How to Secure Laptops for use at Home and Hotels

Are they setup using PoLP (Policy of Least Privilege)?  This way everyone should be logging in as a standard user, not an administrator.

At home, get behind a commercial router with no remote access and good firewall. Then make sure you have top grade antivirus installed.  

At a hotel, make sure the wireless has a password and that you are using Windows 10, Windows Defender, Smart Screen and a heavy dose of good common sense.

This all works for me.

using public wifi anywhere connect using a vpn any commercial vpn will do i.e. nordvpn/private internet access PIA)
All this will do is prevent snooping/capturing of your data.
for malware/virus
malwarebytes/windows defender + standard user accounts

You still need to educate the users conduct an internal phishing campaign i.e. from knowbe4 to follow up on your user education.

People lose laptops with regularity so enable bitlocker or other encryption on the hard drive.

David Johnson, CD, we just signed on with KnowBe4.  I haven't gotten into KnowBe4 but when we saw the product and the demo I thought right off what a great service.  Looking forward to using KnowBe4.

Training is one thing. knowing how much of it actually stuck is another.. all of the test emails they sent my email addresses went to the junk folder. FYI

We use PhishMe for training and have the same problem with spam filters. Ended up whitelisting their domains.

Security Tips When Traveling with Your Laptop

• Install tracking software on your laptop.
• Back up all of your files regularly.
• Do not leave your laptop at an unsecured location.
• Do not store passwords with your laptop.

For more details

• U.S.-CERT Security Tip:
• Protecting Portable Devices: Physical Security
• U.S.-CERT Security Tip:
• Protecting Portable Devices: Data Security

Importantly, cultivate good security awareness when using WIFI

• Use company-provided VPN whenever available. You should always utilize the VPN while connected to public Wi-Fi. VPN software should be available for all corporate-supported devices.
• Use your phone tethering feature or cellular Internet service instead of free Wi-Fi whenever possible.
• Never conduct financial transactions, including any transaction requiring a debit or credit card, when using public or free Wi-Fi services.
• Consider changing your passwords after you travel in case they were compromised while you were traveling.

Just by the way, I travel all over the place including overseas with my own laptop (Windows 10, and all the Windows 10 security apps) and never have any issue.

I keep it by my side, but it also has a hard drive (SSD) lock so no one but me can turn it on.