There is a way to lock laptops when you're working from a hotel, satellite office, cafe, or even when your family is on vacation and your laptop is sitting back at home. Laptop locks are similar to cable bike locks. A cable is attached to your computer, and then looped around an anchored structure and secured -- in the same way a bike lock chain is put through a bike rack. Some desks even come with holes in them for this purpose.

You can find laptop locks at computer stores. Although any lock can be broken by a determined thief, it's still true that an ounce of prevention is better than nothing. To play it extra safe, don't leave your laptop unattended when in public, and tuck it away in a locked file drawer or closet when you're away.

To provide additional peace of mind, try adding another layer of protection by setting up a password that prevents other people from accessing data on your computer. That way, if it happens that your laptop is stolen, at least they would not be able to acquire your private information along with it.