System tracks stolen computers

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Oct 16, 2007

Phoenix FailSafe allows users to track, control and recover lost or stolen mobile PCs.

Phoenix Technologies has released Phoenix FailSafe for mobile PCs.

With FailSafe, Phoenix PC OEM partners can embed a command and control system into the PC core firmware to track, control and recover lost or stolen mobile PCs.

Users can encrypt, lock and even destroy data on lost laptops to protect sensitive or private information.

Information on the laptop can also be encrypted to prevent data theft resulting from stolen laptops.

As a result, consumers, small business owners and IT managers can remotely manage mobile PCs, much like mobile phones are managed, through an intuitive web interface.

"According to the FBI, fewer than 5% of stolen laptops are ever recovered, which is why the embedded protection of Phoenix FailSafe is so critical", said Woody Hobbs, President and CEO of Phoenix Technologies.

"FailSafe allows PC OEMs to offer a premium service for their consumers and small business customers, solving a critical business problem, while gaining a recurring revenue stream that will last long after the original sale of the mobile PC".

"Intel is very focused on making mobile computing secure", said Mooly Eden, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms Group.

"We have already enabled mobile data protection solutions with leading data encryption software vendors today and will in future further harden it with Danbury, a hardware-based disk encryption".

"Phoenix FailSafe furthers our objectives by adding laptop tracking and theft management features that offer consumers a way to achieve increased asset security and control".

"This will enable owners to remotely locate and control lost or stolen laptops".

Phoenix FailSafe delivers a range of theft-loss prevention and protection features.

It prevents identity theft through the ability to protect, locate and potentially retrieve lost or stolen PCs, remotely retrieve critical data, permanently erase sensitive personal or business information and even lock or completely disable the computer remotely.

Because FailSafe is embedded into the core firmware layer, it cannot be deleted or disabled through the operating system, ensuring its data encryption and remote management protection is constantly available and functioning.