Recovery Stories at Some of the Largest Universities Across the U.S. Reinforce Need to Protect Laptops as Students Go Back to School
Vancouver, Canada: July 20, 2011 – Absolute® Software Corporation (“Absolute” or the “Company”) (TSX: ABT), the leading provider of endpoint security and management solutions that reduce IT costs, prove regulatory compliance, respond to computer theft, and optimize productivity, urges students to protect their laptops as they head back to school.
According to reports filed to Absolute’s Theft Recovery Team, college campuses have moved from fifth to third position as the most common locations for laptop theft*. In its most recent report, the U.S. Department of Education stated that more than 24,000 cases of burglary were reported on college campuses in 2009, with more than 12,000 occurring in residence halls alone.
Laptops are one of the most essential yet expensive tools that students need to complete college. With the majority of students now carrying laptops, campuses are prime locations for theft,” said Mark Grace, Vice President of Consumer Business, Absolute Software. “We have seen countless cases where students have lost midterm assignments or even an entire semester’s worth of work after their laptops were stolen. For any student going back to school, the best line of defense is not only to back up their work, but also theft recovery software like LoJack for Laptops and a little bit of common sense.”
Recently named Editors’ Choice by PC Magazine, LoJack for Laptops is must-have theft recovery software for college students. Once installed on a computer, its patented persistence technology allows owners to remotely locate and lock the stolen device, as well as delete important files to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. In addition, LoJack for Laptops is the only software available that is backed by a dedicated team of ex-law enforcement professionals. The Absolute Theft Recovery Team completely eliminates the need for laptop theft victims to take measures into their own hands, as they maintain relationships with more than 6,000 police departments around the world to return laptops safely to their rightful owners.
With LoJack for Laptops, Absolute has helped students across the country recover stolen computers and, in some cases, lead police to solving larger crimes involving dangerous criminals, making college communities safer. Recently, a laptop and other high-value items were stolen during a forced entry burglary in Columbus, Ohio, home to Ohio State University. The Absolute Theft Recovery Team used forensic technology to locate the laptop and the suspect, whom they identified to police. As a result, police recovered the laptop and other property belonging to the victim and arrested the suspect, who had a long and violent criminal history.
In another local case Absolute’s Theft Recovery Team sprang into action when a laptop was reported stolen and promptly provided information to the investigating officers. Using LoJack for Laptops’ advanced features, police found the victim’s laptop in a suspected crime den, along with guns, illegal drugs and more stolen property. Not only was the victim able to get back his laptop, he was also able to do so safely by allowing the experts to handle the criminal pursuit on his behalf.
With LoJack for Laptops, students have the peace of mind to know that laptops containing schoolwork, music, photos, and other important files are protected in case of theft. Absolute is offering a buy-one, get-one free discount** on standard and premium editions of LoJack for Laptops. For more information or to purchase LoJack for Laptops, please visit www.homeoffice.absolute.com.
* The top locations are based on theft reports filed to the Absolute Theft Recovery Team by Absolute customers from January – June 2011
** Limited time offer. Promotion expires on August 31, 2011.
How Computrace Technology Works
Computrace® and LoJack for Laptops are powered by the Absolute Software patented Computrace persistence technology. When embedded in the firmware of computers from leading computer manufacturers*, Computrace can survive operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging, helping to ensure that the service is there when you need it most. Whether a PC or Mac, the software is virtually undetectable and phones home to the Absolute Monitoring Center with location and asset information. If a computer is reported stolen, the Absolute Theft Recovery Team works on behalf of the customer to gather evidence from the computer to identify the thief’s location, and then works with local police to get the computer back. Customers can also remotely delete data to help keep it out of the hands of unauthorized users – a reliable contingency in case data protection solutions fail. Computrace or LoJack for Laptops can be easily activated by customers when they install a license ranging from 1-3 years.
*For a list of computers with firmware-embedded support, visit www.absolute.com.