Laptop users often do not think twice when using their computer in a public place. With the rise of Starbucks and other similar stores offering free wireless Internet access, taking along a laptop and popping on line to check email or the news is almost a commonplace part of life for many people. The downside to all of this easy access to information is that in many cases that free and easy access to private information that can be hijacked by a less than honest individual lurking nearby. There are several ways this can happen with varying degrees of severity.
Protecting Your Laptop From Prying Eyes: Laptop Screen Filters
The least complicated way an individual can steal private information is simply by using their eyes. When a user pops open a laptop on a plane for example, anyone sitting nearby or walking down the aisle might be able to snatch a glance at the screen. If the user is simply playing a game of Mario then this is not an issue. But if the user is using or writing about sensitive company or personal information it is very easy for a person to accidentally or intentionally sneak a glance at that important data.
The solution to this low tech method of electronic eavesdropping is to place a special laptop screen filter over the screen. These specially designed pieces of plastic allow the user, sitting directly in front of the screen, to see everything normally while anyone slightly off center sees nothing but a blank black screen. These privacy filters also work well in the office on desktop computers as well. Many also work as a glare filter, eliminating reflections from nearby windows or light sources.
In all cases, protecting against prying eyes is the easiest of problems to solve. Simply go to a local or online retailer and ask for a privacy screen or laptop glare filter. A few dollars can buy a lot of low tech security.
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