BlogHer 12 is just a few short weeks away & most conference goers will be bringing smartphones, tablets & notebooks along with them. In watching my Twitter stream I see lots of women planning what dress to buy or what shoes to bring & shockingly little talk about how to safely travel with these essential blogging tools. Spending some time now to plan how you are going to keep your devices safe could save you considerable grief & a bunch of cash!
1. Bring Only the Tech You Need – How much heavy blogging or photo editing are you going to actually do? Really evaluate this, do you need to bring the $1500 Ultra book? Consider bringing a net book or tablet if you have one instead.
2. Back Up Your Data – Many bloggers will be bringing their primary notebooks/laptops, make very sure to make a full back up of your data before you leave the house.
3. Choose The Right Bag - A good bag should be well constructed with ample padding & comfortable straps. Flying? Look for an airport friendly model that will get you through security easily. Consider a messenger style bag that you can carry cross body instead of slung over your shoulder. You might wish to look into bag options offered by PacSafe which are constructed to deter would be thieves & offer you the ability to lock your entire bag to a piece of furniture.
4. The Tech Rides With You – Do not place your electronics in checked baggage on a plane, train or bus! I hold onto my tech till the last minute when going through airport security so that my devices won’t be sitting alone, unprotected on the other side of the scanner.
5. Label Your Devices – Place labels with your name, address & contact info on all your electronics, You might also wish to consider ordering the Stop Security Plate which provides affordable, physical protection for all of your family electronics. Labeling will help you to quickly spot your devices while going through security checkpoints.
6. It’s In The Bag! – Many of us will be sharing a room, don’t tempt fate, prevent accidental spills & drops, when you are finished using your device, close it & put it back in it’s bag.
7. Invest in Laptop Recovery Tools – Installing theft recovery software on your device can greatly increase your chances of getting it back if it is stolen or lost.
LoJack – Coverage for PC & Mac
Gadget Trak - Provides protection for PC, Mac, iphone, ipad, ipod, Android & Blackberry devices.
8. Password Protect Your Devices – Don’t use common names, birth dates or addresses. If you are using a software recovery program you will want to set up a guest account that does NOT require a password, if your device is stolen you’ll want the thief to be able to use it so it can be tracked. A guest account will also allow you to be generous & let a blogging friend check their email or site.
9. Look into Insurance – Insurance options can be limited but check with your credit card company,home owner’s or rental insurance polices to see what coverage you have or if a rider can be added.
10. Remember Basic Online Safety Rules!
Make sure your anti-virus/ security software is installed, configured & up to date before you leave. Microsoft Security Essentials is FREE & will protect that precious laptop or Ultra Book.
- Don’t log onto unsecured wireless networks, if a password isn’t required to log on, the network isn’t secure.
- Avoid Accessing Bank & Fiscal Info, particularly on unsecured wireless networks.
- Make sure to deselect “Remember Me” while browsing the web on other people’s computers or public devices.
- Clear History & Cache after using public or borrowed devices – this is where having a guest account can come in handy, your friend can use your computer to check her email/ web site.
Following a few basic safety precautions can allow us to relax & enjoy the full benefits of using mobile technology at BlogHer & wherever else we may travel with our families!
Are you in need of mobile computing solutions? Exploring affordable, fast computing devices for your family? ASUS provides an amazing array of Intel powered Desktop PC’s ZenBooks, notebooks, tablets & more! You can learn more about the fabulous world of ASUS over on the ASUS North America Facebook Page
Disclaimer: I have been provided with a ZenBook for my use at Blogher by Asus International Computers
Thanks for sharing! I’m totally with you on labeling everything. One time my husband left for work with my laptop and left his with me. Needless to say I’ve since labeled my Mac. The same can easily happen at a conference, hotel room or even in the airport security line!
I labeled everything with my Twitter handle last year… I figured if I left my phone or camera somewhere, the person would be able to tweet me a heads up! Fortunately, I didn’t lose anything, so it was a moot point, but I’m still glad I did it!