The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Study Shows 12,000+ Laptops Lost at Airports Each Week

Study Shows 12,000+ Laptops Lost at Airports Each Week

by , 2:45 PM EDT, July 1st, 2008

A survey by the Ponemon Institute revealed that about 637,000 notebook computers are lost at airports each year, over 12,000 per week, according to Computerworld on Tuesday.

Of those, over 10,000 notebook computers are reported lost at 36 of the largest U.S. airports. Reasons for losing the computer include outright theft, having left the computer somewhere it shouldn't be, or leaving them behind at the security checkpoint, something can be particularly distracting.

Roughly 65 percent of those notebook computers lost at the largest airports are never reclaimed, and the vast majority report that they believe they have no hope of recovering their lost computer.

One valuable tool for frequent travelers with computers, including Macs, is Absolute Software's Computrace LoJack system which has the ability to both remote wipe a lost computer and physically locate it.

The report, commissioned by Dell, also said that many people are ashamed of reporting lost laptops. That may be understandable for individuals, but more and more corporations and government agencies are requiring the hard disk of notebooks computers to be encrypted and losses immediately reported.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: NOT!

Even the commenters on the Computerworld article don't believe this "survey". Are they still waiting to be claimed? Where are they all stored? The Pokemon institute?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Great ... if you own a Dell

Isn't this Mac Observer? What is with the Dell news?

I looked around and found software similar for Macs called GadgetTrak:

http://www.gadgettrak.com/products/verey/

Looks pretty cool even uses the camera to capture video of the thief. I just wish they had a free trial.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: "Commissioned by Dell"

AKA paid advertising by Dell and Absolute Software to scare you into buying their spyware.

Close Name:geoduck Posts: 1922 Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Subject:

Quote
also said that many people are ashamed of reporting lost laptops

If there were noting else that would make me doubt the report, this would. My Powerbook would cost $2000 to replace. You can be bloody well sure I would report it wandering off. Heck if I lost a $300 Asus laptop I would raise a stink.

The idea that many people would accept this kind of loss out of embarrassment is unfathomable to me.

Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated July 6th

Mon, 5:50 PM
News - Counter-Rumor: Nvidia & Apple Doing “Just Fine”
5:28 PM
News - Arlington Police Release Video of Apple Store Shooter
4:40 PM
Deal Brothers - Apple Mac Pro 2.66GHz Intel Xeon Quad Core for $2,274.00 Delivered A/R
4:12 PM
Product News - Babylon Upgrade Adds New Translation Features to Mac Dictionary App
11:17 AM
Ted Landau's User Friendly View - Apple’s LED Cinema Display: A Too Short Story
11:11 AM
Product News - Photo Recovery for Mac Adds Photoshop Support
10:39 AM
Hot Forum Topic - iPhones in Education
8:47 AM
News - Apple Employee Injured in Store Shooting
Fri, 10:29 AM
News - Apple Warns of Learning Interchange Security Breach
7:30 AM
News - Happy Fourth of July!
Thu, 6:07 PM
TMO Scoop - Psystar Moves to Drop Bankruptcy Ahead of Apple Legal Battle
5:37 PM
News - Uncomfirmed Reports Say Apple & Nvidia On The Outs

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
  • OWC: OWC Mercury On-The-Go FW400/800/USB2/eSATA Portables. High Performance A/V Rated. Bus Powered. Up to 500GB in the Palm of your Hand. Macworld Editor's Choice. CNET 'Very Good.' From $75.99!
  • Poker Mac If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Full Tilt Poker for Mac. This Full Tilt Poker bonus code does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!
  • RamJet Memory: MacBook and MacBook Pro 4GB kits for $57.99! Mac Pro 4GB Kits $99.99! iMac and Mac mini 4GB Kits for $57.99! 1TB SATA Hard Drives for $109.99! Click here
  • For the latest Apple products use Ciao, a price comparison website, to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate mobile phones like the Apple iPhone.

  • Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!