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Absolute Software Helps Educators Across the Nation Fight Computer Crime
Monday, March 19, 2007
Vancouver, WA -- Absolute® Software Corporation ("Absolute") (TSX: ABT), the makers of Computrace and leading provider of firmware-based, patented Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking solutions, has compiled a list of some of its most interesting laptop computer theft recoveries in education since embedding its solution in the BIOS of major OEM laptops, including Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo and Panasonic. Absolute's suite of software solutions includes computrace® Complete™, Computrace® Data Protection™ and Computrace® LoJack® for Laptops™, its consumer theft recovery solution.
When a Computrace-equipped computer is reported stolen, the embedded Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute's Monitoring Center providing critical location information. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to recover the computer, including, if necessary, assisting with subpoenas to ISPs and search warrant applications. The stealthy Computrace software agent can survive accidental or deliberate attempts to be removed or disabled. Embedded in the BIOS firmware of a laptop, the Computrace agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.
Below are some of Absolute's more intriguing recovery stories from the last twelve months:
In southern California, 13 computers were stolen from the computer department of a private school in September 2006. When one of the computers appeared online, alerting Absolute Software's Theft Recovery Team to its precise location, the trail led police to a treasure trove of stolen goods. Police recovered all 13 of the stolen laptops, as well as 26 other stolen computers, including G-5 Macintosh towers, plasma televisions and other stolen electronics valued at over $100,000.
Computrace Brings Dorm Room Bandit to Justice at a university in Connecticut, a rash of thefts from dorm rooms in February 2007 resulted in numerous computers, purses and other valuable items being stolen. Within a few days of the thefts, one of the stolen computers began reporting its location over the internet to Absolute Software's Theft Recovery Team, who engaged with local law enforcement. Police visited the address and questioned a woman who eventually relinquished it but insisted she had purchased the 'used' device on the street from an unknown person. Her story was plausible enough - until later that day, when another of the stolen computers appeared online at the exact same address. The individual had simply plugged in another of the allegedly stolen computers after the police left and continued to surf the internet. The home promptly received a return visit from the police, and three more computers were seized from the premises, along with purses, wallets and other valuables allegedly stolen from the dorm rooms that weekend. Charges have been filed, and the investigation continues.
Computrace Gangs Up on Known Criminals In New York state, a laptop cart containing approximately 20 computers was stolen from an elementary school in November 2006. Computrace tracked the computers and provided law enforcement with critical location and user information, enabling detectives to discover that the stolen goods were allegedly in the hands of gang members known to police. The majority of the computers have been recovered so far, and police are confident they will be able to recover the remaining machines very shortly. The investigation also turned up handguns, narcotics and counterfeit cash. Numerous charges are pending.
Computrace Delivers Security Guard to Police when a brand new laptop computer failed to arrive as part of a delivery at the shipping department of a university in California last summer, the computer was eventually reported stolen to Absolute Software - but not until five months after the fact. With most crimes, a delay like this could have made the case virtually impossible to solve. But within weeks after the laptop was reported stolen, Absolute's Computrace computer theft recovery software had pinpointed the precise location of the computer, enabling local law enforcement to not only recover the computer in question, but also recover other stolen goods as well. A security guard responsible for receiving deliveries at the university is under investigation.
Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in Computer
Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset tracking™ solutions. Absolute Software provides organizations and consumers with solutions in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection and theft recovery. The Company's Computrace® software is embedded in the BIOS of computers by global leaders, including Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo and Panasonic, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple and Toshiba. For more information about Absolute Software and Computrace, visit http://www.absolute.com.
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