What Should You Do If Your Work Laptop is Lost or Stolen? (Every Second Counts!)


Having your laptop stolen is unpleasant because you need to replace an expensive piece of hardware which risks your digital security. Fortunately, you can take precautions before and after your laptop goes missing.

According to one survey, about 43% of computers are most frequently lost or stolen outside of the workplace. The second-largest risk sector is in-transit which accounts for 33%. The workplace contributes 12%. The recent surge in remote work is probably a factor and the “outside of work” category is already at the top. Having a mechanism to control laptops remotely can help businesses lessen the danger of an employee’s device getting lost or stolen and the potential of data compromise.

Research findings by Gartner, a technology research firm, indicate that one laptop is stolen every 53 seconds. So some fear is understandable. There is even more reason to be concerned if you leave your laptop unattended in public places or in your vehicle. You also may have it outside your business or when traveling. 

However, there are techniques to reduce the dangers of laptop theft. Strong security measures will allow you to take action to protect your device if it goes missing.

What To Do In Case Your Laptop Gets Stolen

Change the passwords on your accounts

Most computer security experts advocate taking this step first when you lose custody of your device. Suppose another person eventually gets access to the laptop device. In that case, they will most likely gain wrongful access to some online accounts (especially when you autofill your passwords and usernames on your device or browser).

Begin with your personal email address. Make your password strong and one-of-a-kind. Since a thief can use your email account to reset login details, it is the key to most of your other accounts. Then, if you haven’t already, enable the 2-factor authentication (2FA) security system on your email. You should also prioritize logins to global platforms such as those on your Microsoft accounts or Apple ID (which allow access to more data and services).

Once the email account has been secured, proceed to other accounts such as bank and social media logins. While you’re at it, improve your passwords and think about making use of a good password manager. Changing your password is crucial. Using a unique password for each device and account is even more important.

Track the location of your laptop and use the remote-wipe functionality

This approach is more beneficial for mobile devices because it usually only works when your missing gadget is connected online. If your laptop has an online connection, it’s possible to use the “find my device” built-in functionality to locate it. Enable “Find My” in advance on your Apple PC via iCloud. You may see the connected computers on a map and take many measures to protect them such as flagging them as lost and activating the remote erase feature. Users of Windows have some similar options for remotely locating and locking devices. 

Inform your employer

If you misplace your work computer, notify your boss right away. Your firm may have unique processes to follow, additional choices for tracking or wiping the device or software that can recover your data. Furthermore, your work laptop is usually the property of your employer.

Inform all financial institutions you use

Contact your credit card issuers and bank about any account details that autofill when you purchase something or that have been saved on e-commerce websites just as you would if you lost your wallet. You can put your credit and debit cards on hold and notify the financial institutions about any questionable activity.

Meanwhile, after your laptop goes missing, you should keep track of the activities on your account by checking it online every couple of days. Consider freezing your credit reports if the stolen laptop contains personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or tax returns.

File a report with the police and also notify the manufacturer of the loss

This procedure might not provide many results. However, your gadget can be retrieved if somebody tries selling it. Report the incident to law enforcement agents who may likely ask for the serial number of your laptop. If you wish to file a claim (insurance), you may also need a police record.

How To Prepare For a Possible Laptop Theft  

No one wants their laptop stolen. Getting prepared for the unknown is not often a priority but it is necessary. Below are some of the steps you can take:

Maintain a current backup

You should back up your data regularly so that if your laptop is stolen, your contents are not lost permanently. Even if you’re not anxious about laptop theft, you should do this because data can be lost or corrupted in various ways.

Enable the tracking feature on your laptop

You should enable the tracking feature on your laptop. If it is stolen, you can use this to track it down and lock it. This feature is known as Find My Device in Windows 10 and Find My in macOS. To use Windows’ Find My Device feature, your laptop must be logged into a Microsoft Account and location services must be enabled.

If you want to know more about laptop theft and how to stay safe, contact us at Sound Computers. We are available and we are eager to assist you in keeping your devices and data secure.
June 28, 2022
Sound Computers Admin