Intel vPro Expert Center Blog

When your laptop computer is lost or stolen...

richard_medugno@phoenix.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:36:59 GMT

1) It’s a major headache to replace the content;
2) It’s costly to replace the laptop;
3) It invites the misuse of the sensitive data files you have stored on it;
4) It opens the door to the potentially bigger problems of data loss and identity theft.

Unfortunately, it’s a growing reality for hundreds of thousands of consumers, as between 600,000 and 1.5 million laptops are stolen or lost each year in the U.S. alone. Clearly, it’s foolish for business and consumers to ignore this increasing threat and not have computer security software and anti-theft products, with the idea that it only happens to other people.

I recalled from this past spring that Intel and Ponemon Institute released a study about the cost to businesses of a lost or stolen laptop:

"A recent study commissioned by Intel and conducted by the Ponemon Institute shows that a lost or stolen laptop is worth far more than just the hardware. When everything is taken into account, such losses cost a company as much as $115,000 and an average of $49,000.

The study analyzed 138 cases of lost and stolen notebooks. The average cost of $49,246 was based on costs associated with much more than just hardware and software replacement: detection and escalation, forensics and investigation, data breach, lost intellectual property, lost productivity, and other legal or regulatory costs. The study notes that the highest cost components are data breach and intellectual property loss..."

Wondering how much costs could be reduced if lost or stolen laptops had a security product like Phoenix Technologies' FailSafe™ [http://www.failsafe.com] - a theft-deterrence product that helps "protect, track, and manage lost or stolen laptops" using a BIOS embedded, tamper-resistant tracking agent.

Videos showcasing how Intel® Anti-Theft Technology works

justin.van.buren@intel.com — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:50:13 GMT

Last month, Intel introduced Intel® Anti-Theft Technology with support from Lenovo and Absolute Software.

There are various use models that this new technology enables, such as:

The ability to disable a lost notebook PC and the data on the hard drive even if it never connects to the network (based on IT policy)
The ability to send a "poison pill" so that the notebook PC is disabled, along with the data on the hard drive, if the notebook PC is connected to the internet
The ability to re-activate the notebook PC if it is found again

Watch the following Intel Anti-Theft Technology demo with Intel executives Dadi Perlmutter and Pat Gelsinger from Fall IDF 2008 and learn more about how this new technology helps with theft deterrance.

For a more in-depth demonstration of Intel Anti-Theft Technology with Absolute Software, watch the following video:

Listen to industry analysts discuss benefits of Intel Anti-Theft Technology and why this technology is an important milestone that will help with notebook PC theft deterrence in the future.

Listen to a Lenovo executive discuss the benefits that Intel Anti-Theft Technology will bring to Lenovo based notebook PCs.

Listen to Absolute executives discuss how they are taking advantage of Intel Anti-Theft Technology in their software and services.

Last, listen to Intel's Anand Pashupathy, George Thangadurai and Duncan Glendinning comment on the benefits of the new technology.

Another Add, here's Josh Hilliker talking about Anti-Theft Technology @ the beach.

Ever lost a laptop in the taxi, at the cafe or in the hotel lobby?

justin.van.buren@intel.com — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:25:34 GMT

I'm sure we've all either experienced or had a close encounter with a notebook nightmare (which is when you lose a laptop with some very valuable data on it). Well, with the release of Intel Anti-Theft Technology (go to the Intel vPro expert center to learn more about this new technology) - Intel wants to help consumers and professionals not have to worry about that data seeing the light of day in the wrong hands.

To see how notebook nightmares in the future may change, see the videos below:

In the taxi

At the cafe

In the hotel lobby

Is Intel a security company?

justin.van.buren@intel.com — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:54:36 GMT