According to industry experts, every 53 seconds an owner of a computer or laptop becomes a victim of theft. That's why it's imperative for you as a business owner to use anti-theft and tracking and recovery devices on all of your laptops and desktop computers. If you're a business traveler, there are anti-theft locks and cases that can prevent others from taking your laptop. Computer tracking devices can recover your property by tracing its location.

In addition to recovering your equipment, GPS, or Global Positioning System, can help law enforcement officials track and arrest thieves. Here are some additional things to consider about using computer theft prevention and tracking products:

1. Use anti-theft products for computer security to protect laptop computers when traveling or using a mobile office.

2. Protect your office equipment with computer theft prevention and tracking products.

3. Use GPS laptop and computer theft recovery services to get your equipment returned to you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Protect your laptop while using a mobile office or traveling with laptop theft protection systems

Because business travelers and those who work from mobile offices have specific security needs, there are anti-theft devices tailor made to fit their needs. Using cable locks that prevent others from opening your laptop are a great protection when traveling or on the road.

I recommend: Read the article at CITES about various ways to protect your laptop when traveling. Learn how Dell has added anti-theft devices for laptop computers in the article featured at Dell.com. The Tufnut Works sells laptop and notebook locks, while Kensington sells clip locks for laptop computers.

Protect against PC theft at your office with desktop and laptop theft protection systems

Offices aren't immune from theft, so you also need to have PC security devices installed at your place of business. For desktops use an entrapment case, which is a case that fits around your computer to protect its internal components from theft. There are also cable locks and mouse locks that secure desktops and other computer equipment in place so they can't removed. You can also use cable locks to lock up an entire network of computers to prevent theft.

I recommend: Learn about ways to protect your laptops and computers from theft at Get Safe Online. Buy an entrapment case from SecurityWare.com. Purchase cable locks and mouse locks from SecureTech.

Use GPS technology recovery and laptop tracking devices for computers with remote access functions

One of the best ways to ensure that you will get your laptops and desktops returned to you is to have computer tracking devices installed. Install a GPS computer tracking device on your desktops or laptops to make recovery of your equipment easier and help law enforcement agencies track thieves.

I recommend: Read the tips at MyLaptopGPS to learn how to prevent laptop theft. Read the article from GPS Daily to learn how computer theft recovery products have helped solve thefts in airports. Buy the stolen laptop tracking device from Xtool Mobile Security. This device is the only one available that works with GPS, the Internet, caller ID, WiFi, WebCam and remote access tools to help you recover your laptop. Go to Absolute Software to learn about its GPS tracking device so that your computer can be located anywhere in the world. This company also provides computer theft recovery systems. Buy the GPS computer theft recovery solution from BrickhouseSecurity.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use a GPS laptop tracking device for computer theft protection for business trips or if you use a mobile office.

Computers, especially laptops, are vulnerable to theft at an alarming rate, spawning a growing line of computer theft prevention and tracking products designed to secure and recover your computer.

Of course there are several steps you can take, in addition to using these computer theft recovery products to help ensure PC security.

1. Never leave your laptop or computer in plain sight in an unlocked vehicle.
2. Carry your laptop in a briefcase or other case that won't identify it as a laptop computer. Using a computer bag or case is an invitation to computer theft.
3. Take your laptop with you if you're taking a break from a conference or meeting.
4. Lock your computer in your office, in a closet or cabinet when you don't need it.
5. Apply distinctive markings, using paint or White-Out, to the case of your computer to make it easy to identify.
6. Back up all of your data, and store it in a secure location.
7. Write down the model and serial numbers of your computer, and put them in a secure location.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Secure your PC against computer theft

There are locks and other devices available that will prevent someone from taking off with your computer.

I recommend: Companies such as Kensington, Targus and Compucage manufacturer a full line of anti-theft products for computer security. Kensington and Targus specialize in laptop theft protection devices, while Compucage offers products for laptops, monitors and PCs.

Install a mobile alarm on your laptop or computer

These alarms are designed to go off whenever they detect motion or a computer is moved outside a designated security area. Designed primarily for laptop theft protection, they can also be used to secure your PC.

I recommend: Small and convenient, these small alarms emit a high-decibel alarm if they are triggered by movement or tampering. Some are also designed to work with a key fob that will chirp if the alarm detects motion. The fob can then be used to set it off. Among the key players in this arena are Targus, Comprotec Corp., and ComputerSecurity's PC Tab system.

Use computer tracking and laptop tracking devices

Computer tracking and laptop tracking devices are designed to help locate your stolen computer, but can also protect data from prying eyes.

