Travel Technology - Laptop Security in Hotel Rooms

I just purchased a new Gateway laptop and would love to take it on trips (US and Europe).However I question how safe is it to leave in hotel rooms?
What are your experiences?

I've never had any issues in the rooms I stay in (3* and higher, business hotels usually) with notebooks. This encompasses the US & Canada. That said, colleagues of mine have had issues in hotels in Europe (e.g., stolen notebooks, mice, & even micepads).
Interestingly, I've experienced more theft issues at my desk (stolen desktop pc's, mice) than on the road.

Purchase an inexpensive cable lock to go with it and lock it to the desk, chair, table, whatever works in the room. Although not foolproof, it does give me peace of mind when I'm out of the room.

I just purchased a new Gateway laptop and would love to take it on trips (US and Europe).However I question how safe is it to leave in hotel rooms?
What are your experiences?

I travel with mine all the time - about 50 hotel nights a year. And I never have had a problem leaving it the room. The thought has crossed my mind, but that's about it.

keep it locked out of sight. also when i stayed in a hotel over thanksgiving, i just put the do not disturb sign out for the entire duration of my stay. that might definitely help.

I just purchased a new Gateway laptop and would love to take it on trips (US and Europe).However I question how safe is it to leave in hotel rooms?
What are your experiences?

Purchase an inexpensive cable lock to go with it and lock it to the desk, chair, table, whatever works in the room. Although not foolproof, it does give me peace of mind when I'm out of the room.

Although I considered it probably overly cautious, I just could not bring myself to leave a valuable (both $$ and the work that would it would take to replace it) piece of totally portable equipment sitting on a hotel desk. So I too bought a cable lock and leave it locked when I go to go to dinner or the gym. There is always some immovable part (of the desk, chair or bed) to thether it to. I have no way of knowing what actual risk I altered, but it altered a lot in my comfort zone. Worth the small amount of weight IMHO.

I always travel with my laptop, use a Kensington lock, and never worry about it.

Cable lock and separation alarms. At a company I was at before 2001 when laptops were getting taken left and right at secutity lines we went for the separation alarms, I still use them. In the hotel I leave one half in a drawer, the other on the laptop.

Won't help much, but the noise may alert others that something is going on.

Keep in mind many of the better hotels (ie 3* and up) have in-room safe large enough to hold most laptops.

MisterNice

I always lock my laptops in my luggage. No one knows it's there so there's less temptation.

I also encrypt all of my important data with truecrypt (truecrypt.com)

And make sure you data is backed up at home as well.

The in room safes that are the correct size to accommodate a laptop bring me the most peace of mind and I have never had a problem when leaving mine in the inroom safe. Do be sure to ask if your room has a safe and be specific about it accommodating a lap top.

What lock are you folks buying that can lock a laptop to a desk?

And where on the laptop do you anchor the lock?

CCC

I have a laptop bag that looks like a backpack. I lock the zipper with a small lock like you would use on checked luggage (yes, the locks are TSA approved). Then I have a bicycle lock and chain that I use to lock the backpack to something in the closet. Prevents it from just walking off (especially since it is out of sight) and unless someone is specifically targetting me, I would think most people would try another room rather then waste time on an unknown.
If nothing else, I should have some evidence of what happened and can use that against the hotel to get them to help pay for a new one.

The in room safes that are the correct size to accommodate a laptop bring me the most peace of mind and I have never had a problem when leaving mine in the inroom safe. Do be sure to ask if your room has a safe and be specific about it accommodating a lap top.

What lock are you folks buying that can lock a laptop to a desk?

And where on the laptop do you anchor the lock?

CCC


there is a small rectangular hole on your laptop, either on the side or the back, which looks like it should fit a small key except double the width
http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/03/time-to-invest-in-a-new-laptop-lock/

It may seem a little paranoid, but if staying anywhere remotely dodgy (e.g. hostels or beach huts) I wrap everything inside one of these (http://www.pac-safe.com/product.aspx?pId=641) and lock it to something secure. Fingers crossed no problems yet throughout Asia and South America.

It may seem a little paranoid, but if staying anywhere remotely dodgy (e.g. hostels or beach huts) I wrap everything inside one of these (http://www.pac-safe.com/product.aspx?pId=641) and lock it to something secure. Fingers crossed no problems yet throughout Asia and South America.

yeah kinda heavy isnt it?

So far no problem leaving laptops at hotels. Then again, I try to make sure I stay at properties where the safety of myself and my possessions doesn't enter my mind. If I'm going somewhere that'd somewhat dodgy, I'll bring out one of my "beater" laptops.

A bigger concern to me is the loss of the data rather than loss of the laptop. I do most of my work via Remote Desktop, which pretty much addresses any concerns. If the laptop gets stolen, I grab another, connect back to the office and it's business as usual.

KRSW, please describe "Remote Desktop"; never heard of it:confused:

Remote desktop is a utility which comes with Windows XP (and probably Vista) which is like gotomypc, but free. It allows you to remotely access your home or work desktop. You'll want to use this in conjunction with a VPN program.

Kensington key cables can be opened with a bic pen. I'm always paranoid about leaving any signs that I have a laptop on my desk. I always put cables, power supplies, etc. away. I carry my notebook (a micro) as much as I can. Otherwise, I lock it away in my luggage. I never call hotel staff and ask about computer help and I use the do not disturb sign as much as I can. When I travel with my wife, this is a major issue. I want hotel staff in my room as little as possible. She wants a "clean room."

We also have a beater laptop for riskier situations.

so far I've been Ok with taking my laptop even when staying in cheaper hotels/hostels and 3-5* hotels. Maybe just lucky so far though.

I always lock my laptops in my luggage. No one knows it's there so there's less temptation.

That's my usual approach if there's no safe (or to small a safe.) Laptop bag goes in rollaboard, with a lock in it.

I also have a separate laptop hard drive for travel outside the US, as I don't want to clear anything potentially customs-unfriendly off before each trip.

put one of these over it:

http://www.baronbob.com/securitybriefs-prankunderwear.htm