Ever get that feeling someone’s watching you? It’s human nature to be curious, but it can get uncomfortable when you feel yourself being watched a little too long. If you’re working on your laptop in public spaces, it’s more than disconcerting – it’s a potential security risk.
What’s even creepier is that you may not know you’re being watched. Hackers and computer threats can sneak in undetected, unless you’ve taken appropriate steps to protect yourself.
The freedom to work remotely and on mobile technology comes with a risk of exposing private and confidential data. There is technology available that diminishes that risk, allowing you to work confidently on a laptop from cafes, planes, buses, trains, or other public spaces.
Whether you’re protecting confidential information, intellectual property or simply having a private conversation, there are a few simple steps to keeping your device secure.
Turn on your laptop’s firewall when working in public to block unwanted incoming connections. A firewall monitors all the activity on your computer, protecting you from hackers, malware and other suspicious programs. It’s one of the most basic steps in computer data security, so don’t skip this one.
You can set up your firewall to ensure data meets a specific set of criteria – this is how companies prevent employees from accessing certain sites from the office network. More importantly, a firewall can prevent certain undesirable external sites from connecting with your computer.
If you utilise shared folders, they should have password protection as a minimum-security action. It’s possible to limit the permissions for different groups of people, ranging from read-only to editing and full control of the file. It’s best to avoid granting full control to too many people, and many experts advise against selecting the “everyone” group when file sharing.
Change these folders to “unshared” while you’re in a public space, if possible. This is especially important in protecting both your data and any shared data from colleagues.
Use secure https:// connections to check emails and your calendar. Dodgy sites and questionable links mean potential viruses, malware and other unwanted intrusions, so be extra viligant around the sites you use and visit.
It’s nothing new, but it never gets old. Backup your computer regularly. Use an external hard drive when you’re away from your laptop and use secure storage devices such as encrypted USBs to save and transfer information.
A computer privacy screen is a clever device which allows you to view your screen but hides the content behind a wall of colour when viewed from an angle. It means that anyone sitting nearby is unable to see your screen unless they physically take your place, which would be a rather rude and obvious method of hijack.
HP refers to that someone’s-watching-me feeling as “visual hacking”. Together with 3M, they’ve designed a groundbreaking privacy screen which is integrated into many of their laptops and 2-in-1 devices. It’s a one-touch system which automatically darkens your screen when viewed from an angle, making privacy quick, easy and effortless.
If you’re not in the market for a new device, specialty privacy screens are available which clip easily onto your existing screen. They’re available in a range of sizes and are easily removed and replaced.
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions