mobile professionals prefer steel padlocks on their computers, and its not because they like lugging around those extra ounces. The truth is that computer theft has been steadily increasing for years now, and anyone ill-prepared for an attack will likely find herself without a notebook before too long. Thats why more and more security experts are advising the rest of us go with industrial strength tools.There was a time when most computer cable locks could be popped, drilled or picked in a matter of seconds. That was back in the days when most such devices were mere cosmetic approximations of actual padlocks, and thus were vulnerable to almost any kind of attack. Not so with the latest generation, which can withstand repeated onslaughts from a determined criminal without loosing their grip on that nearby pylon.Keyed inOf course any padlock is only ...

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Computer Security: Combination Padlocks

June 22, 2008 – 12:10 pm
Combination padlocks are generally considered to be superior to keyed entries for one reason: their keys can never be found. Even a cautious computer user will occasionally leave the key in plain sight or on their person where it can be lifted without difficulty in a single pivotal instant. With combinations, no such contingency could ever arise.Of course any combination lock is only as good as the number of permutations it will permit before yielding to scrutiny. Three digit versions can read a thousand variations, four can read ten thousand and so on. Anyone who knows how clever the computer thieves are getting would never feel secure with anything less than a high count and well-made dials that resist tampering.When Good Combos Go BadThe most often-cited problem with combination locks is their tendency to give just a fraction of a millimeter if a single number gets ...

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Computer Security: Personal Computer Security

June 21, 2008 – 12:10 pm
When most people hear about personal computer security, their first instinct is to imagine something about anti spyware and virus protection. In fact while such prophylactic measures against software trouble are well-advised, the single greatest danger to your computer doesnt come through a wire in a series of 1s and 0s. That threat is theft.You may not see it happening, but notebook computers are vanishing at an alarming rate from public spaces such as coffee shops, libraries and airports. Authorities estimate that computer theft has bypassed every other kind of theft except for cars, and even that gap is narrowing. If you want to protect what you write, read and create from falling into the wrong hands, you may want to read up on some simple ways to avoid this kind of calamity.Stay in ChargeIt is a well-known expression that criminals tend to take whatever isnt ...

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Computer Security: Computer Tracking

June 20, 2008 – 12:10 pm
Good computer tracking is the kind of technology that when you hear about it, you wonder why it has taken so long for someone to come up with the idea. Originally developed as a tool for IT managers to monitor the many computers on their networks, tracking has evolved into a full featured theft-busting technology. Today it is used in countless laptops that carry valuable information in the public and private sectors.What is tracking? Simply put, computer tracking involves installing a hidden utility on the hard drive of any computer. If your notebook gets stolen, this program will discreetly place a call to authorities next time it is connected to the Internet, letting them know exactly where it is. For those of us whose lives have been saved by this revolutionary technology, the relief can be difficult to quantify.When Laptops Do the WorkThere was a ...

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Computer Security: Computer Security Articles

June 19, 2008 – 12:10 pm
Most computer security articles pay scant attention to the biggest problem in all of consumer computing: hardware theft. Right or not, the tech industry considers this problem to fall more under the aegis of law enforcement than industrial design. Thankfully both camps are finally beginning to come together and reach standards for better security across the board.Most of us by now know someone who has lost a desktop or notebook computer. The sad fact is that an ever-growing culture of criminals is learning new tricks all the time, adding tools like bolt cutters and lock picks to the familiar saws. Anyone interested in maintaining the safety of his computer must be willing to invest in more sophisticated technology to thwart these resourceful thieves.Better ReadingA number of articles agree on one thing: computers with physical security devices are far safer than those without. Even better if ...

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