BUYER'S GUIDE: Security

BY MICHAEL ANTONIAK

Shields up! It took only a minute. Tony Serrano left his SUV running, with his Hewlett-Packard Pavilion notebook in view on the seat while he dashed into an office to retrieve a security gate code. When he returned, the computer was gone.

“It had all my client information, notes, contracts, and leads,” recalls the sales associate with Fortune International Realty in Miami Beach, Fla. “The laptop was only four weeks old—I hadn’t even made a backup yet.”

Fortunately, he’d installed CompuTrace’s LoJack for Laptops from Absolute Software. The tracking software and support service can pinpoint the location of protected systems via the Internet. Serrano filed a theft report with local police, then alerted the Absolute Monitoring Center. Two days later the police called with news his notebook had been recovered when it automatically connected to the Internet after a college student powered it up.

“I recommend the software to everyone,” Serrano says. “When you work out of a portable office, you’re more vulnerable to losing your information,” whether by theft, damage, or corruption.

Don’t forget to also take protective measures when you share a computer. “At the very least, use a complex password to prevent someone from accessing your files,” says Wayne McCole, a salesperson and practicing computer systems engineer with Exit 23 Realty in Franklin, N.J. “When you’re through using the office computer, empty the cache and delete all the files you don’t want shared.”

Meanwhile, at home, McCole has installed the PC-cillin Internet Security suite and a wireless router behind his broadband modem. “With the wireless router, I get double the firewall,” he explains. The PC-cillin software (www.trendmicro.com) protects against malicious code and hackers. It also detects and removes spyware, blocks spam, and scans the Wi-Fi network to alert him if an unauthorized user tries to hijack his connection. “The software automatically updates itself to keep up with the latest security threats,” he says.

The bottom line in protection: “Don’t make it easy for thieves or hackers,” says Arthur Jovellas, a network engineer and president and principal broker with Vestport Inc. in Medford, Mass. “If you discourage people enough, it just may not be worth the effort or risk to steal or hack into your system.”

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Your security zone
An effective protection strategy requires common sense, good habits, and a mix of security products or services.

Equipment
Recording serial numbers, tagging with bar codes, and using tracking software increase the chances of recovering stolen hardware. Security cables and locks can deter thieves. To protect against damage, invest in a metal case and internal hardware, such as sensors that detect drops and bumps and protect components against damage.

And don’t forget an extended warranty plan or product insurance that covers repairs or replacement. Find out what’s available from the original equipment vendor before investigating third-party options.

Data
Consistently back up data so that it’s always available, no matter what happens to your hardware. Simple password protection of your computer, network, and sensitive files is another sound practice. Biometric fingerprint readers, either built into the computer or added from a third-party vendor, can be even more challenging for thieves to get around.

Don’t leave your computer unattended in a public place. Even when a notebook is tethered to a table, its data can be quickly copied to an inconspicuous flash drive. Scan for viruses before swapping files or loading disks into your machine.

Networking
All networks—wired, Wi-Fi, and Internet—allow the two-way flow of information. For less than $100, you can shut the door to your information by installing a security suite that automatically identifies and deletes or blocks spam, viruses, and hackers.

Also, be discreet. If you must transmit sensitive information at a hot spot or by e-mail, use data encryption, which renders correspondence unreadable by anyone except the intended recipient. Restrict access to your home or office network only to authorized users and recognized equipment.

At the end of the day, shut off your broadband modem. It’s the only absolute guarantee some hacker can’t poke around your resources off hours.

Hardware

Mini Mobile Surge Protector $19.99 Targus Inc., www.targus.com, 877/482-7487. Protects mobile equipment against power surges. Includes a pair of surge protectors for use with two- and three-prong power adapters. Each has voltage rating of 230VAC and maximum current rating of 2.5 amps. Reduces risk of electric shock, fire, or equipment damage with automatic reset after surge has passed.

Fingerprint Reader $39.99 Microsoft Corp., www.microsoft.com, 800/642-7676. Biometric fingerprint reader for Windows-compatible PCs. USB-compatible accessory and software prevents unauthorized access to computer hardware and data. Scanner window “reads” fingerprint placed over its screen to verify user, replacing need for entering password and user name.

