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Last active October 21, 2021 06:35
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Preparing for your laptop to be stolen
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stolen-laptop.md

Preparing for your Laptop to be stolen by some Asshole

Note, at the time of writing this, I use a mac. Adjust to your preference.

Assumptions

If you're reading this and haven't done these things, and your laptop is still in your possession. Stop everything and do them now.

  1. You have an encrypted hard drive (e.g FileVault)
  2. You are using a password manager (e.g 1Password)
  3. You are using 2FA where possible (e.g Apple, Google, Github, Heroku, Dropbox, or anything else you care about that offers it)
  4. You have turned on "Find my Device" via iCloud

Precautions

If you're leaving your laptop somewhere it could be potentially stolen, consider turning it off, and locking it in something attached to or inside something that is difficult to steal. Or at the very least, putting it in sleep mode so that upon usng it, the thief is prompted for your password.

In other words: don't ever leave it open and logged in.

So Your Laptop was Stolen

  1. Unlink your device from services that sync to your laptop (e.g Dropbox, Drive, etc)
  2. Change the Password of whatever service you use to sync your password manager's data
  3. Revoke your SSH key from services that use it (Github, Heroku, etc)
  4. If you have sensitive data, schedule HD Erase (Careful: This is admitting defeat that it will be found as it will no longer be trackable)
  5. Deauthorize device from iTunes

Helpful Links

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