Personal Security and Identity Theft Expert Cites Rising Tide of Targeted Mobile Computer Thefts as Grounds for Equipping Laptops with GPS Tracking
According to Robert Siciliano, a personal security and identity theft expert, organizations whose proprietary and sensitive data reside on laptop computers should install GPS technology on them.

/Computer Trades News Articles/ - BOSTON, MA, December 09, 2006 - (IDTheftSecurity.com) Laptop thefts in the news have again underscored the need to strengthen mobile computing security. According to Robert Siciliano, a personal security and identity theft expert, organizations whose proprietary and sensitive data reside on laptop computers should install on these machines affordable antitheft safeguards such as Internet-based GPS tracking, encryption technology, and systems to remotely retrieve and delete data.

Siciliano, president of IDTheftSecurity.com, provides consumer education solutions to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. The Privacy Learning Institute has featured him on its Web site. This year, Siciliano has discussed identity theft on CNBC's "On the Money" multiple times, on NBC's "Today Show," and on FOX News. He is author of "The Safety Minute: 01."

"A laptop computer is a potentially lucrative acquisition for any thief," said Siciliano. "In some cases they're seeking these machines because they're determined to obtain identifiable information that facilitates identity theft, account takeover, or medical fraud. Owners need to be aware of the information on their laptops and its worth to criminals."

New thefts and insights into their origins continued to show that the incidence of laptop computer theft is widespread and set to grow.

• On Nov. 22 an article at FCW.com reported that the theft of two laptop computers belonging to the Florida Transportation Department's Office of the Inspector General led authorities to an individual allegedly connected to a small theft ring. These thieves, according to the article, were loading new operating systems onto stolen laptops for the purposes of reselling the machines to youngsters.

• On Nov. 28 TheDenverChannel.com reported that thieves had stolen a laptop computer belonging to Kaiser Permanente (the company had entrusted it to an employee). According to the article, the data breach prompted Kaiser to notify thousands of members that their personal information had possibly been compromised.

According to Symantec, a laptop computer is stolen every 53 seconds, and 97 percent of these machines lost to theft are never recovered. And research from Gartner Group has shown that the financial price tag of laptop computer theft can exceed $6,000 for even just one machine.

Siciliano steered users of laptops toward MyLaptopGPS, a company that offers Internet-based GPS tracking and encryption technology as security for mobile computers. On Nov. 27, consumeraffairs.com reported on MyLaptopGPS. Internet-based GPS, the technology MyLaptopGPS uses, is more affordable and user-friendly than other types of GPS tracking and effectively tracks lost machines.

"Mobile computing devices are enticing to criminals because one briefly unattended machine sitting on a coffee table in an Internet caf may contain data worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to a savvy criminal," said Dan Yost, chief technology officer at MyLaptopGPS. "But MyLaptopGPS is easy to implement and will stop thieves before they can do their damage. Smart organizations recognize this and equip their laptop computers accordingly."

MyLaptopGPS not only tracks lost laptops with Internet-based GPS, but also encrypts and silently removes and retrieves files from the machines—at once returning the data to its rightful owner and deleting it on the stolen computer. Users can invoke MyLaptopGPS's functions remotely.

"Medical information can be prime fodder for thieves," Siciliano concluded, "and we have already seen that gangs prize laptop computers and will organize elaborate systems to acquire them. There is a solution. Anyone who owns a laptop computer can easily equip the machine with GPS and other safeguards that keep data out of thieves' hands and track and recover the stolen machine."

Press Release Contact Information:

Robert Siciliano
IDTheftSecurity.com
President
P.O. Box 15145
Boston, MA
United States 02215
Voice: 888-742-4542
Fax: 877-232-9669
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