Kensington Personal Firewall for Notebooks $49.99 Kensington Computer Products, www.kensington.com, 800/235-6708. USB plug-and-play personal firewall for wireless networks. Key-sized device plugs into USB port to protect identity and data when using a wireless network. One-click setup of preconfigured security settings for connecting in home, office, field. Detects type of network connection (home, office, hot spot) and activates appropriate level of security for the location. Monitors all traffic to and from PC and computer ports.

SEC4000A Notebook Lock Alarm $54.95 Tripp Lite, www.tripplite.com, 773/869-1234. Six-foot coiled cable with three-digit resettable combination lock plugs into notebook’s security lock slot and tethers unit to stationary object. Internal vibration sensor detects when lock moves for more than five seconds, activating alarm.

PC Guardian Ezolution Retractable Lock $42.95 PC Guardian, www.pcguardian.com, 800/288-8126. Compact cable and lock system for securing notebook PCs. Easily installs by inserting locking arm into notebook’s security slot and pushing a button. Pivot/swivel system impedes theft by limiting ability to twist or pry lock. Beveled keyhole guides key into position for easy unlocking.

Portable Electronics Insurance Annual premiums start at about $69 for $1,200 coverage on a notebook PC Safeware Inc., www.safeware.com, 800/800-1492. Policies available for desktops, notebooks, PDAs, peripherals, and other mobile hardware. Coverage for up to $10,000 in event of loss or damage due to theft, accidents, vandalism, power surge, and natural disasters.

Hardware with built-in security
RB partner IPAQ hx2790 Pocket PC $499 Hewlett-Packard Co., REALTOR.org/realtorbenefits, then click Hewlett-Packard Co., 800/888-8177. Pocket PC with built-in security features. Includes Intel 624MHz processor, 256MB RAM, 802.11b Wi-Fi support, and CompactFlash Type II and SecureDigital flash memory card slots. Built-in biometric fingerprint reader prevents access to data by unauthorized users. HP ProtectTools software lets users set PIN number or password to control access to data stored on device or flash memory cards.

RB partnerLatitude D620 $1,149 (for basic configuration) Dell Inc., REALTOR.org/realtorbenefits, then click Dell Inc., 877/648-3355. Notebook with Smart Security suite. Includes 1.66GHz Intel Duo Core T2300 processor, 512MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, 14.4-inch widescreen display, and 802.11 b/g compatibility. Smart Security includes embedded support for CompuTrace theft recovery and asset-tracking software (requires account), and optional fingerprint and smart card readers to prevent unauthorized access to data. Unit protected against damage with magnesium alloy case, sealed spill-resistant keyboard, and metal reinforced security slots.

RB partnerThinkPad T-60 $1,499 Lenovo, REALTOR.org/realtorbenefits, then click Lenovo, 800/426-7235, ext. 5766. Mid-range (“value”) version of this notebook with hardware protection and security features. Includes 1.66GHz Intel Duo Core T2300 processor, 512MB RAM, 80GB hard drive, 14.1-inch widescreen display, and 802.11 b/g compatibility. One-button system for recovering data following software failure due to malicious code, or malware. Integrated biometric fingerprint reader. Embedded support for CompuTrace theft-recovery and asset-tracking software. Active protection “airbag” and roll cage protects internal components and hard drive against damage if dropped. Sealed, spill-resistant keyboard.

Software
Norton Internet Security 2006 $69.99 Symantec Corp., www.symantec.com, 408/517-8000. Suite protects against malware, unauthorized access, and identity theft. Includes Norton AntiVirus, Norton Personal Firewall, Norton Privacy Control, and Norton AntiSpam. Compatible with Windows XP Home, Professional; Windows 2000 Professional.

CompuTrace LoJack for Laptops From $49.99 per year Absolute Software, www.absolute.com, 800/220-0733. Once installed, computer tracking and recovery software operates in background, invisible to user. When computer theft is reported to Absolute Monitoring Center, service monitors Internet for “pings” sent by protected computer. When it receives signal, Center can capture ISP and phone number of place where stolen computer is connected and relay information to authorities. Users can set system to automatically delete sensitive files from notebook when its presence is detected by monitoring center.

PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 $49.95 Trend Micro, www.trendmicro.com, 800/864-6027. Home office Web security solution protects users against spam, phishing, viruses, spyware, and hackers. Continually scans Wi-Fi networks and alerts user whenever unauthorized person attempts access. Regularly scans computer to assess system/browser vulnerabilities. Automatically downloads, deploys security updates as they become available.