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There are a couple of recovery steps to take if you ever have your personal computer or laptop stolen. Remembering to be clear minded and remain focused on protecting yourself.

Personal computers and laptops generally hold a great deal of personal information. Most people like to think that because they are used in the comfort of their homes they don’t have much to worry about in regards to security. Unfortunately, this is not the case and anyone can fall victim to a stolen identity. Protecting your identity at all times is critical and there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from id fraud.

Using an antivirus program along with a firewall is a great place to start. A firewall blocks any unauthorized access to your laptop or PC while still allowing you to utilize the internet. Some computer programs come with a firewall already installed. As with any program you may want to check that the firewall is on all the time. Luckily, some programs will alert you if your firewall is turned off, or warn you about entering unauthorized sites. Antivirus software is created to do most of the protection for you. They can help prevent and remove any viruses that found their way into your system, without your knowledge. Some antivirus programs will perform a scan periodically automatically or as often as you need/tell it too.

Another form of protection is antispyware, or spyware blocking software. Spyware is a form of software that spies on you by collecting information from your computer without your knowledge. It may also cause viruses and is heavily utilized by phishers.

Stolen Computer? Act Fast to Protect your Identity

1. Call the police as soon as you notice your computer or laptop has been taken. If you do not act quickly, the window for receiving help from the police will close and you may not be able to recover your stolen items.
   
   
2. Contact your insurance company, to report the theft. Most people avoid this step, since the cost of the deductible may be equal to the cost of the computer in many cases. However, this claim will support any action you have to take in the future to protect your reputation and identity.
   
   
3. Change the passwords to all of your existing accounts. Most people save their passwords in their computers, including home networks. Changing these passwords may help prevent the thief from accessing any of your personal information.
   
   
4. Contact the credit reporting agencies to add a fraud alert message to your credit report. If someone is using your information without your knowledge or consent, this alert notified those granting credit to verify your i.d. Also, be sure to order a copy of your credit report to make sure that everything is as it should be. You'll want to check it every couple of months to make sure your identity has not been stolen.
   
   
5. If you use data security software programs, provide the authorities with the information to track the IP address once it is logged into the internet. Some of these software programs will also auto-delete your hard drive, once you report the device stolen, to help protect your personal information.

Benefits of ID Theft Insurance

Identity thieves tend to target those individuals who perform credit checks often and have spent the time to improve their credit. Along with credit card fraud protection, theft insurance is intended to provide you with the most protection against identity theft. One of the benefits of i.d. theft insurance is that companies can help you get back on track if you ever suffered from identity theft. They may reimburse monies up to various amounts depending on your policy. If you think about it, insurance is well worth the small monthly payment to stay protected, versus having someone getting all your information and demolishing everything you have taken the time and effort to build.

Remembering that your home computers and laptops contain a lot of personal information will help you maintain a clear head about what you need to do to protect that information. Programs, emails, and various accounts can be hacked into, so staying on secure sites combined with the proper protection software can help ensure that your information stays safe.

Amy Johnson is an active blogger who is fond of sharing interesting finance related articles to encourage people to manage and protect their finances. Follow her on Twitter and learn more on how to make your financial life healthy.