Posted On 14 Aug 2021
If your laptop is stolen, obviously there is the financial cost of replacement to deal with, but the threat to your data and online security could potentially be far more expensive. If you are unlucky enough to suffer a laptop theft, the following advice could mitigate the damage you suffer.
The best way to deal with theft is to be prepared for it, so that if the worst happens the thieves won’t be able to exploit your data. Encrypting your hard drive so that only a person with a password can gain access to your data is the best way to do this. Make sure that your password, if you must write it down, it is not kept anywhere near your laptop! Make sure all your data is regularly backed up so that you won’t lose it in the event of theft; this is good practice in any case for dealing with viruses, breakdowns etc. Your last bit of preparation to guard against the consequences of theft is to have tracking turned on using Find My Device in Windows 10 or Find My in iOS. Remember, you can’t activate this after your laptop is stolen, so turn it on today.
If your laptop is stolen, with a Windows PC you can go to the Microsoft website’s devices page, click “Find My Device” and select your laptop. The device should appear on the map; take a screenshot of it to show the authorities. Next you should select Lock > Next, which means that nobody (even you) can access the laptop without going through your Microsoft account.
The next thing to do is to report the theft to the police, either in person or online. When your report has been approved, get a copy of it with the case number, the name of your contact officer and their contact details so that you can show them to your insurance company. Even if all the information on your laptop is encrypted, contact your bank to have your credit cards frozen.
You should also file a claim with your insurance: generally, homeowner and renter insurance will cover theft, although remember this only applies if the laptop was your own property and not your employer’s. You should also contact the laptop manufacturer; most manufacturers will be able to flag your device as stolen so it can be reported if any attempt is made to apply warranty protections or seek technical advice.
To add further data protection, you should use either the Microsoft or iOS systems to wipe all the data on your device remotely; if the device is returned to you, you should also wipe the device completely in case any spyware or ransomware has been installed. Finally, change the passwords on all your online accounts, turn off password autofill in your browser, and sign out of all your online accounts. Starting everything from scratch will ensure that the thieves can’t access your accounts.
