Absolute Software has now added geolocation tracking to Computrace, its corporate multi-layered security solution for theft recovery, data protection, and asset tracking.

Computrace with GPS Tracking allows for IT managers to track GPS-enabled laptops to approximately 10 meters (33 feet) and to view reports using Google Maps technology. Check out the screenshot below:

Adding GPS tracking capabilities to Computrace will allow for IT managers to detect missing computers earlier. When a computer goes missing, GPS information becomes a powerful extra tool for the Absolute Software theft recovery team.

How It Works
Using the embedded GPS technology, Computrace acquires latitude and longitude location information from the laptops. Managers can view the location of all GPS-enabled laptops in their account, individually or collectively, via Absolute’s web-based IT asset management portal.

For more details, read the press release here or contact the Absolute Software sales team.

Tags: Absolute Software, GPS tracking, geolocation, google maps, laptop security, laptop tracking, gps laptop tracking, it asset management, asset management, it security, business security, data security

Absolute Software has announced that its consumer laptop recovery product, LoJack for Laptops, will now be available from Costco.com in the US.

For a limited time, people with a Costco membership can receive special pricing on LoJack for Laptops (both Standard and Premium editions) for PC or Mac.

“We’re excited to introduce Computrace LoJack for Laptops to the large U.S. customer base of Costco.com,” said Mark Grace, Vice President of Consumer Business for Absolute. “Costco has distinguished itself among consumers as a major consumer computer retailer with a large selection of computers and software products. Offering Computrace LoJack for Laptops through Costco’s convenient online shopping cart will make it that much easier for consumers to obtain protection for their computers and the precious information they often contain.”

Read more from the press release here or purchase LoJack for Laptops from Costco here.

Tags: costco, lojack for laptops, lojack, laptop security, costco.com

Miguel Guhlin has been having some conversations with Absolute Software about how Computrace works. He’s published some of those conversations, with CEO John Livingston and with Senior Manager Craig Clark, on his blog in these articles:

• Computrace CEO Clarifies (January 22, 2007)
• Computrace Revisited (January 24, 2007)
• Audiocast: Interview with John Livingston, CEO of Absolute Software’s Computrace (April 10, 2007)
• Computrace Clarifies Part Deux (June 1, 2008)

Miguel was genuinely interested in how the Computrace technology works, on which platforms and if it could be bypassed by creative thieves. Absolute Software appreciates the opportunity to address these concerns, and has been in contact with Miguel for some time now. In the latest conversation with Miguel, Craig Clark addresses the Computrace alternative, LocatePC, which can track your computer when lost (but which does not come with recovery service).

“Only Absolute Software maintains a licensed investigative team whose sole purpose is to investigate computer thefts, gather evidence using Computrace and then complete the investigation by assisting local police with a search warrant or subpoena to search a home and physically recover a stolen computer…

So, while there are competing recovery services on the market, only Computrace is complemented by the physical investigation team required to successfully recover stolen computers on a consistent basis.”

If you have comments about Absolute Software or any of our products, we’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment anywhere on our blog, or contact us!

Tags: computrace, computrace complete, absolute software

As mentioned previously, Absolute Software was named a finalist for Company of the Year in the 2008 Technology Impact Awards put on by the BCTIA.

I’m happy to report that Absolute Software has been selected from the finalists as Company of the Year!! Congratulations to everyone at Absolute Software for this achievement!

For more information, read the Absolute Software press release.

Tags: absolute software, tia, award, bctia, bctia awards, technology, company, vancouver technology, company of the year

eWeek has published a slideshow of 10 Reasons Why Your Laptop is at Risk that include guidelines for preventing data loss, in every way from patching your system to common sense laptop practices.

