This editorial was originally published on Jan 10, 2007. Steve is at DevConnections, so it is being republished. 

So class, for today's protection mechanism you'll need: a mouse, a loop of wire, a lock, a key, and a link. Sounds like MaGyver, huh? This article on hot spot security gives you some software hints and covers most of the items I listed above. The exception is the loop of wire.

If you're working for some time at a place, especially a place that's traffic'd well, you might want to lock your computer to the desk or table. It will discourage iJacking or the chance that someone will walk by, grab your laptop and run. This is more likely in a cafe or Starbucks than an airport, but you never know.

The advice is good and it makes sense that most of the discovery and openness of Windows is rapidly becoming a liability. Even out here in the country, where I live and my nearest neighbor is nearly 1/4 mile away, I have keys on our wireless routers. I know it's not the best security, and I did get some complaints about making everyone have a key until a neighbor's router showed up on our computers. Makes you realize just how far away someone could be and reach your system.

As handy as all the capabilities are in wireless networking, as with anything else, they need to be secured and they should be turned off by default. Use them when you need them, but the rest of the time, try to be a bit more secure and limit access to your system.