LogMeIn to Add Crime Fighting to Remote Connectivity Repertoire
Already Proven Aid in Recovering Stolen Laptops, LogMeIn Adding "Instant Shredder" Technology, Online History
With each day bringing yet another case of missing laptops and stolen data, LogMeIn, Inc., creator of the world's most widely used remote connectivity and support services, announcedon 26 September 2006 that it would introduce remote "instant shredding" capabilities for its more than three million LogMeIn users.
At the request of its customer, LogMeIn will also make the history of when and where that customer's computers are being used accessible to IT departments and law enforcement, while still keeping users' information safe, secure and private. These theft deterrent and remediation features will be part of detection capabilities already inherent in LogMeIn.
An Ounce of Prevention
With its new Instant Shredding feature, LogMeIn users will have the option to preset files, folders, or the entire hard drive to be wiped clean based on either time idle, or with an alert on LogMeIn.com. When a computer goes missing, users simply activate the shredding feature and the next time the computer goes online, the selected files are completely removed. Or, if the user chooses, data can also be removed from a computer which has not been online for a preset period.
In coming months, online history will also be available under the My Computers drop-down menu when users are logged onto LogMeIn. From there, they can monitor where and when their laptop or computer has been in use over a period of time.
LogMeIn as Crime Fighter
Even before these new features were introduced, LogMeIn users and law enforcement found the technology invaluable in solving cases of laptop theft.
"One of our employees had LogMeIn installed on a laptop that was stolen. The thieves later logged in and we saw them come online. We got the IP address of the PC, notified the police and, within days, they secured a warrant, apprehended the thief and recovered the laptop," Rich Anderson, CEO at Next Level Cafe, Inc. "The employee had his laptop back a week after it was taken."
"Many laptop owners don't write down their serial numbers, making recovery difficult. LogMeIn provides another tool for tracking down stolen computers," said Detective Celia Vargas with the Amarillo Police Department in Amarillo, Texas. In recent months, Detective Vargas and her staff had been investigating a theft ring off a local Interstate without many leads. With an IP address found by an IT department supporting one of the stolen laptops, she was able to call the Internet Service Provider, find a physical address where the laptop was located, and uncover five other stolen computers at the same time.
"As digital lives expand and take on increasingly important roles, LogMeIn will provide even more ways to connect to, support and now even to protect digital identities, data and productivity," said Michael Simon, CEO, LogMeIn, Inc. "These new security tools will give mobile professionals piece of mind - providing additional assurances that personal and professional data will not fall into the wrong hands."
See also "I lost my Laptop!" and also Discuss Data Loss |
