How to protect your laptop and phone at conferences and events (without losing your focus)

Conference days have a strange rhythm. You’re juggling a coffee, a tote bag, a lanyard that keeps flipping, and a conversation you don’t want to drop. Laptops end up under chairs, phones sit on table edges, and someone always says, “I’ll just be a second.”

That’s the moment things go missing. Not always because events are unsafe, but because crowds create distraction, and distraction creates opportunity.

This guide is practical on purpose. No fear tactics, no fancy kit required. In January 2026, there aren’t reliable, event-specific theft stats you can use to predict risk for your conference. So the best play is simple: set up your devices so loss doesn’t become account takeover, then use small habits that make you a hard target, and keep your data private on event Wi-Fi and charging points.

Lock down your devices before you arrive (the 20-minute prep that saves your week)

A conference is not the place to discover you never turned on tracking, your laptop doesn’t encrypt, or your accounts still use an old password you share across sites. The goal of pre-event setup is blunt: if your device disappears, your photos, files, banking apps, and work logins should stay locked behind a wall.

Start with the basics, then tighten the details. If you want an official checklist-style reminder for phones and tablets, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has clear guidance on keeping smartphones and tablets safe. Use it like a pre-flight list, not homework.

Set strong locks, encryption, and auto-lock so a thief hits a wall

Set a long passcode. Not four digits, not your birthday, not a neat screen pattern someone can guess from smudges. Aim for something you can type fast without thinking, but that no one else could guess. If your phone supports biometrics, use them, but treat them as convenience, not your only lock. A passcode is what still protects you when Face ID fails in harsh lighting, or gloves are on, or a thief tries to force a quick unlock.

Turn your auto-lock timer down. A phone that stays open for five minutes is basically an invitation. The same goes for laptops: set a short sleep timer and require a password when waking. You want the device to shut the door the second you stop holding the handle.

Make sure device encryption is on. Modern phones encrypt by default once a passcode is set. On laptops, enable full-disk encryption (Windows BitLocker style features, macOS FileVault). The point is simple: if someone pulls the drive, they still can’t read your files.

Next, quiet your lock screen. Hidden notifications matter more at events than people realise. You don’t want a preview that shows a one-time code, a password reset link, or “Hi, your booking ref is…” while your phone is on a table. Disable notification previews on the lock screen, or limit them to “when unlocked”.

Last, reduce radio noise. Turn off Bluetooth when you’re not using it, and avoid leaving sharing features wide open. Update your operating system and key apps before you travel. Updates are boring, but unpatched devices are easy to push around.

Backups, tracking, and recovery steps you should test at home

Do a backup the day before you travel. Cloud backups are great, but a local backup (to an encrypted drive at home) is your safety net if you lose access to your account during the chaos of a theft.

Switch on tracking. Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device can locate, lock, and often wipe your phone remotely. Many laptops also support tracking at account level, but don’t assume. Check the settings and make sure you can sign in.

Now the part most people skip: test the recovery flow. On a second device (a tablet, a partner’s laptop, even a trusted friend’s phone), sign in and confirm you can see your device list. Find the “lock” option. Find the “erase” option. Don’t click it, but make sure you know where it is.

Add a recovery email and phone number to your main accounts, and check they’re current. If a thief gets into your email, they can reset almost everything else. That’s why email security comes first.

Finally, record the details you’ll need when your mind is racing: serial numbers for laptops, and IMEI numbers for phones. Take a photo of the “About” screen and keep it somewhere safe (not only on the device itself). Write a short “if stolen” plan in your notes at home: who to call, what to freeze, what passwords to change first, and how to contact work IT if it’s a company device.

Stay theft-proof on site with small habits that stop grab-and-go

Most conference losses aren’t dramatic. They’re quiet. A laptop bag slides from under a chair during a crowded Q&A. A phone “walks” when everyone stands up at once. A device gets left behind because you switched rooms, switched conversations, switched attention.

Think of your kit like a passport. You don’t put your passport on the table while you network. Treat your phone and laptop the same way.

Keep your laptop and phone on your body, not on the furniture

Rule one is simple: don’t leave devices unattended, even for a short break. If you need the loo, take your bag. If you’re getting a drink, take your bag. “Can you just watch this?” is a nice idea, but people get pulled into chats, and your stuff becomes background.

In session rooms, loop a backpack strap through your leg or around the chair base. It’s not a fortress, it’s friction. It stops the easiest snatch. Keep zips closed, and don’t hang a bag on the back of a chair in a crowded row. That’s where hands pass.

With phones, avoid table edges and bar tops. A phone near an edge is like a coin on a ledge. One bump, one nudge, and it’s gone. Put it in a zipped pocket, or keep it in your hand. If you must set it down, place it flat, away from the edge, and face down to hide notifications.

At evening events, switch to a cross-body bag that stays in front of you. Shoulder bags slip, and tote bags invite rummaging. If you can, sit with your back to a wall when you’re working on your laptop in a lounge area. It reduces shoulder-surfing and keeps your bag in your sightline.

