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

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

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

CSO Online’s Michael Overly has a good article about businesses trusting their sensitive information to consultants, and what best practices to follow. The first guideline: do not let your consultant store any of the information on a laptop.

There are practical considerations that make it difficult to ban the use of laptops in all situations. Consultants may need to move from site to site easily, with constant access to the data. One solution is to provide laptops to the consultant yourself - that way you can be satisfied with the security systems in place. When that is cost prohibitive, here are some suggestions offered for a laptop security policy to enforce with contractors:

• WiFi access should be limited to approved secured means, and used only when necessary
• Hard disk must be encrypted
• All ports on laptops to be disabled
• Strong authentication required (e.g. biometric)
• Security software installed and kept up-to-date
• Secure and irreversible erasure of data to be enforced at end of data-use period
• Tracking software with remote data delete should be used (like Absolute Software’s Computrace products)
• Breach notification protocols should be in place in the event that the laptop goes missing

You can read more suggestions here.

Tags: breach, data breach, security, data security, laptop security, it security, business security, contractors, security policy

Absolute Software has announced some big news during the course of this week. In the first announcement, Absolute Software will be working with Qualcomm’s Gobi to provide increased security to enterprise customers in the mobile environment. In the second announcement, Absolute Software has paired with Intel to provide strong anti-theft technology for Centrino laptops.

Yesterday, Absolute Software announced at the CTIA Wireless Show in Las Vegas that they will be adapting Computrace to work with Qualcomm’s Gobi mobile Internet and GPS platform. This will allow for real-time communication between laptops and the asset management and security services in the Computrace suite. This would mean that IT audits and remote data delete commands can be carried out in real time, no matter where the laptop is. You can visit Absolute software at Qualcomm’s booth number 1948, Mobile Enterprise Partner Pod, during the CTIA Wireless Show on April 1, 2 & 3.

Announced today, Absolute Software and Intel are to collaborate to provide integrated anti-theft technology for next generation notebook computers. Absolute Software’s Computrace will be integrated into the Intel Anti-Theft Technology suite later this year. Absolute’s core expertise in IT asset management, data protection and computer theft recovery services will enhance a whole suite of new Intel Centrino laptops.

You can read more about these releases here:

• Absolute Software to Integrate Computrace with Qualcomm’s Gobi Global Mobile Internet Solution
• Absolute Software Announces Collaboration and Support for Intel® Anti-Theft Technology for Next Generation Notebooks

Tags: computrace, absolute software, intel, qualcomm, gobi, mobile internet, wireless, laptop security, data security, mobile security, notebook security, laptop recovery, anti theft, theft prevention, compliance

Absolute Software and McAfee have joined forces to collaborate on an interoperable risk management solution. This solution would integrate Absolute’s flagship theft recovery, remote data delete and IT asset management solution Computrace with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator.

Absolute Software has joined McAfee as a founding member of the McAfee Security Innovation Alliance, a technology partnering program that speeds the development of interoperable security products towards the “triple promise” of threat protection, risk reduction and compliance management.

The Alliance is taking a role in providing leading products to enterprise consumers in an integrated way - simplifying the complexity of the security environment. John Livingston, Chairman and CEO of Absolute Software, says:

“McAfee is taking a real leadership role in providing enterprise customers with integrated security and management capabilities. Integrating our products with the McAfee ePO management console provides customers with both secure and manageable solutions.”

The McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator allows for the ideal layered approach to computer security we’re always writing about. It will allow companies to access a single user interface to centrally-manage all of their security and compliance products from those ‘best of’ partners in the Alliance. Altogether, companies can access solid data breach protection by using Alliance products and the McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator.

You can read more from the news release here and more about the Alliance here.

Tags: mcafee, absolute, absolute software, security, it security, computer security, mcafee security innovation alliance, security products, technology, epolicy orchestrator, business security, enterprise security

On January 15th, Absolute Software announced that it has now recovered 5,000 stolen laptops on behalf of Computrace & Lojack customers.

Absolute Software works with law enforcement agencies to recover lost and stolen computers and to provide evidence for the prosecution of thieves. Recovering stolen computers is an important step in laptop and data security practices. Absolute Software has now returned 5000 stolen computers - that’s 5000 computers whose data has been secured, that don’t need to be replaced, and that help put laptop thieves behind bars.

Some statistics about laptop security:

• The theft rate of business computers is 3.5% - 5%. With Computrace, this drops to less than 0.5%
• 97% of stolen computers are never recovered
• Absolute Software recovers an average of 50 laptops per week
• Absolute Software recovers 3 out of 4 stolen computers

Read more from the news release here, including some new case studies.

Tags: absolute software, computrace, lojack, lojack for laptops, laptop security

Earlier we reported some of the interesting findings from the Absolute Software data security survey. The results showed that 62% of companies believe missing computers go unnoticed and 20% believe that breaches go unnoticed. We continue by looking at a smaller survey of 185 member companies of NetworkWorld’s Technology Opinion Panel. This survey indicates that companies are not well prepared to deter data breaches.

Key findings from the survey include:

• 81% of organizations ranked computer and data security as a high priority
• 53% of organizations do not have policies in place for transporting sensitive data
• 42% do not have data security policies which include mobile computing devices
• For those companies with data security policies, only one out of 100 (1%) employees are thought to adhere consistently to these policies
• 27% of companies have suffered a data breach at an average cost of $137,000
• 55% of companies have experienced laptop theft
• 33% of IT managers believe that data breaches and computer thefts have occurred and gone undetected

The survey results solidify the importance of training in IT security, and that a security policy should more fully address the issues of mobile computing. Such a comprehensive security policy would include a way to supplement employee training by providing protection for all computers in the form of encryption and theft recovery software.

Tags: data security, absolute software, it security, busienss security, laptop theft, mobile security, security policy