CONNECTICUT COMPUTER TRACKING FROM ABSOLUTE SOFTWARE RECOVERS COMPUTERS AT UNIVERSITYLaptop Tracking Devices Cause Both Concern and Comfort - The Spectrum - News: "Laptop Tracking Devices Cause Both Concern and Comfort
By Brad HollandStaff Reporter
Published: Thursday, February 24, 2005
Article Tools:Page 1 of 2

The Sacred Heart students who tried to profit by stealing their laptops learned hard lessons about the tracking software installed on their computers. And the lessons they learned are raising eyebrows all over campus.
When two SHU students reported their laptops stolen on Dec. 7 of 2004, it took the Fairfield police only one week to discover the true nature of the theft. The students were attempting to steal their own computers. But the officers involved credit Canadian based Absolute Software for the quick recovery of the stolen property.
Absolute Software is a security company that specializes in deterring theft and recovering stolen PCs through the use of sophisticated tracking programs. How sophisticated? The software is able to provide detailed reports on any computer with a functioning internet connection.
According to their website, 'ComputraceComplete lets you efficiently monitor who is using your computers, what hardware and software changes they make, and where your laptops are.' Sacred Heart purchased a contract from Absolute Software instead of paying for customary insurance, which was no longer meeting its needs.
Mike Trimble runs the IT department at SHU. He believes the switch was in the best interest of everyone involved. 'In the past we used insurance as a means of protecting the University's investment in laptops,' Trimble said. 'Until recently that worked well, however over the last two years we saw our insurance rates rise rather dramatically. We simply had to find a better way to protect our and our student's assets"Trimble attributes the rise in insurance costs to an increase in the number of claims filed by SHU. With smaller and smaller laptops issued by the University, it was becoming too easy to walk out with a laptop in a backpack, between a stack of papers, or underneath a jacket. Computrace is seen as a better, cheaper alternative to insurance. In addition, Computrace will pay for the computer if it is not recovered within 30 days
The bottom line, however, is that the preventative nature of Computrace makes it far more effective than simple insurance. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
"Our overall goal is to prevent laptop loss and we believe that if someone is aware of the protective nature of Computrace, they are less likely to take a chance stealing one," Trimble said. So far, the arrangement seems to be working well for the University.
But how do the students who use the laptops feel about having tracking software on their computers? Zach Dehm, a freshman from Trumbull, CT, doesn't like the idea. "I didn't even know it was on there," Dehm said. "I don't want software on my computer that lets people spy on me."
His fears are representative of many students here at SHU, but the company has a very respectable reputation and Trimble believes the software is safe. "The notion that Big Brother is watching is somewhat misleading, since there is no one here doing that," he said. "The tracking of an asset only occurs when we say one is missing."
Other students feel good that the long arm of the law can help to return a stolen laptop almost immediately. Joanna Errera, a junior from Rockville Centre, NY, sees the benefit in SHU's security measures. "If the school wants to put that in there, I don't mind at all," Errera said. "I mean, I'm not doing anything illegal, so if it helps to return something stolen from me then I'm all for it."
More information is available at the company's website at www.computrace.com, or at the school's IT department.