System will prevent access to a computer via text message and allow GPS location of stolen laptops

System will prevent access to a computer via text message and allow GPS location of stolen laptops

Anyone who travels a lot with their notebook runs a much greater risk of having it lost or stolen. Having a notebook lost or stolen is bad for many reasons; the least of which could be that you have to buy a new notebook; the worst could be if sensitive personal or business data was used for nefarious purposes.

Ericsson and Intel have announced that they are collaborating to help prevent the theft of notebooks with a system called Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection Technology. The technology promises to provide reliable anti-theft technology for notebooks equipped with mobile broadband. The collaboration includes technology that is intended to help the person or authorities find the notebook when lost or stolen while preventing system access to anyone other than the rightful owner.

The Intel and Ericsson technology allows notebook owners to send a message via SMS text message to the mobile broadband equipped notebook to lock the computer and render it unusable. This portion of the system is virtually identical to a system introduced by Lenovo in November where a text message to a mobile broadband equipped notebook would lock it down, preventing use by unauthorized persons.

That is where the similarities end though, Intel and Ericsson go a step further and utilize GPS technology to actually help authorities find the lost computer by providing the GPS location of the system. The technology also allows for automatic theft reporting if the notebook moves outside a pre-defined area. Once the loss or theft of the notebook is detected, the theft protection system locks the boot process and deletes the keys needed to decrypt encrypted files.

George Thangaduri, director of Intel's Strategy and Platform Planning Group said in a statement, "We have entered a new era for security for the on-the-go businessperson in which losing a notebook or having it stolen can have disastrous implications. Intel's Anti-Theft PC Protection technology takes notebook security to a new level, making notebook theft for profit an exercise in futility and with third-party software help secure data. By teaming with Ericsson, we are extending the benefits of Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection to those who use mobile broadband networks."

Another interesting security feature that the system will support is a timer to lock out the computer after unsuccessful attempt to log-in and the system can be locked if it doesn’t connect to a central server within a specified period of time. To unlock the computer once recovered, a text message can be sent and the data on the system will be accessible again.

Intel will be validating Ericsson Mobile Broadband Modules to specifically work with the Anti-theft PC Protection Technology and notes that the Ericsson modules are already optimized to work with Intel platforms like Centrino 2. Intel expects to have the security solution available on notebooks starting in the second half of 2009.

Mats Norin, Vice President and head of Mobile Broadband Modules at Ericsson said, "We share a common vision with Intel about offering consumers and enterprise users a secure mobile broadband experience for their notebooks. We are committed to work with industry leaders to shape a complete, end-to-end solution to drive increased mobile broadband adoption."