Tag Archives: Laptop

Winterizing Your Laptop: Essential Tips for the Cold Season

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Keep Your Tech Toasty: How to Protect Your Laptop This Winter

As the chill of winter sets in, it’s not just your wardrobe that needs adjusting. Your laptop, a crucial companion in your daily life, also needs special care to combat the cold. Here are essential tips for winterizing your laptop:

  • Temperature Control: Laptops are sensitive to extreme temperatures. When moving from a cold environment to a warm one, condensation can form inside, which might damage the internal components. Allow your laptop to acclimatize gradually to indoor temperatures before turning it on. 
  • Battery Care: Cold temperatures can drain battery life more rapidly. Keep your laptop fully charged and consider carrying a portable charger. Avoid leaving your laptop in a cold car for extended periods, as this can significantly impact battery health.
  • Moisture Management: Winter means more moisture, be it from rain, snow, or condensation. Ensure your laptop bag is waterproof or has a protective sleeve. If your laptop does get wet, turn it off immediately and let it dry thoroughly before use.
  • Static Electricity Precautions: The dry winter air increases static electricity, which can be harmful to electronic devices. Use an anti-static wrist strap or regularly ground yourself by touching a metal object to prevent static discharge.
  • Regular Cleaning: With more indoor time, your laptop might accumulate more dust and debris. Regularly clean the keyboard, screen, and vents to ensure optimal performance and to prevent overheating.
  • Software Updates: Keep your software up-to-date. Winter is a great time to perform necessary updates and backups, ensuring your laptop runs smoothly.
  • Heating Solutions: Avoid using your laptop in excessively cold areas. If you must, consider using a laptop heating pad to maintain a stable temperature.
  • Travel Considerations: If you’re traveling, ensure your laptop is securely stored in a padded compartment. Sudden jolts or drops in temperature during travel can be damaging.

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your laptop stays safe and functional throughout the winter season. Remember, a little care can go a long way in maintaining the health and longevity of your tech devices. Stay warm and connected this winter!

Reporting a Lost or Stolen Laptop or Mobile Device

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In January, our Information Security Officer, David Bruce, sent out a security bulletin about how to prevent laptop theft and what to do if your laptop is stolen. This is a very important topic and we want to be sure that everyone is aware of how to prevent thefts.

Two steps you can take to keep your laptop and mobile device safe are to never leave them unattended (or to put them in a secure location like a locked office or locker while you’re away) and, for laptops specifically, to attach a security cable to it. If you need a security cable for your Simmons-owned laptop, please contact the Service Desk.

If a Simmons-owned laptop or other mobile computing device has been lost or stolen, you should follow these steps:

• Promptly report the loss to the Technology Service Desk, 617-521-2222, and to your manager.

• The Service Desk will also ask you to provide the following information, if known, so appropriate security measures can be taken:
– Your Simmons username and email address
– Any special services to which you had access (e.g. Datatel)
– Any special applications which were loaded on the device
– What types of data were saved on the device (e.g. Student data, HR data)
– If the device was powered on at the time of loss
– If passwords were encrypted and what software was used for encryption

• In addition to contacting the Service Desk and your manager, you should contact Public Safety, 617-521-1112, if the theft occurred on campus. If the theft occurred off campus, it should be reported to local police.

If you have any questions about laptop and mobile device security, please contact the Service Desk at 617-521-2222 or servicedesk.simmons.edu.