I recommend: There are several key players that provide tracking devices for computers. Among the best known are Computrace from Absolute Software, Oxygen Cubed, Brigadoon Security Group, and WebDetect.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Computer thieves can easily cut through a cable or other lock-down device, so make sure your protection is multi-layered including installing tracking devices for computers.
• •  Use security devices and recovery software that are bonded or provide a written guarantee that your computer will be recovered. Many of these companies work closely with police to recover your stolen items.
• •  Encrypt all data on your computer, including valuable documents, passwords, and address books.

As a business owner, it’s important that you learn how to prevent theft of your computer equipment. Laptops can be especially vulnerable to theft since many businesses use them while traveling or when working from a mobile office. Thankfully, there is information available to help you learn how to prevent theft, as well as protective devices like locks and tracking devices that can help locate stolen items anywhere in the world.

Having a laptop tracking device installed on your computer can ensure its recovery and give you peace of mind while traveling. Here are some additional things to consider about computer theft prevention and tracking products basics:

1. Get information about anti-theft products for computer security.

2. Learn about computer theft prevention and tracking products.

3. Find out about laptop and computer theft recovery services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gather information about anti-theft prevention devices for businesses

Before you start panicking about how to protect your laptops and desktops from being stolen, it's important that you take the time to learn why they are stolen and also about anti-theft prevention devices that you can use. Cable locks are cords that can lock computers, monitors and your mouse and keyboard together, while a lockdown plate is adhered or bolted to a desk that attaches to your computer, monitor or whatever else you want to protect. One of the best anti-theft devices is a security cabinet or enclosure that fits around your computer and prevents removal by unauthorized users.

I recommend: Learn how to prevent your laptop computer from theft at Metropolitan Police Department. Read about how different companies are offering anti-theft devices for businesses at TechPowerUp. Read the information at Intel about its anti-theft hardware and software for businesses. Flexguard sells cable locks and pin locks, which bolt items to your desk. AnchorPad Security sells cable locks, lockdown plates and enclosures.

Find out about laptop and computer theft protection products for businesses

Tab alarms that connect to the back of your computer are another great way to protect your computer from theft. They have a sensor on them that sounds an alarm whenever anyone tries to move your computer or computer equipment. Cover locks and disk drive locks protect the internal components by restricting unauthorized use of your USB drive, CD drive, on and off buttons and network ports.

I recommend: Read the article at Galt Technology to learn about laptop theft protection. Visit SecurityKit.com and Computer Security Products to purchase drive locks and alarms for PC security of internal components.

Learn about stolen laptop tracking devices and recovery systems for businesses

If your laptop or desktop computer is stolen, there are products that can help you track and recover your property. Install computer tracking devices like software programs that track your computer's location and also give you remote access to important data so that you can delete it if it gets in the wrong hands.

I recommend: Read the article at Processor to learn about recovery and tracking devices for computers. Learn ways to recover a stolen Mac from anywhere in the world at Orbicule. Purchase the computer theft recovery systems software program that allows you to remotely access your stolen laptop and even track the thief's activity LapTopCop.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To ensure the return of stolen items, take the time to research the computer theft recovery solution that meets your business needs.

Knowing computer theft prevention and tracking products key terms can help you not only protect your business computers, but they can also help you generally speaking as a business person as well. This topic is hot in the tech world, and as a seller of computer products, if you are aware of the terms and phrases in the industry, you have the potential for upselling opportunities.

As a consumer, you can go into a purchasing situation with as much knowledge as possible. You can know what a sales person is referring to when he or she throws theft prevention jargon at you, and you can have a basis for conversation to ask legitimate questions about products and services as they pertain to your computer makes and models.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Security cable lock

Computer security cable locks help you tie down your computer to a table or other stationery item. The trick is to make sure that your stationary item is not something that the loop of the lock can easily slide over (like the leg of a table).

I recommend: Learn more about security cable locks from Tryten.

Fob

Some computer theft prevention alarms are designed to work with a key fob that will chirp if the alarm detects motion. Fobs are remote systems that can activate and tell you if your computer has been stolen.

I recommend: Find out more about remote fobs from CDX eTextbook.

Privacy filters

Computer theft can be just more than just the physical stealing of the computer, it can be the theft of information. Using privacy filters can help you block the screen from wandering eyes that might be looking for information of your or your clients that they shouldn't be privy to.

I recommend: Discover more about privacy filters from 3M.

Lockdown plates

Lockdown plates security devices for computers that need to stay stationery. They generally consist of two steel plates, are tamper resistant and can be used for other electronics such as printers, copy machines and telephones.

I recommend: Find out more about Cavalier brand lockdown plates from Computer Security Products.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, but the term is often used to describe wireless Internet services (WLAN).

I recommend: Learn from WiFi Planet how Wi-Fi plays a roll in Computer Theft Tracking.

Geo-location

Geo-location uses mapping systems, GPS and Wi-Fi signals instead of a computer's IP address to locate the computer as well as remotely delete files from the stolen laptop.

I recommend: Find out how Absolute is using geolocation to find stolen computers.