Losing your laptop is one of the most frustrating and costly events that can happen to you. Your digital life will be at risk if someone gains access to it, so safeguarding against this event should always remain a top priority in everything you do.
With the help of GPS and tracking technology, it might be possible to recover your laptop or, at best, protect against further loss of identity and information stored in the laptop.
You’ll need to take these steps in order for that process to have any chance at success. First and foremost, contact the authorities immediately! You should also contact your financial institutions, company manufacturer, and insurance company to monitor any unusual activity.
In addition, be mindful of what sensitive information is on your computer by reviewing emails and social media activity from a separate device connected to Wi-Fi or remove them completely if necessary.
Lastly, change passwords for all accounts that are linked to this machine so no one can access anything without permission and disable browser-sync.
Call the police
Contact the police immediately if your laptop is lost or stolen. That way, they can help by checking CCTV cameras, and if necessary putting the word out to other police forces and intelligence agencies.
They will also give you some necessary guidelines on what steps you need to take in order to reduce the risk of your computer being used for illegal activities.
Moreover, you can also contact with immobilizing tracking service, which can prevent the thief from accessing your laptop without making it obvious that you have tracking software installed on your computer. They will help you take further steps to reduce the risk.
Contact your financial institutions
Contact your bank and credit card companies as soon as you lost your laptop. Tell them to monitor your account for fraudulent activity.
However, sometimes banks don’t monitor small transactions. So monitoring your account can be important if there is an unusual amount that could be fraudulent transactions.
Call your computer manufacturer & insurance company
Call your computer manufacturer and insurance company if you lose your laptop. This is important not only to protect yourself but also to avoid potential fees for stolen property.
The insurance company can take care of getting the laptop replaced with a new one or they might offer to pay some of the cost for a new one.
Your computer manufacturer will also be able to track down your device if it’s been found and return it back in working order. If the thief somehow calls the manufacturer regarding a support-related issue they can track the call. And then the police can take necessary action.
Remotely log out of all your sessions
If you suspect that somebody has gained access to your laptop and you don’t have the device with you, it’s a good idea to remotely log out of all your sessions. You may also want to change some of the passwords on your accounts.
Moreover, You can set the auto log out feature when you are away for a period of time. If someone grabs it and tries to log in, they won’t be able to find anything sensitive because you’ve had a certain time limit window where all the information was wiped.
Delete all your passwords
It is IMPORTANT that you delete any passwords saved on the browser or device. This will help prevent further criminal access to your Google accounts and personal information. Here are some steps to follow in order for you to fully delete the passwords on the browser:
- Start by going to Settings > Advanced Settings > Passwords and Forms > Manage Passwords. First, turn off auto-sign in, then click ‘Delete’ on all of your saved passwords; then click ‘Delete’ again, which will wipe out all data from your Google Account as well.
- Next, sign up for a password manager like LastPass or Dashlane so that you can manage passwords with peace of mind.
Disable Browser Sync
The next step is to disable syncing. In Chrome, go to Settings > Manage Sync > uncheck Sync everything. Then select “Encrypt all synced data with your own sync passphrase” in Settings.
Then, choose a strong password, always use a different one for each Website.
Create new logins and passwords for all your applications. Create a new password for your main email account, as many websites notify you when a password has been changed.
Conclusion
If you take the above steps to secure your laptop that has been lost or stolen, these will help protect yourself from the loss of sensitive information. These steps are very helpful in case if you’re able to recover your device and want to get it back without any headaches.
These steps are not only important if you want to protect your laptop but also a crucial part of securing any device that has sensitive information on it.
