Making sure your laptop bag is secure is a great way to save time, headache, and in my circumstances, money too! From airports to sneaky and quick thieves this checklist will have you covered!
For what its worth make sure your bag is TSA approved
Having a bag that is Transport Security Administration will (theoretically) help speed you through the security line in any airport or transit station. In my experience that’s not the case, but it never hurts to do what you can to meet all the guidelines and rules with these people. Having a TSA approved laptop bag means requires having a special laptop only section in your bag. That means that when they scan it for bombs and tampering they want an unobstructed view of the laptop. Their “highly” trained staff will then assess to see if your laptop has been tampered with and will either pass you through the line or pull you aside to take a closer look at its contents. Not playing ball here can be a nightmare so you’re better safe than sorry… we don’t want out laptop in pieces. The reason the bags require a laptop only section is because anything lying on top or below the laptop will show up funny when scanned. For instance, if you put a regular laptop bag through the scanner and there is a notepad inside directly on top of the laptop, it will look as if there is a coiled piece of metal (the notebook binding coil) inside your laptop. Usually they can tell it’s not actually in the laptop, but everyone makes mistakes, and that could cost you lots of time. In other words, a TSA approved computer bag will have a separate section for the laptop that folds out and away from the other contents of the bag. Like a book or map, they come in a bi-fold, and tri-fold design. Alternately you can use a TSA approve notebook Sleeve, but their design requires that they hold only the laptop to meet TSA standards.
Make Sure it’s Snatch Proof
Having a snatch proof laptop bag means making sure your straps and their bindings or clasps can hold a sufficient amount of weight - much more than the laptop. Think something more like your own body weight. Many cheap computer bags will have equally cheap clasps or straps. These straps will rip, tear, or break when pulled on hard enough. A quick and strong criminal can have you computer in his possession and be running before you even realize how you ending up on your butt. Essentially the goal here is just to make sure nobody can pull your cargo away from you. A good thick grippy shoulder strap is an excellent start!
Make sure its hard to access
Making sure your laptop bag is hard to access means having clips and zippers instead of buttons. The stronger the better and if you can lock them, then you’re really in business. Similar to the above you’ll want a good strong should strap and a design that lends itself to being comfortable to wear so you’re not putting it down as often. If it only takes a quick second for you, the owner, to open you bag, imagine what a well timed and skilled crook could do. With buttons, I’d give them half a second flat before they have your computer and are off and running. Another important factor is making sure the bag liner is strong and cut resistant. It’s not entirely unheard of to have a criminal cut open a sitting laptop bag and slide the contents out carefully whilst being completely unnoticed. There are a variety of designs and materials that lend themselves to this level of security so keep an eye out for advertised features like “security mesh” and the like.
Make sure its pick pocket proof
Having a pick pocket proof laptop bag is essential when you are traveling. There are very skilled criminals out there that will rob you blind and you won’t even notice… at first anyway. This can be prevented my making sure the contents are hard to access like in the above paragraph. No buttons, no unsecured flaps, and a design that promotes security. Use locks whenever you can and obviously, don’t leave your bag beyond arms reach. Flashy colors make a great deterrent too!
Make sure it can take a hit
Lastly this is something you can avoid on your own by just being careful. The security of your computer also includes its well-being. Making sure you laptop bag is well secured, well padded, and well constructed will save you a lot of money and headache. I once made the mistake of having my headphones plugged into my laptop audio ports when I put it away. Even though I didn’t drop it or anything severe like that, the ports where ruined because the bag I was using put a lot of pressure on the headphone ports. That pressure stretched out the internal connection in the ports and they stopped making contact, and subsequently working, unless pressure was applied to the jacks to get the contacts to touch again. It cost me over 200 dollars to fix, and it all could have been prevented by using the right bag or making sure to unplug my headphones.
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