The 10 reasons are:

1. Hard Drives Aren’t Encrypted
2. USB Drives Aren’t Glued Shut
3. Work-Home Lines are Crossed
4. End Users Aren’t Security-Aware
5. Physical Security Isn’t Implemented
6. The “Duh” Factor is Ignored
7. Systems Aren’t Labeled
8. The Eyes Don’t Have It
9. No-Jack
10. As the Worm Turns

The ninth item makes reference to Absolute Software’s Lojack for Laptops:

“Like Lojack for laptops, computer tracing programs can track and recover a lost or stolen laptop, and even render a laptop useless from afar.”

For more information on some of the more cryptic slide titles, check out the full slideshow here.

Tags: lojack for laptops, absolute software, laptop security

Absolute Software will be holding a 1 hour webinar on June 11th about Laptop Management and Data Breach Prevention. The webinar will present first-hand experiences of Allina Hospitals and Clinics, including a 75% recovery rate on its stolen computers. Computer Manufacturer Lenovo will also discuss best practices for managing laptops.

Learning outcomes include:

• Gaps in current notebook security programs
• The importance of remote data delete and theft recovery capabilities
• Common misconceptions about encryption on laptops
• How notebooks can be managed when off the LAN
• How Computrace works on Lenovo notebooks

To register for the webinar, go here

Tags: absolute software, laptop management, laptop security, computrace, health care industry, lenovo, allina

A friend of ours, Chris Pirillo, runs a live video stream fairly regularly. In a live streaming he did several months ago, he made mention of Computrace LoJack for Laptops, an Absolute Software laptop recovery service for consumers.

Absolute Software has won the 2008 CODiE award for “Best Data Security Solution” by the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA).

The CODiE Awards are issued yearly for excellence in software development and corporate achievement. The CODiE Awards program is the only peer-recognition awards program in the software and content industries, giving companies the opportunity to earn praise from their competitors.

The “Best Data Security Solution” award is selected from a wide range of security-related software solutions, including anti-virus products, firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection, etc. ComputraceComplete was selected from a group of six finalist software solutions to win this honor. For a full list of CODiE winners, go here.

To learn more about ComputraceComplete, Absolute Software’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for post-theft computer recovery, remote data delete and off-the-network IT asset management, go here.

Tags: absolute software, computrace, computrace complete, computracecomplete, codie award, codie awards, codie awards 2008, software awards, best data security solution, data security, it security, siia, software and information industry association

Absolute Software has been named a finalist for “Company of the Year” in the 2008 Technology Impact Awards.

The TIAs celebrate innovation and high-tech excellence within British Columbia, as hosted by the British Columbia Technology Industry Association (BCTIA). Awards are given in three groups: technology, company and personal recognition.

The three finalists for Company of the Year are:

• Absolute Software
• Gemcom Software
• Sierra Wireless

Congratulations to all the finalists for highlighting excellence in the BC technology sector!

The winners of the TIAs will be announced at an awards ceremony here in Vancouver on June 12th.

Tags: absolute software, tia, bctia, awards, company of the year, nomination, finalist, tias, bctia awards

Hardware Logic has done a very in-depth review of Computrace LoJack for Laptops, the consumer laptop security software offered by Absolute Software.

The review looked at the performance of an HP Pavillion laptop before, and then after, install of LoJack. They compared startup, shutdown, use of computer while gaming, and much more. The conclusion: LoJack has no discernible impact on system performance. Hardware Logic gives LoJack a stamp of approval and a strong recommendation for any laptop owner:

“It won’t prevent your laptop from theft, but it will do everything it can to get it back. From IP tracking to assisting local authorities with obtaining a search warrant, having LoJack on your side gives you a serious advantage over any unsuspecting crook. High tech thieves will find themselves at a disadvantage too, as LoJack is nearly undetectable and virtually impervious to most attempts at thwarting the software.”

LoJack for Laptops is considered by Hardware Logic as a “no-brainer” ending the review with “can you afford not to have LoJack on your side?”

A very good question indeed. You can learn more about LoJack for Laptops here, or alternatively corporate customers can upgrade to the compliance-level Computrace suite.

Tags: absolute software, lojack, lojack for laptops, computrace, computrace software, absolute software review, lojack for laptops review, computrace review, laptop security, laptop theft prevention