A third of all British laptop thefts happen at home, according to research from laptop security company, Absolute Software – a significantly higher number than in other countries.
The online study, carried out in association with YouGov , has revealed that there is a considerably higher percentage of laptops stolen from GB homes (32 per cent of most recent laptop thefts), compared with France (22 per cent), the US (18 per cent), Germany, (17 per cent), and Canada, (17 per cent).
Dave Everitt, General Manager, at Absolute Software said: “This research will surprise some laptop owners, who often only think about security issues when they are on the move. However, with nearly a third of all laptop thefts in Britain occurring at a residential property, owners need to be extra cautious when leaving devices home alone.”
In Britain, thefts from cars accounted for 24 per cent, with public transport coming in third place at 8 per cent. Coffee shops and airports, locations often associated with laptop use, accounted for a comparatively low percentage – just 2 per cent each.
“There is a range of security measures that laptop owners can take, from simply locking their laptop in a secure location to installing software that enables personal files to be remotely deleted, tracked and even recovered. With the amount of sensitive information now being stored on laptops and subsequent identity theft, personal security can not be compromised,” added Everitt.