Also, carry one main bag. The more you juggle (laptop sleeve, gift tote, brochure bundle), the more likely you’ll set something down “for a second”. Keep your setup boring and controlled.

Use simple gear that adds friction for thieves

A cable lock helps in shared spaces like press rooms, co-working corners, or when you’re at a table with people you don’t know well. It won’t stop a determined thief with tools, but it stops the casual grab when you turn to answer someone.

Add a privacy screen if you’ll be working in tight seating or public lounges. Shoulder surfers don’t need to hack you if they can read your screen. You’ll also feel less exposed when replying to emails beside strangers. Universities and IT teams often stress this kind of everyday care, similar to advice like keeping mobiles and tablets protected, because basic protection beats panic later.

Consider a small Bluetooth tracker in your laptop sleeve or bag. Be clear on what it does: it helps you locate the bag, not protect the data inside. If a bag is stolen, tracking can tell you where it went, which can support a police report and insurance claim.

Label discreetly. Put your name and a contact email inside a case or under a laptop lid, not as a big sticker on the outside. You want honest people to return it, without advertising ownership details to everyone.

Hotel safes can help, but use them carefully. Don’t leave devices visible on a desk, even in “nice” hotels. If you need to store kit, lock it away or keep it with you. And don’t rely on “lost and found” as a security plan. It’s a hope, not a system.

Protect your data on event Wi-Fi and charging stations without going full paranoid

Event Wi-Fi feels like a public square. Everyone is there, everyone’s listening, and some people are actively looking for mistakes. That doesn’t mean you can’t use it. It means you should use it like you’d discuss a private matter in a crowded hallway: lower your voice, choose your words, and don’t share secrets when you don’t have to.

A lot of security talks at major tech gatherings in 2026 still return to the same theme: attackers don’t need genius tricks. They just need you to hand them an opening.

Treat public Wi-Fi like a crowded hallway, speak quietly

Avoid logging into banking or making sensitive purchases on public Wi-Fi when you can. Use your mobile data or a personal hotspot for anything that could hurt if intercepted. If you travel often, build this habit so it becomes automatic.

Turn off auto-join for Wi-Fi networks. Phones love to reconnect to known networks, and that’s how you get trapped by lookalike networks that mimic a venue’s name. Always verify the network name with staff or signage, and watch for copycat SSIDs that add a dash, a number, or “_5G” to look legitimate.

Keep your firewall on, and keep file sharing off. On phones, set sharing tools (like AirDrop style features) to contacts only, not “everyone”. On laptops, disable public sharing and avoid joining local network discovery if you don’t need it.

Two-factor authentication matters here. Even if someone steals or guesses a password, they still need the second factor. If you want a consumer-friendly refresher on safe habits, Which? has practical guidance on keeping your data safe on public Wi-Fi. It’s written for normal life, which is exactly what conferences are, just louder.

If you do need to sign into something important, check for HTTPS in the browser, and avoid clicking login links from emails while connected to open networks. Type the site address yourself, or use a saved bookmark you trust.

Charge safely and spot social tricks that get devices unlocked

Charging is a weak point because it looks harmless. You’re tired, you’re on 12 percent, and the charging station is right there. The safest option is boring: bring your own wall charger and cable and use a wall socket.

Avoid unknown USB ports when possible. A simple USB data blocker, or a charge-only cable, reduces the risk of data pins being used. You don’t have to treat every port like a trap, but you should assume you don’t control what’s on the other side.

Now for the human side. Some of the best “attacks” are just social pressure. Don’t hand your unlocked phone to a stranger for “a quick call” or “can you take our photo?” It sounds rude to say no, but it’s harder to undo a banking transfer than it is to disappoint someone you’ll never meet again.

Watch for distraction pairs. One person asks you something urgent, the other drifts close to your bag. In the moment, it feels like coincidence. After, you’re standing there thinking, “I swear it was right here.”

A few red flags to treat seriously:

• Someone trying to move you away from your seat while your kit is open.
• A “helpful” person insisting they’ll look after your bag.
• A stranger pushing you to unlock your phone for any reason.
• People asking where you’re staying, what room you’re in, or when you’re heading back, while your badge shows your name and company.

For broader public Wi-Fi safety tips in plain language, PCMag also keeps an updated list of habits worth using, including safer browsing and hotspot choices, in public Wi-Fi security tips.

Conclusion: if something goes wrong, act in a calm order

If your laptop or phone goes missing, don’t sprint in circles. Move in a set order while your memory is fresh. First, report it to event security and the venue. Next, use tracking to locate it if that’s safe, then trigger a remote lock. If you think it’s truly gone, wipe it.

After that, change the passwords that matter most: your email account first, then banking, then work logins. Turn on or reset two-factor authentication where you can. Contact your bank if there’s any chance of card or payment app access. If it’s a work device, tell your IT team straight away so they can revoke access.

File a police report if you need it for insurance, and write down the device serial number or IMEI you saved earlier. The aim isn’t perfect security, it’s reducing the blast radius. Make your devices the hardest target in the room, and you’ll spend more time networking and less time recovering.