I've very reluctantly started allowing some of my employees to use laptops because they travel enough to justify it, but I'm worried about security especially when it comes to our sensitive company data. Any tips to make me feel better about this decision?

- Alex

You're completely justified in being concerned about the change because it does expose your company and your employees to a completely different set of security issues. Mobile devices are exponentially more likely to be stolen and you should just assume that it's going to happen someday and plan accordingly. Here are some basic security issues to consider for mobile users:

• Set Access Passwords on all Devices - Every mobile device in your company (laptop, smartphone or tablet) should be setup with an access password that would prevent a stranger from picking it up and start using it. This is a really easy thing to test for and even easier to rectify, so start there.

• Don't Allow Stored Passwords - Teach your employees that whenever the browser asks ‘Would you like me to remember the password' the answer is always NO! The inconvenience of having to type in the password far outweighs the security risk created when the browser contains all of the passwords to your web accounts. This is also an easy thing to spot check from time to time if you want to make sure the rules are being followed.

• Structure a Procedure for Data Storage - This actually should have been created prior to allowing any laptop to be deployed with access to sensitive company information. Without a clear procedure, your employees will simply store data in the default locations on the local hard drive of the laptop which can be a huge security risk. The most secure way to control your company data with mobile users is to not ever store anything sensitive on the device itself. If it gets stolen or lost, the only loss is the device itself, not your sensitive company data. In the past, this would have been an expensive and complicated undertaking, but with today's plethora of cloud platforms, remote access tools and the relative ease in setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network), it's no longer an issue.

• Use The Cloud - For instance, instead of installing Microsoft Office on the laptop, use Microsoft's web apps or Google Docs so that all the documents are stored (and backed up!) in the cloud. Do the same with e-mail by configuring a Gmail or Outlook.com account to access your company's e-mail server if you don't already have an online option for checking mail. E-mail is such a huge security hole for most companies because it's generally loaded with sensitive attachments and company communications, so don't take it lightly.

• Use Encryption & Online Backup - If storing data on the laptop is required, consider setting up an encrypted section of the computer that all data gets stored in (checkout TrueCrypt) and make sure the laptop has some form of automated online backup service such as Carbonite installed.

• Install Tracking Software - When the laptop goes missing, having a good remote tracking and deletion program installed (which I recently wrote about) can save the day. These are some simple things to think about and don't even begin to scratch the surface of what can be done, so I'd highly recommend that you consult a professional to review your exact scenario to give you true peace of mind.

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Today we start a weeklong series to help you avoid getting hacked.

Everyone knows that bigger is better, in this case longer is best.

When you make a password, it's common these days to add special characters, numbers and capital letters to make the password more difficult to hack.

The problem is, how on earth do you remember something so nonsensical?

Instead of going crazy with characters, and nuts with numbers, go long!

Making a simple yet hard to crack password is actually easy. Make it 15 characters or more. Remember this, length matters more than difficulty.

Most people have 8 character passwords. Add 7 exclamation points, and you've instantly made it exponentially more difficult to crack. You can add any characters, digits or letters, just make it 15 characters or longer.

The reason this makes your password more secure is that todays password cracking tools can try billions of combinations of letters, numbers and symbols to crack an 8 character password just like that.

A motivated hacker with todays fast cracking tools, can guess your 8 character password in under 30 seconds. Add 7 exclamation points, and it'll take over 12 million centuries to guess every combination.

A longer password makes it much hard for a hacker to find your needle in the haystack.

So, how big is your haystack? We've got a link to a great tool you can use to check your own password strength. You'll find it on facebook.com/datadoctors.

There, you can ask us your tech questions anytime.

Tomorrow, why you don't want to use the same password over and over.

When you need new glasses, you can go see Becky at the eyeglass store, or you can let Glasses.com replace Becky with an app.

The app is called 3D Fit from Glasses.com. It lets you see, through augmented reality, how dozens of pairs of glasses look on a 3D model of you!

The app makes an accurate 3D model of your face, allowing you to see how you look in various styles of frames from different angles.

Here's how it works: Using an iPad and soon Androids, you take a video of your face while rotating your head to the left and then the right. It quickly creates a 3D rendering of your face from both sides.

Now instead of going through the online catalog and guessing what's going to look good on you, you'll instantly see them on your face, along with the brand and price.

You can scroll through them, click on any pair to see colors and even add them to your favorites.

There are other sites, that let you virtually try on glasses, but this looks so real with reflections and drop shadows, it makes buying them foolproof.

This augmented reality app lets you shop and try-on without going anywhere, and find glasses that actually look good on you.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

Need a little excitement to make your morning run a bit more fun?

Zombies Run!

Where?

No the app, actually, Zombies Run 2. It' part Runkeeper, part Walking Dead and it turns your morning jog into a virtual run-for-your-life adventure.

Out of steam? Can't bring yourself to finish that last mile? Maybe a zombie horde breathing down your neck will give you the adrenaline boost you need.

That's the idea behind Zombies, Run! 2. This Android and iOS app gives you an immersive running game and audio adventure for your smartphone.

It works like this: Before you start your run, you launch the app, pick your mission, put on your headphones, and then you hit the road. Along the way, the story unfolds and the Zombies have you on the run.

Each mission has goals, get supplies, rescue humans, deliver news to another base and of course stay ahead of the Zombies. It's theater for your ears.

With 60+ missions, "Zombie Chase" interval training and the ability to run with your own music, you can have the best of both worlds, your morning workout, and saving the rest of us from being eaten.

So if you want a bit more excitement from your morning run, then run away from the Zombies.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

If you're a music lover and you use Twitter, you're going to love this Data Doctors Tech Tip.

Recently Twitter launched a new service called #music which uses tweets and artists' Twitter accounts to help users discover new music.

