Absolute Software and Intel Collaborate on Anti-Theft Technologies

by , 12:55 PM EDT, April 9th, 2008

Absolute Software Corporation has announced that they are collaborating with Intel to integrate its Computrace asset management, data protection, and theft recovery technology and services into Intel's Anti-Theft Technology (ATT). The technology will be a key component of Intel's Anti-Theft Technology (ATT) to be delivered on the upcoming Centrino processor platform later this year.

Absolute is known for its Computrace LoJack for Laptop system, which is currently available and has been responsible for the recovery of over 6,000 stolen notebook computers, including Macs, since it debuted. Additional products in the Computrace family can add comprehensive laptop management features such as IT asset management, remote data delete and software license management.

"For more than a decade, Absolute Software has single-handedly created and developed the market for BIOS-persistent, Internet-based tracking of mobile computers. Computrace is also capable of remotely deleting data and physically recovering lost or stolen computers -- assisting customers in complying with data privacy regulations," said John Livingston, Chairman and CEO of Absolute Software.

The new relationship was recently announced by David Perlmutter, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Mobility Group during the company’s Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai, China and reported by TMO

TMO spoke with Mr. Livingston recently who explained that their Computrace LoJack for Laptop system is assisting in the recovery of about 80 stolen computers per week. Their experience shows that Apple MacBooks, because they are so attractive to thieves, account for a disproportionate number of thefts compared to the Macintosh market share. In addition, about two-thirds of notebook thefts are internal to an organization -- people who have access to other computers. Only about a third of thefts occur externally. However, that's still a substantial number since a notebook computer is stolen about once every minute. The MacBook Air is now high on the target list of thieves, he reported.

When a notebook is stolen, the Computrace software can not only remotely erase sensitive data, but by using various specialized techniques can also physically locate the stolen notebook in order to assist law enforcement officials. Various options are available to the customer.

The next generation system from Absolute Software will integrate more deeply, at the chip level with the new Intel CPUs that support the ATT technology initiative, according to Mr. Livingston. That will allow for even more sophisticated data security and computer recovery techniques.

Intel said it expects to deliver the full benefits of the new ATT technology in its new CPUs in Q4, 2008.