The San Francisco State University police department continuously receives numerous reports of stolen laptops on the campus and other SF State properties. According to theft reports, many stolen laptops resulted from "smash-and-grab" car break-ins. A thief only takes 10 seconds to smash a window and grab a computer. To protect your devices and data, please follow these basic security practices.
1. Physically protect your device from theft.
- Never leave your laptop or mobile device in an unlocked vehicle. If you must leave your device in your car, the best place is in the trunk.
- Do not walk away from your laptop, even for a minute.
- If you must sleep while studying in the library, sleep on the laptop.
- Please do not leave valuables in common areas or ask strangers to watch them for you.
- Carry your devices in a nondescript carrying case, briefcase, or bag.
- Secure your laptop in an office with cable locks, lockdown devices, or inside a locked drawer. Do not leave your device in plain sight, even with a cable lock.
- Turn on 'find my phone' or other software to wipe data remotely.
- Remember that "location services" can be used to track your location. Be sure to turn this feature off when not in use.
- If your device is stolen, automatic log-ins can make it easy for a thief to send inappropriate messages to your account. Use password protection that requires a person to log in every time your device goes to sleep or is powered off.
2. Protect the data on your device.
- Save files/data to Box or a campus shared drive, not on the laptop. Doing this makes it easier to recover your data if the device is lost or stolen.
- Lock your computer screen when you step away from your laptop to protect data and systems.
San Francisco State's Safeguarding Information Policy states that when there is a requirement to store confidential data on a desktop, laptop, or other device, the person(s) responsible for this data must incorporate special security measures such as encryption. The encryption technology bundled with the Windows and Macintosh operating systems protects further against casual thieves. Stronger encryption software is available for impenetrable security; however, your encrypted data is not recoverable if you forget your password. Please contact your department's IT support personnel at the Information Technology Services (ITS) Service Desk if you need to store sensitive data on your local machine. This policy follows the guidelines stated in the CSU Responsible Use Policy.
3. Time is of the essence.
If your laptop or mobile device is stolen or lost, immediately file a police report with the local police department where the theft occurred. If the computer is SF State's property and is used for university business or to access university data, see the Incident Management Policy and complete a Computer Security Incident Report.
You can find more information on how to protect your devices here:
Thank you for continuing to protect your data here at SF State. Please continue to have a safe and secure summer semester.