Virtuity's Backstopp destroys data if laptop leaves DMZ

Though Virtuity's Backstopp technology won't make your laptop self destruct per se, it will keep whatever organized crime unit that's after you from attempting to jack your machine twice -- if you live to have such an opportunity, that is. Nevertheless, said software keeps a constant eye on the location of one's laptop, and if it's moved from a predetermined safe zone, a signal is activated that can inform the rig to vaporize sensitive data. Reportedly, lappies can be monitored with a variety of wireless technologies (WiFi and RFID are mentioned in particular), but considering that such a service will run you £10 ($19.54) per month, you better be one wanted individual to make it worthwhile.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[andy @ Feb 20th 2008 7:46AM]

C'mon already with the "lappies" baby talk. Is your desktop a deskie? Is your mouse a mousey? You're not even saving a syllable.

[Scott @ Feb 20th 2008 9:47AM]

Hmmm... What could possibly go wrong here?

[Brian @ Feb 20th 2008 11:08AM]

You seriously don't understand the "lappie" reference? Everybody to the limit, for crying out loud...

[Harkonian @ Feb 20th 2008 11:28AM]

That makes me strongsad...

[Jason Martin @ Feb 20th 2008 11:37AM]

Does the word Fhqwhgads mean anything to you?

http://www.hrwiki.org/index.php/Lappy_486

[kevin_ho @ Feb 20th 2008 6:49PM]

Well, you should've seen the time I got a virus on my compy 386 got a virus!

[Magallanes @ Feb 20th 2008 8:16AM]

This computer will self destruct in five seconds.

[Code601 @ Feb 20th 2008 8:20AM]

Imagine if the power drops and all your companies laptops suddenely erased themselves!!

[Observer @ Feb 20th 2008 1:11PM]

Yes, Code601, that would be bad. But Backstopp doesn't seem to do that. It kills data from any laptop that has been flagged as lost or stolen, or, if the system is set up to look for this, removed from where it should be without authorisation.

If your Social Security #, address, banking details ... were on a laptop in a commercial or Govenrment body, wouldn't you like that? I sure would.

And if I were the CEO or CIO of a body that had lost a laptop with personal client or commercial data, I think I'd like this protection.

[Dean Bates @ Feb 20th 2008 8:58AM]

BackStopp integrates with a secure online backup service so all your data can be easily reloaded. Safe guards also prevent laptops erasing themselves due to outages.

[Harkonian @ Feb 20th 2008 11:29AM]

So, the thieves steal the laptop AND the backup so they can do a restore?

[kntgsp @ Feb 20th 2008 8:58AM]

Location-based security on mobile systems has been around for years. This isn't too hard to bypass either.

1. Grab laptop
2. Open laptop
3. Yank out hard drive
4. Leave

[Froggy @ Feb 20th 2008 10:16AM]

or just disable the wireless. either way.

[srw985 @ Feb 20th 2008 10:44AM]

If your that bothered, the time it would take a laptop to completle erase a hard drive (so that it cannot be recovered atall!) you could just disconnect the battery then rip out the hard drive later.

[Osiris @ Feb 20th 2008 10:54AM]

I guess the point in the software is more that the would be thief is unaware of the software, and after stealing the equipment and going online or out of radius the software can then discretely delete sensitive data.

I.e. 'Lost' Laptops with government data.

[Observer @ Feb 20th 2008 1:13PM]

I know about this, and was involved in early discussions. There are a few points worth remembering:

1)It doesn't self-destruct just because it's moved - unless you set it up to do that.
2)Of course you can circumvent it - if you know it's Backstopp-protected - by taking out the battery and then the hard-drive. Or jumping into your nearest Faraday Cage. So that's what proportion of opportunist thefts and accidental losses, exactly? 1%? And why would you advertise your protection strategy? Do you publish your burglar alarm diagrams?
3) Yup, it's a bugger if your data is wiped and you didn't actually lose it; just thought you had. But as a corporate user, you'd better damn well have an automatic back-up policy, especially if you've got my personal or citizen data on there.
4)What's best: no protection because there's no 100% guarantee, or the best you can get right now?

This is a good idea and deserves support, I suggest.