Stolen laptops can be a security nightmare for any one person, but when a laptop with corporate information is stolen, it can affect many people and be much more costly. But now Fujitsu and wireless provider Willcom have created a “kill switch” that can be activated by remote and will instantly make sure your data is unreadable and unrecoverable—even if the laptop has been turned off or the battery has been depleted.
The kill switch offers protection of your data in two ways. First, although the data itself will not be deleted, Fujitsu plans to allow remote deletion of the encryption key that allows access to the hard drive; rendering the data unreadable and recoverable. (I’m guessing this may be useful if you get your laptop back.) The second line of protection is a function that prevents them from being booted up. They won’t even be able to use the Speedplexer you downloaded to your desktop to check the internet speed. Fujitsu plans to begin offering this technology in Japan first, beginning in the third quarter of 2009.
Read Write Web explains that lost and stolen machines are one of the most common ways that corporate data is compromised. They cite a recent report by the Ponemon Institute that claims it costs companies an average of $49,246 when a laptop is lost or stolen. If the discovery is made on the same day, the average cost is $8,950; if it takes more than a week to discover the loss, the average cost rises to approximately $115,849.
Hopefully, this will make thieves decide it isn’t worth their time to bother stealing laptops!