Intel backs tracking software

Computer theft in US increasing says insurer

Intel has invested in Absolute Software, manufacturer of tracking software which locates lost or stolen PCs, writes John Geralds.

The privately held company has also received equity investments from two venture capital companies.

Absolute?s Computrace software is based on a software agent, installed on to the PC, which calls a monitoring centre at regular intervals.

When a computer is reported stolen or is disconnected from a telephone line and misses its scheduled call-in, a flag appears at the monitoring centre.

If the PC is re-connected to another line, the Computrace agent contacts the monitoring centre and the PC can be traced.

Absolute chief executive John Livingston said the company wants to make Computrace compliant with the Intel-authored common data security architecture.

Phil Wennblom, director of strategic marketing for Intel?s mobile and handheld group, said tracking systems can reduce the cost of ownership of mobile computers and make them more secure.

US-based insurer Safeware Insurance said that 65% of the total computer losses reported each year in the US were due to theft, with the laptop the most popular target. More than 100,000 desktop PCs and 300,000 laptops were stolen in the US in 199. Safeware said the rate is increasing.