Re: Laptop

[Sherry Callahan <scallahan () KUMC EDU>]

It starts with the IP address that the laptop checks in with.  Absolute
then (with your written approval) can also active a 'remote view'
function where they view the remote desktop, activate an o-board camera,
etc.  That usually gives some clue about the identity of the thief or
person who currently has it.  Absolute then works closely with law
enforcement both locally and in the location where the laptop is to
recover it.  Obviously, its up to law enforcement to get the appropriate
warrants and do the leg work.


Sherry Callahan
Director, Information Security
The University of Kansas Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd, MS 3024
Kansas City,  Kansas 66160
913-588-0966

> > > Kevin Shalla <kshalla () UIC EDU> 6/12/2008 1:12 PM >>>
Computrace sounds like a very interesting product.  I'm curious about
how you get the machine back.  I can understand how Computrace would
be able to locate to some degree where a machine is (just based on
the IP address), but does it have a GPS or something else to actually
get a physical location?  Does the police then seize the computer
(and hopefully the criminal also)?

At 12:20 PM 6/12/2008, Sherry Callahan wrote:
> Safeboot (now called McAfee Endpoint Encryption) is also working on
> Mac encryption, with an availability timeframe of 1Q09.
>
> We've been rolling out Safeboot to staff and faculty laptops that
> were reported as being used to store or access sensitive information
> since early 2007. Very recently, we announced that we are going to
> expand the program to include all University-owned laptops (personal
> laptops are prohibited from use with sensitive info by policy.)  The
> only exception to the personal device rule is that we will be
> encrypting the student-owned tablets that they are required to
> purchase, as they will be using those during clinic rotations.  When
> all is said and done in September, we'll have 1300+ encrypted
laptops.
> We also install Computrace on every laptop and have been very
> successful in working with them to recover stolen laptops.  As one
> previous poster mentioned, we've also worked with Absolute to
> recover another University's laptop that showed up on our
> network.  One thing to know is that having CompuTrace in the BIOS is
> what makes it persistent and able to survive a hard drive reformat,
> repartition, or drive replacement.  Only newer laptops and those
> listed by certain vendors are able to have it BIOS-resident.  That
> doesn't mean that you can't install it - just be aware that if the
> thief formats the drive and reinstalls Windows, CompuTrace won't be
> on there any more.
>
> Also, we ran into a problem with the interaction of Safeboot and
> CompuTrace on the same machine, particularly on Vista, because they
> are both playing in the master boot record.  The installation order
> is key - you need to install CompuTrace first, make sure it goes
> active in the BIOS, and then encrypt the laptop.
>
> If anyone is interested, our mobile device security page is at
> www2.kumc.edu/security/mobilesecurity and I'd be happy to answer any
questions.