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Traveling with your Workstation?: How to Keep Your Laptop Safe Through Holiday Travel
Getting through airport security is more difficult than ever with close, personal examinations of everything from your footwear to your body. There are some special considerations when you’re taking electronics through security at the airport. If you’re smart and ready when it comes to getting your laptop through security checkpoints, you should have nothing to fear.
Security Requirements for Electronics
There are different requirements for various types of electronics. You must remove standard size laptops from their cases and place them on a separate tray. This is typically defined as any laptop measuring 12″ x 14″ or larger. Other similarly sized electronics like video gaming systems and DVD players are subject to the same requirements.
Widescreen Android tablets and other smaller devices measuring 11″ or less can usually stay in their bags. This includes e-readers, cell phones, and small handheld gaming systems. Items are always subject to further inspection by security upon request.
TSA Scans 101
The scanner that your bags and laptops go through at the airport uses an X-ray to see inside each item. Large laptops are themselves big enough to hide other items, so they cannot stay inside bags when passing through the machine. When the laptop goes through the scanner alone, it’s easier for the security agent to see if anything is hidden inside.
X-rays are not dangerous to computers or any other electronics. Only magnetic charges are dangerous. The common misconception about the dangers of TSA scanners comes from a simple misunderstanding about the type of technology that’s used in these scanners.
Potential Pitfalls
While the TSA X-ray scanner is not dangerous to your electronics, the electromagnetic energy of the metal detector wand is. Remove all electronics from your person before going through the metal detector or submitting to a wand search. Your phone, camera, or other small devices could be ruined if left in your pocket during this search.
The more common danger for your laptop at the airport is a simple bump or drop. When you have a lot of people trying to get to the same place in a set amount of time, it’s only natural that you’ll get jostled around a bit from time to time. Many users who experience unexpected damage to their devices at the airport blame the scanner when, in fact, it was rough handling that did the damage.
Smart Precautions
Keep your laptop and other electronics safe by providing the proper case for them. As soon as you’ve made it through security, return your laptop to its case and make sure all closures are secure. Get to the airport in plenty of time so you don’t have to rush off before organizing your things properly.
Label each piece of equipment that you have. Since your laptop cannot stay in its case, there’s always a risk that you might pick up someone else’s item if the two are the same. Use stickers, a permanent marker, a ribbon, or some other marking so your items stand out.
When you’re organized and ready for the lengthy process of going through airport security, you can make sure that all your belongings make it through safely.
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SolidSmack.com
2012-12-20 16:31:33
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