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12,000 Laptops Lost Each Week at US Airports
Clearly, this is bad news, especially since the study also estimates that about 12,000 laptops are lost every week (based on interviews with officials at 106 American airports). This means business travelers are losing several laptops a week. Eventually, one of those laptops is going to be loaded with our Social Security numbers and names.
So for all you mobile workers out there, read this: We know you're not going to stop traveling with this kind of information on your computers, but please use any encryption software that came with your computer to lock that stuff up. Even just setting your computer to require a password to get on will keep your information secure from garden variety thieves.
If you're willing to spend some cash, may we recommend PGP's encryption software for company's or SecuriKey's combination of hardware and software authentication. And, for the the cash strapped but wary, TrueCrypt offers free encryption software for all operating systems. [Source: The Statesman]
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Comments
50
Subscribe to commentsGalleyJul 1st 2008 3:30PM
12,000 a week? That can't be right.
MikeJul 1st 2008 4:08PM
If 12,000 are lost how many are recovered. If I left mine behind I would hop a flight and go get it.
NickJul 2nd 2008 8:00AM
Thats over 100 laptops each week at every airport. Thats absurd. Something is wrong if people are losing that many laptops. I think too many people claim they lost it to get a new one. When I carry my laptop, there is nothing else I worry about more, could care less about my clothes. Laptops are top security.
Ron CarrieroJul 2nd 2008 9:38AM
There can not be 12,000 idiots traveling and losing their pc,s or could there be ?????
FloydJul 4th 2008 2:22PM
after these laptops are lost ,where do they go if no one claims them? are they out for sale or do you track down the owners ? i would be interested in purchasing one .
meepsteinJul 4th 2008 5:06PM
Most are probably stolen.
Jeremy SpencerJul 4th 2008 2:21PM
The research numbers are believe able, according Airports Council International North America. Charles Chambers, senior vice president of security for ACI-NA, says based on a back-of-the-envelope calculation, thinks the 12,000 per week prediction is plausible. He notes that the percentage of laptops lost is small when viewed in terms of the total number of passengers traveling. Only less than one half of one percent of the roughly 3.5 million business travelers flying each week would have to lose their laptops to reach the 12,000 number, he notes.
JerJul 4th 2008 10:03PM
The number 12,000 notebook computers lost each week (!) seems much too high. I can believe 120, but not 12,000. The article should provide the data source.
toohipJul 4th 2008 2:24PM
How polite to state "please use any encryption software that your computer can use....". I prefer this approach, "I will sue the pants off of any idiot (or opportunist) who either loses or arranges to lose a laptop with my social security number on it; and, this results in identity theft!"
aaJul 4th 2008 2:32PM
What do they do with the computers? I hope try to find the owner or better donate them to schools.
MickeyJul 4th 2008 2:42PM
If I was the employer and someone told me they lost their laptop at the airport, I would FIRE them!!
jetJul 4th 2008 2:48PM
Well, folks....They end up in georgia or tennessee
where they sell them.
HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT & FAA ALLOW THIS ?
DBinTennJul 6th 2008 2:55PM
There are actually stores in Alabama and Tennessee that I know of the buy lost airline luggage and items in bulk lot auctions from the government. (You only have a certain amount of time to claim lost baggage. Then it can be disposed of, i.e. sold to these stores.) The buyers then sell the stuff in large stores. The stores are hit or miss; you never know what you can find. Some luggage is not even unpacked and is sold to customers site unseen for cheaper so that they don't have to handle it, shelve it, etc. Otherwise clothes are processes sort of like Goodwill. In other words, they are clean and it si similar to going to a consignment shop. Other stuff like electronics is just out on tables, piece after piece after piece.
qaqs9000Jul 4th 2008 2:50PM
Just another AOL jerk story. 12,000 ?? I am not that stupid. That wouldn't be lost that would be one of the biggest theft rings in the world. Get real people. Hire a few adults to edit and check your facts. Since you want to be the news try and emulate MSNBC not FOX fake news. I know they own you but try some fact checking.
meepsteinJul 4th 2008 5:05PM
With thousands of people flying every day 100 a week is a small figure.
G.L.Jul 4th 2008 3:14PM
Something's up with that. Either airport employees are stealing them,or the owners are making false claims in an attempt to get a new one, at the expense of the airport,or the airline.
iynaroc02Jul 4th 2008 4:31PM
Laptop & LCD TV Reviews:
Warning for people thinking about buying a LCD TV or Laptop: The worst laptop in the market today is Averatec. I purchased a 12.1" laptop and could not get the customer service to even respond and when they responded they said I should find a local laptop repair shop to help me at my own expense. I paid a lot of money for this laptop and has taken it in for repairs 4 times and finally dumped it. This is the most terrible manufacturer one can ever encounter. I bought it based on a recommendation by PC Magazine, so be careful when you read these recommendations. Walmart and a lot of other stores have stopped carrying this brand. For those considering LDC HDTV, forget about Olevia/Syntax brand. The product is terrible and the customer service is the definition of "chaos". I paid $1500.00 for the tv, but have lost sound/audio and pictures/video a couple of times in just a couple of years. They don't have authorized dealers, so you either have to ship it to them for repairs at your own expense or hope to find a handy person locally to fix it for you.
goodguy889Jul 4th 2008 4:50PM
DO THEY AUCTION THEM OFF. PROBABLY 90% ARE FULL OF PORN.
truckdaddy57Jul 4th 2008 5:00PM
heres a solution give every mexican coming across the border a lap top and a plane ticket maybe we can keep track of them that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CherylJul 4th 2008 4:46PM
Explain to me how one forget's one's computer? As heavy as that bag is holding my laptop and all the goodies that go with it, there is no way I could forget it... Not to mention lose the data in it. And yes, you need a password to open the programs and log on, otherwise you get a blank screen from Windows. Geesh are some folks forgetful, I guess.