Daily Tech Bits

Lost Laptop? Explode Your Data

As more people have laptops, security becomes a bigger issue. There have been a couple of cases in the UK recently where tens of thousands of sensitive files have ended up in the hands of thieves. OK, it’s true that people should take better care, but who can have a laptop chained to their arm 24 hours a day? There are a couple of solutions that help with this tricky issue.

The ‘exploding laptop’ trick wipes your data remotely, but the laptop has to be on for it to work. There’s also another solution which works even if the laptop is turned off. More on that from GrowthBusiness.

Backup Options For Your Laptop

A long time ago I learned the hard way about the wisdom of backing up your data and of having a backup for those backups. I was glad I did when I had to wipe my laptop recently and restore some of the data. Here are the backup options I use:

One of my chief tools is MozyBackup, an online backup service that offers a free amount of storage. By being careful about what I backup, I’ve managed to make that last over the last couple of years. I set it to backup daily at the time I usually have lunch, and after the first backup it is very quick.

I also have a portable hard drive, where I keep copies of everything I’m working on. Periodically (it should be weekly but is often monthly) I make a new backup folder and put everything in it. I also keep a ‘work in progress’ folder where in theory I copy everything I’ve worked on that day.

Google also helps me with backups. One of the quickest ways to save a copy of an individual document is to paste the content into an email or attach it to an email in Gmail. You can send it to yourself or save it in drafts. Alternatively, you can upload it and save it to Google Docs and Spreadsheets.

Finally, there’s a DVD or CD. It never hurts to have an additional copy of your data, so from time to time it’s worth using a DVD or CD to archive stuff you don’t need every day but you still don’t want to lose.

I like to think that with all these options I’ll always have access to the data I need. However, there’s more to backing up than choosing the medium. I’ll be looking at that in another post.

Laptop Security When You Travel

Did you know that when you enter the US, your laptop can be searched? In fact, everything that’s stored on it can be downloaded, by law. A recent court ruling allows border agents to rifle through your hard drive or keep your computer for days while they establish that it’s safe. If you leave the US and fly back in, and you must take your laptop, then you need to clean up your data.

A customs agent can’t read what you don’t have. You don’t need five years’ worth of email and client data. You don’t need your old love letters and those photos (you know the ones I’m talking about). Delete everything you don’t absolutely need. And use a secure file erasure program to do it.

The Guardian article gives some tips on how to hide your data securely. (Thanks to doshdosh for the pointer.)

DIY Laptop Tutorial

What’s the best way to get the laptop of your dreams? It’s to build your own, of course. Apparently, it’s easier than we think. That’s alright for Denny Atkins to say. He’s the author of Computer Shopper’s guide to building your own laptop.

I must admit that Denny makes it look simple. If you have $1400 to spare and time on your hands, then that could be a project worth doing. You’ll get a high performance laptop, and you won’t have to call tech support. Of course, for someone as spatially challenged as I am, it may not be so simple. Let me know how you get on.

Laptops Going Cheap

They’re light, they’re cheap and they’re small. Who says that a functioning laptop has to cost a bomb? Most of the major manufacturers have been releasing low cost laptops and there are several of them on the market. If you’re not sure where to look, a good place to start is with Liliputing’s comprehensive list of low cost laptops. Brad Linder highlights the specs of 23 models, and gives a pointer to a few new ones that might be coming out. If you’re looking to go portable on a budget, then this one’s for you, as some laptops cost as little as $200.