The service uses iTunes to deliver short previews of each song along with a link to purchase, and you can also connect your Spotify or Rdio accounts to listen to the full tracks.

You can use your web browser to check out #music, at music.twitter.com or by downloading the free Twitter #music iPhone app from the App Store.

Just like Vine, #music uses your existing Twitter accounts so there's no lengthy registration process. Once authorized, #music looks for artists you are already following and it gives you recommendations based on your tastes in music. It's pretty smart.

They also help you discover new stuff. The two other tabs, Popular and Emerging, list currently trending artists as well as "hidden" talent currently being Tweeted about.

Paired with Spotify and your iPhone app, it's able to play music completely within the app.

If you have an Rdio account you can listen to the new stuff easily as well. Twitter #music has a grid-based layout that's sharp easy to use and previews load virtually instantly.

Don't worry Android users, there's a #music app in the works for you too.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

Do you have a website? Many of us do these days, whether a blog, small business or a bigger company. Your website is the easiest way for people to find your business.

But how do you know if your site's working the way it should? Is it running all the time, are people able to connect to it whenever they want?

If you can't answer those questions with 100% certainty, you need to know about uptimerobot.com.

UpTimeRobot, monitors your websites every 5 minutes, and it's totally free.

Once you sign up for your free account, you can monitor up to 50 websites.

You can even get alerts by e-mail, SMS or Text Messaging, Twitter, RSS or push notifications for iPhone/iPad.

Now if any of the sites that you're motoring take a dive, you don't have to worry about someone discovering it hours later and maybe letting you know, or assuming someone else already told you.

If you don't think that happens, guess again, it actually happens in businesses of all sizes. If you run an e-commerce site, you know how much money that can cost you.

The UpTimeRobot dashboard is easy to read, so you can see the history of the site and see if there are any repeat problems you need to know about and deal with.

We said it before, but it's worth repeating. UpTimeRobot can monitor up to 50 websites and it won't cost you a dime.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

Want to dress like Olivia Pope on Scandal, you like the mens leather jacket from Vampire Diaries?

We live in a multitasking culture, chatting on social media networks while watching television has become the norm. How many times have you seen SPOILER ALERT?

We love sharing our thoughts in real time about the shows we're watching. And as social media becomes more of a platform for like minded audiences to gather, it's also driving e-commerce.

Almost 90% of U.S. homes own at least one device that can be used as a second screen; and 87% of consumers says they use at least one device while watching television.

OK, so how does that all tie in to dressing like Olivia Pope? There's an app called Get This. Get this creates a second-screen experience linking purchasable content to the television show you are watching.

Get This works with each show's production staff (producers and stylists), who tell them in advance which items will be featured on each episode. Then when viewers see those items, they pop up on their screens in the app.

The idea is that if you see Olivia Pope wearing a cute dress on Scandal, it pops up on your screen so you can buy it.

An audio-sync button matches to the show and highlights items as they appear on screen.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

We've told you about LoJack for laptops, but what about protection for your Androids, Blackberrys or virtually any other device in your business?

AirWatch allows businesses to manage their mobile fleet. No not cars and trucks, phones.

With AirWatch, companies can be certain their mobile information is safe. They provide end to end security to the user, the individual device and content on the phone.

There mobile device management helps companies enforce security policies and secures mobile access to company resources. If an employee loses their smartphone, no matter what type, it can be remotely locked and wiped.

AirWatch even has Mobile Application Management. That means you can manage public and purchased apps across employee, corporate or shared devices in your organization. They can even distribute, track, update, and secure applications over-the-air.

Because they are a scalable service, you can have 10 or 10,000 employees on the service. You simply pick the license type, choose a hosting model and you're up and running.

They offer complete mobility management for laptops, smartphones, tablets and even Kindles.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

Wouldn't it be great if on your next trip instead of renting a car at the airport you can rent a car from your friend?

Peer-to-peer car-sharing service RelayRides is going social. They're goal is to get users to rent a car through Facebook using the power of their social network.

RelayRides calls it "Renting Social", members can now post a Facebook status message that lets friends know they need to rent a car.

The idea is pretty simple: One of your buddies may have an extra car, or happens to be out of town when you need a car, and they might be willing to loan it to you for a price.

RelayRides acts as a middleman in the transaction. The renter pays the company, which in turn, pays the car owner and provides insurance in case of an accident.

The service is currently used in over 1,400 cities across the country, and they hope Facebook integration will help growth by essentially putting it in the News Feeds of people who may not know about it.

Their goal is to have a RelayRides car within a 10-minute walking distance of 100 million Americans by the end of 2015.

Check them out before you travel, and perhaps you can rent your next ride from Ken,

RelayRides is available on Facebook now.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.

Microsoft has added two-step verification to services like Outlook.com, Messenger and SkyDrive, and to sync all your settings between devices.

Two-step verification, also called two-factor authentication relies on 2 things, something you know: Your password and something you have, your cellphone.

Two-step verification is a very important security feature, as it makes it very hard for a third party to access your account even if they have your username and password.

Once you turn it on,  you'll be asked to enter an additional piece of information (besides your username and password) to access your account, such as a code sent to a phone.

Microsoft also offers an authenticator app for Windows Phone, which allows you to receive the two-step verification code even if you're offline.

Two step verification may sound like a big hassle, but you can choose not to be asked for a security code on devices you regularly use. Of course that kind of defeats the purpose. Microsoft will only ask you for a code if you don't use the device for 60 days.

Other companies that offer a two-step verification including Google and Apple, others will follow along.

The two-step verification option for Microsoft accounts, is now available to all users.

We've got the answers to your technology questions.

All you have to do is ask us at facebook.com/datadoctors.