Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Absolute Software co-hosts free webinar on how one K-12 school district
simplified IT asset management and reduced computer loss by 95%

Join Absolute for a FREE webinar on October 27, 2009 featuring the first-hand laptop management and theft deterrence experiences of one of the largest school systems in the U.S., Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS).

Schools with computing programs need to combat computer theft or loss, comply with regulations, and find ways to efficiently and easily track and maintain a large fleet of computers. Learn why PGCPS chose to implement state-of-the-art laptop management technology and outsource key operations to Absolute Software professional services – in order to reduce costs.

When: Tuesday, October 27, 2009; 2:00pm ET/ 11:00 am PT; 60 minutes

What: Learn how PCGPS:

• Increased use of laptops in the classroom, benefiting teachers, students, and the community
• Implemented a paperless, more efficient asset tracking system, allowing IT techs to see the location of over 40,000 laptops, desktops and mobile computers county-wide
• Saved over $47,000 annually on teacher laptop hand-out/take-back tasks, representing a 30% increase in efficiency
• Reduced computer losses by approximately 95% per year, saving an estimated $93,000 in capital expenses

Who: This webinar will feature

• Chantelle Folkes, Network Engineer, Prince George County Public Schools
• Richard Fuhr, Director of Professional Services, Absolute Software

>>Register Now

Several rooms were missing items after a late-night college dorm party. Culprits removed wallets, money, credits cards, and other shiny and heavy things – including the laptop of a Computrace LoJack for Laptops customer.

Upon receiving the theft report, Absolute began to forensically mine the stolen computer for evidence. The Absolute Theft Recovery Team located the machine in a nearby neighborhood, and was able to police with the information necessary to obtain a search warrant.

A search of the residence resulted in the laptop’s recovery, along with the discovery of several other stolen items. Further investigation determined that two individuals were responsible for the theft: a young man, and his 17 year old cousin – who was enrolled to attend the victim college that fall.

The customer has been reunited with his laptop and both suspects face criminal charges.

In a somewhat unusual recovery, the Absolute Theft Recovery Team recently received a call from a man who had purchased a laptop from an unknown seller and had suspected that the computer was equipped with Computrace LoJack for Laptops. Suspecting that he had acquired a stolen good, the man contacted Absolute to help him track down the computer’s rightful owner.

Absolute quickly identified and contacted the laptop’s original owner, and confirmed that the computer had in fact been missing for a few weeks. Believing that the laptop was at a friend’s home, however, the owner did not report the computer stolen. 

In one of Absolute’s more simple recoveries, the laptop’s current user was put in touch with the original owner. The user arranged a meeting, and within days, had safely returned the laptop to the owner’s hands, with no further incident. 

Thanks to a savvy, good samaritan and a little help from Absolute, another stolen laptop has been successfully recovered.

A LoJack for Laptops customer recently had his beloved laptop stolen after a vehicle break-in. He has shared his recovery story below:

On March 13th, I was on my way to work and found the back window of my Silverado broken and my LoJack for Laptops equipped Dell – along with my camera and iPod – missing. I immediately called the police and then Absolute Software to report the theft.

On March 25th, I got call informing me that Absolute had successfully led police to my laptop, and that it had been recovered from the suspect identified by the Absolute Theft Recovery Team. Police said that the suspect claimed to have purchased the laptop “on the open market”, and no charges were being filed until further investigation.

Upon receiving my laptop back, I was searching my browsing history and found that a past user had gone onto a manufacturer’s website for camera accessories – accessories for the very brand of camera that had been stolen from my truck. It just so happens that very few cameras of that make and model were sold in our area. I called the detective in charge of the case and informed him of this. He called the suspect and was given a line about checking out camera accessories for his sister. This afternoon, he called to inform me that he had recovered my camera along with many other stolen items, and that the suspect was in custody.

This would have never been possible without LoJack for Laptops protection. My first laptop was stolen and never recovered – it did not have LoJack for Laptops installed. Now I have my stolen laptop back and will never own another laptop without LoJack for Laptops.

