How can I protect my data if my laptop is stolen?

How much security do you need, and how much are you willing to pay for it? The answers will depend on what kind of information you want to protect, where the information is stored and who you are protecting it from.

For example, if you have thousands of secret government documents and the CIA, FBI and MI5 are on your tail, then you will need to take serious precautions. These will cover your email communications and browsing data, as well as the physical security of your laptop.

People in the medical and financial industries also have to take extreme care of laptops that contain other people’s personal data, because they can be fined for losing it. But if your laptop is for personal use only, what’s the actual risk, and how can you minimise it?