One of the best things about computing these days is how everything is so portable and mobile. Thanks to tiny laptops and netbooks, and WiFi coverage that extends across most major cities and suburbs, it's easy to get work done wherever I go. For example, if it's a beautiful day, I might head out to the park across the street from my office building to sit on a bench and soak up a few rays while hammering out reports, proposals, or memos. Or, if I need a quick caffeine fix, I might tote my netbook down the block to the nearest Starbucks for my daily latte. Since the store has free WiFi for customers, I can still get my work done without missing a beat -- provided I bring one of my monitor privacy screens with me.
Since I work in the banking industry, I deal with a lot of sensitive financial data. As a result, I simply cannot risk having someone peek over my shoulder and get a gander at what I'm doing. It would be very easy for someone to start jotting down bank account numbers, social security numbers, and customer names, which can then be used in identity theft scams. This might sound a bit far-fetched, but believe me it does happen. But monitor privacy screens eliminate a lot of the risks associated with working outside my office. These are nifty little devices that fit over monitors so that whatever is on the screen cannot be read by others. With one of these monitor privacy screens on my laptop, I don't have to worry about the people sitting next to me being able to glance over and quickly skim whatever document is on my screen -- which is precisely the kind of protection I need when sitting in a crowded coffee shop.
Because monitor privacy screens are tinted, they also prevent my documents from being read at any kind of distance. If I'm sitting directly in front of the screen, I have no trouble working as usual. But if I step back a couple of feet, it becomes impossible to see what's on my computer at the moment. So even if someone walks behind me and tries to peer over my shoulder, he or she won't be able to come away with any useful information.
Monitor privacy screens are available at most electronics stores or computer supply shops, and are a must-have accessory in these days of mobile computing. They aren't just for people who work with confidential data, either. They're for anyone who doesn't want others to see their personal emails, IM chats, or the websites they're surfing. The best way to keep your activities private while computing in public is by using monitor privacy screens, so go out and buy a couple today!