Your laptop — and all the valuable personal information on it — can be an easy target of identity thieves when you are out and about.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers these tips to help keep your laptop safe.

Treat your laptop like cash.

Keep the same watchful eye on your laptop as you would on a stack of cash. Never leave it unguarded.

Lock your laptop with a security cable.

When you are using your laptop in a public place, secure it to something heavy so it isn’t easily grabbed.

Be on guard at airport security.

Hold onto your laptop until the person in front of you has gone through the metal detector, and keep an eye on it as it emerges on the other side.

Store it in your hotel room’s safe.

If you leave your laptop in your hotel room, lock it in the safe if possible. If you must leave it out, attach it to a security cable and consider hanging the “do not disturb” sign on your door.

For more information on computer and mobile security, visit consumer.ftc.gov.