One of the chief causes of laptop loss, as opposed to theft, is distraction.

You’re on a phone call (probably without Bluetooth handsfree capability) and you jump out of the cab to sprint into the building for your meeting (10 minutes late). Your laptop is left right in the back seat.

You’re hustling through security at the airport, extremely anxious since your flight leaves in 20 minutes, and you leave your laptop on the conveyor belt.

You park your car and walk away visiting with business partners or friends, and do lock the door, but don’t think about your laptop sitting on the seat in plain sight.

These are merely a few of the most common, very dangerous distractions that lead to the loss of data on a laptop (average of $49,246 overall, according to the Ponemon Institute). Distraction leads to laptop loss and it leads to laptop theft as well.

Allowing plenty of time to catch a flight has numerous benefits (even health benefits!), and travelers really should make it a priority to arrive in plenty of time. Limiting distraction while in public, such as in a cab or getting off the subway, is a way not only to safeguard your laptop, but also your own personal, physical safety. Attackers very frequently choose victims who are clearly not very aware of surroundings and who don’t seem to “handle themselves” very well.

Bottom line: pay attention. It makes a world of difference.