According to an article in PC Magazine last month, 10,000 laptops are lost or stolen at airports in the US every week. Yes, that's every week! So, any good ideas about how to keep them secure through the security process? Is it better to put them in the first bin, the last bin, or in between?
And, no, leaving them home isn't an answer for some of us. I don't just travel for fun but for business, too.
The computers don't go missing at security, unless people are forgetful enough to leave them behind. They get swiped at the gates, when people get distracted or (believe it or not) get up to buy a coffee and leave their laptops unattended. Just watch your bins going into the scanner, then watch them on the way out....they can't get lost inside the machine :)
You're probably right about the way most get stolen, but I'm referring to the two-person teams that work security areas--Two guys get in line in front of the victim. Bad Guy One goes through security without a hitch, and begins collecting his stuff. Bad Guy Two sets off the metal detector, and slowly begins disgorging keys, coins, watches, belts. While this is going on, Victim's bins have gone through the machine and come out the other side. Bad Guy One nonchalantly picks up Victim's computer and strolls briskly away.
I try to avoid sending my bins through until the person ahead of me has cleared, but sometimes the TSA will push to get the bins into the machine.
Maybe I should have posted this under travel scams?
Then there's not much of a defence to that....except to scream bloody blue murder if you see someone walking away with your stuff. Nothing will stop them if they really want to grab it.....but the odds are it'll get swiped while your in the departure lounges.
It might also be interesting to note that the number comes from a survey done by some institute that checks into privacy issues....and it notes they are "lost" at airports....no breakdown between those stolen and those simply left behind, and no real solid numbers. The survey was apparently commissioned by Dell which, coincidentally, announced that same day that they were instituting new security services to track and recover laptops for corporate clients. Rather suspect, I would think.
Ah, that does change the picture, doesn't it. I guess you can't sell much of a service unless people believe it addresses a serious problem...
Use common sense (never let it out of your sight), always back up your data and if you have a newer laptop, especially one with sensitive data, consider using either LoJack or similar theft software as well as possibly your finger scanner if your computer has one (if it does you'll know what I mean).
We carried in one of those "man-purses" and always carried it in the purse unless we were typing on it.
I don't let my bin with the computer go into the scanner until I'm next to go through the security check. With much practice, I'm really good at going through OK. I usually preceed my laptop coming through.
I'm trying to figure out why thieves would choose to steal something in area where there are not only lots of cameras, but one where everyone who goes through gets filmed? Are their TDS or police reports about thieves using this type of tactic? It sounds a bit like an urban legend to me, but maybe not....
Pam
Before 9/11 anyone could go through the security checks and into the terminal-departure areas; you didn't need a boarding pass like you do now. Thus, laptop theft was more frequent at the security checks. Nowadays most of the theft occurs at the airline check-ins, rental car counters, and other "open" areas of the terminal. Theft at the TSA screenings is mostly a thing of the past.
PAY ATTENTION!
I don't think "stolen" would be near the issue if LOST wasn't a common occurance. If you leave the thing sitting there for an hour things are liable to happen!
Last week I arrived at the Orange County airport a few hours early. This is a nice small airport. I heard at least five announcements for the "person leaving XYZ at the security checkpoint please return to claim your belongings" There were laptops, bags, wallets, belts etc. If it happens that much at a SMALL airport imagine what it's like at a big one. And in Atlanta they don't page you!
Two LABLE the thing. Mine has my business card on it and I send it through labled like that.
I have been traveling with laptops since they were first came on the market years ago. I have never had any problems with mine trying to disappear. (I have wanted to lose a few over the years just to get rid of the Klunkers!)
