The latest security incidents which involved stolen laptops led to hundred of thousands of identities being stolen. Keeping an acceptable level of security for your laptop can be achieved quite easily if you follow a few golden rules:


Encryption
Use whole disk encryption so that you can not access any data on the laptop without first entering your credentials. Really, you shouldn’t even be able to get to the boot loader without a password.

Antivirus
Install an antivirus and make sure the signatures are up to date. A 3 weeks old set of signatures are useless.

Firewall and Intrusion Detection System
Install a local Firewall and Intrusion Detection System. You will really need it if you hook up the laptop in unknown networks.

Wireless
Set your wireless card to only connect automatically only to a predefined list of wireless networks. Rogue access points are a very common threat.

VPN
Set to not allow split tunneling so that when connected via VPN into the office, the laptop cannot connect to any other networks.

Patches
Keep automatic updates ON.


Theft
Never leave them unattended or in cars etc. Use the Kensington locks at all times (even in the office).