Joe Stewart
Austin, Tx

A flight attendant placed her laptop on her seat while she welcomed oncoming passengers of a soon-to-be-departing plane. When she returned to her seat 20 minutes later, the laptop was gone. With several passengers entering, along with a number of contractors onboard to prepare the plane for departure, identifying the culprit seemed hopeless. Despite several checks with the airport’s lost and found, her computer could not be located. Luckily, the laptop was equipped with LoJack for Laptops, so the flight attendant turned to Absolute for help.

The Absolute Recovery Team was able to quickly provide area police with information on laptop’s unauthorized user. Police were then able to positively match this name with that of a contractor employee who had been working at the same airport and had serviced the plane from which the laptop was stolen. Through the course of the investigation, the employee could not be reached as she was home on sick leave.  While home, however, she continued to use the stolen laptop, providing Absolute and police with additional evidence.

When the employee finally returned to work, police questioned her on the laptop’s disappearance. When confronted with the evidence Absolute had provided, she made full admission to the laptop theft. After handing the computer over to police, was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. The contractor was promptly fired from her position at the airport, and the flight attendant has happily reclaimed her laptop.

Learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery process.

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused, in all cases, are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

CNBC’s Carmen Wong Ulrich highlighted LoJack for Laptops in her Consumer Alert. The segment features a recovery that involved three Tampa Airport baggage handlers. And security expert Jim Stickley talks about additional measures you can take to secure your laptop and the data on it.

Go to the Consumer Alert video

Absolute Software has released another segment in its “An Absolute Minute” radio series. This segment outlines top tips for laptop security from Absolute CEO John Livingston.

“Anyone who owns a laptop today needs to be concerned with its security. Fortunately, we can all apply a few simple guidelines to significantly decrease our vulnerability”

You can listen to this segment here, as well as past segments on privacy, identity theft, and tales of the missing laptop.

Tags: absolute software, absolute, laptop security

January 1 2008, a new identity theft law (SB 583) went into effect in the state of Oregon. The new regulation requires that Oregon businesses and agencies have a data protection plan in place.

The law requires that ‘reasonable safeguards‘ be maintained including the implementation of a security program, risk assessment, data monitoring, and data disposal. The law also has requirements for data breach notification.

There is still a significant push for the House of Representatives to adopt more stringent National security standards. Such a standard would provide consistent rules for businesses in all states to follow and provide greater identity theft protection.

For now, 37 states (including Oregon) have individual laws on data security and data breach notification in order to address the growing issue of identity theft.

For more on the Oregon identity theft law, visit the Oregon.gov website.

Via Statesman Journal Tags: oregon, identity theft, id theft, law, legislation, data breach, data protection

A new survey from iBahn, a provider of secure broadband services for hotels & conference centers, shows that travelers who carry sensitive information carry more than half a million dollars worth of data.

The survey, of 491 laptop or PDA business users, found that most travelers do not carry information of sensitive value on their laptops. However, those that do carry valuable information store an average of $525,000 worth of data.

Highlights from the survey:

• The average value of personal information on a laptop is $330,000
• 39% of respondents have experienced some form of malware, virus or theft
• 32% of respondents rate their travel WiFi connections as somewhat or highly secure

The survey indicates that business travelers who have sensitive information on their laptops or PDAs are putting said data at risk. Though the survey does not include information about how the data devices are secured, the fact that so many laptop computers with sensitive information are connecting to insecure WiFi networks is a serious security issue.

Via NetworkWorld, CIO.com Tags: laptop security, data security, private data, sensitive data, data breach, business travel

Absolute Software announced today that it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This is the highest level of Microsoft partner certification.

Gold Certified Partners meet Microsoft’s highest standards of technology experience. The program rewards the impact that technology partners have in the marketplace.

“The Microsoft Partner Program brings together technology providers who are passionate about making an impact on the Canadian economy,” said Lora Gernon, Director, Partner Group, Microsoft Canada Co. “Absolute Software, who has achieved Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status, demonstrates commitment to growing Canada’s technology industry by focusing on excellence in the IT security industry.”

The Certification solidifies Absolute’s dedication to security software and opens new opportunities to better network with Microsoft’s extensive Partner network.

Read the announcement here.

Tags: microsoft, gold certified, absolute, absolute software, security, security software