New product tracks stolen computers

May 2003 Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration Access Control & Identity Management

Local distributor Dexchange is offering PC PhoneHome and Mac PhoneHome, two inexpensive programs that monitor and track stolen computers anywhere in the world.

"Computer theft, particularly of Apple Macs and laptops, has reached epidemic proportions, costing governments, corporates, educational institutions, financial institutions and insurance companies millions," said Dexchange CEO, Mike Smith.

"Once installed, the PC PhoneHome program occupies very little space, and is virtually undetectable and ineradicable," said Smith. "Its sole task is to send a secret e-mail to a special operations room every time the computer boots up and connects to the Internet. These messages are ignored until the computer is reported as missing."

The next time the computer logs on and sends the e-mail, the operations centre locks on to it. The physical location can then be established, the premises visited by the South African Police Services, the hardware recovered, the thief arrested, and the forensic evidence gathered for successful prosecution of the thieves. A special team then undertakes the recovery, forensics and return of these items.

Although providing a satisfying conclusion to the theft of a computer, the real reason that organisations like NASA, Yale University and MIT have installed PC PhoneHome is the dramatic reduction in theft, according to Smith. Henrico County (Virginia, USA) issued 12 000 i-Books valued at $18 million for free use by public school pupils. Although a loss of $3 million was anticipated in the first year alone, the amount of actual thefts was zero. Thieves do not want to steal a guaranteed 'go to jail' card. Since its launch, 250 000 computers have had PC PhoneHome installed internationally and, of the few that have been stolen, 95% have been recovered, compared to the FBI's national recovery rate of 3%.

For more information contact Dexchange, 011 807 4902, www.dexchange.co.za

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