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Police warn against 'Fresher Theft' at University

~ young people three times more likely to be victims of theft whilst at University ~

October 07, 2009

Today's students gear up for back-to-school season by stocking up on expensive technology, from MP3 players to laptops. However, most students are unaware that dorm rooms and schools are some of the most dangerous places to store precious electronic equipment.

Dormitories and lecture theatres are among the top five places from which laptops are most likely to be stolen, reports Absolute Software, a firm specialising in computer theft recovery, data protection and IT asset tracking.

Hertfordshire Constabulary partners with Absolute Software to help students protect their property in the region’s Universities. According to the Force, students aged 16 – 24 are three times more likely to be victims of burglary whilst at University.

According to Skinner, it's not just the hardware costs that students need to be concerned about. Since these devices are often used for school work and personal computing, as well as entertainment, losing a laptop can negatively impact academic performance or put a student at risk of identity theft. Students need to know how to protect themselves.

Computers now play multiple roles in students' lives – notebook, library, photo album, stereo, television and telephone. Most laptops also serve as a primary means of communication for students with faculty, family and friends through email, instant messaging and social networking sites. Protecting a computer is part common sense, part hardware and part software.

Absolute Software has offered these tips to students:

1) Use visual deterrents. Although they can be ripped off the plastic exterior of a laptop with a strong tug, a cable lock or other locking mechanism forces some criminals to think twice before taking the risk.

2) Avoid leaving unsecured laptops unattended. Lock them in cabinets, safes or other secure facilities when not in use. If they must be left in a vehicle, lock in them in the boot prior to arriving at the destination.

3) Use computer tracking and recovery software. Install a computer tracking and recovery solution such as Computrace LoJack for Laptops (http://www.absolute.com/lojack) to track and recover a computer that is stolen. Computrace LoJack for Laptops offers remote data deletion capabilities, which significantly reduces the risk of identity theft if your laptop is stolen.

4) Keep laptops inconspicuous. Laptops should always be carried in inconspicuous carrying cases, such as backpacks or tote bags, instead of tell-tale laptop bags.

5) Use complex passwords and change them regularly. Don't use simple passwords that can be guessed easily. Always use a combination of numbers and letters and never leave your password in obvious places on or near the computer.

6) Use anti-virus software, encryption solutions, anti-spyware and firewalls. Prevent unauthorised access and spyware from invading your computer and protect valuable information with data encryption software. Make sure your systems are properly installed and kept up-to-date.

7) Back up valuable data on a scheduled basis. Data backup needs to happen as frequently as possible to minimise the risk in the event of theft or loss. The information or ‘knowledge’ that is stored on the computer is often more valuable than the computer itself.

8) Understand the dangers of pirated software and file sharing. Both piracy and over-deployment of purchased licenses can lead to significant lawsuits or other financial penalties. Not only is it illegal, but pirated software can increase susceptibility to viruses, Trojans and other attacks.

9) Check your insurance policy. In the event of a loss, some homeowner's insurance policies will cover computers that are taken outside the home. If you are in a dormitory, renters insurance may be in order.

Executive quote

"Students have a false sense of security on campus," said Derek Skinner, theft recovery services manager at Absolute Software. "Many students are bringing thousands of pounds worth of electronic equipment into their halls of residence with little to no security precautions. It's just open season for criminals."

About the company

About Absolute Software
Absolute Software is the leader in computer theft recovery, data protection and secure IT asset management solutions. Absolute Software provides organisations and consumers with solutions in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection and theft recovery. The Company's Computrace One product works by providing a multi-layered security solution. It enables hardware assets to be automatically tracked and better managed for business, education and government. If the computer is stolen, Absolute works with local police to track and recover it. With Computrace® LoJack® for Laptops™ solutions, small businesses and individuals can protect their computing devices and the data on them.

The Computrace Software Agent that powers Absolute’s solutions is embedded in the firmware of computers from the world’s leading computer manufacturers right at the factory or it can be easily installed by the customer.* The Agent is activated by customers when they purchase a subscription with terms ranging from one to four years.

The Agent regularly contacts the Absolute Monitoring Center – sending IT asset management information to the Absolute Customer Center. Customers log in to the Absolute Customer Center portal to access that information, manage their IT asset population, run reports, and remotely delete data.

If a customer reports a computer as stolen, the Absolute Theft Recovery Team will forensically mine it using procedures, such as key captures, registry scanning, file scanning, and other investigative techniques, to determine who has the computer and how it is being used. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to help recover the computer. Embedded in the firmware of a computer, the stealthy Computrace Agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.
Major computer manufacturers such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Fujitsu, MPC and Panasonic have embedded the Computrace Agent in the BIOS or firmware of their computers, to prevent Computrace One from being removed by unauthorised users.
* For a complete list of firmware-supported computers visit www.absolute.com/firmware

Contact details

Absolutesoftwareuk@lewispr.com
+4 (0)117 315 8584

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Police warn against 'Fresher Theft' at University

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