There is an article making the rounds on the blogs. It reports that over 12,000 computer laptops are lost by air travelers in the United States. Not total over time. Not annually. Not every month. But every week. Dang!

Let me do the math: 12,000 computer laptops a week means roughly 48,000 laptops a month. That’s 600,000 laptops a year! That’s a lot of PC hardware stolen or misplaced.

It’s not the hardware value that’s the point. It’s the value of the information stored on the computer hard drive. You probably don’t find many crackheads at the airport, eager to pawn a $2,000 laptop for a $50 quick high. But you do find opportunists who would enjoy finding corporate, personal, or credit card information in a random laptop.

From the article:

Sixty-five percent of the business travelers admit that they do not take steps to protect the confidential information contained on their laptops when traveling on business and another Forty-two percent say they don’t back up their data before going on a trip.

From my book, Laptops For Dummies, be mindful of your laptop! Here are some quick tips:

• Never leave your laptop un-attended! Consider your laptop like your purse or wallet, full of cash. Don’t leave it on the table when you go to get condiments for lunch. Don’t leave it while you go to the restroom. Keep an eye on it while you’re on the phone.
• Be especially mindful of your laptop at the security check point. Sure, it’s hectic. There are too many things to pay attention to: the officials, your shoes, your jacket, your carry-on, your ticket, and so on. Don’t be rushed and don’t get distracted.
• Be focused. Thieves often work in pairs. If there is a commotion in front of you, the thief might be behind you.
• Use a password on your account. If you have Windows Vista Business or Ultimate, consider using Bitlocker (if you can figure it out).
• Backup your laptop’s hard drive before you do on vacation.
• If you laptop is stolen or missing, immediately change all your Internet passwords and notify credit card companies.

For more good laptop information and tips, please get my book Laptops For Dummies.