Lost Laptops at Airports
Dell recently sponsored a study on the number of laptops lost in airports. The findings are a little surprising— apparently, they estimate that over 12 thousand laptops are lost each week at airports across the United States.
The source study can be read here. (pdf)
Potentially more frightening is the fact that the majority of these laptops go unclaimed and are eventually “disposed of.” According to the study:
Only 33% of laptops lost and found in airports are reclaimed. The other 67% of subsequently found laptops remain in the airport until they are disposed of. As a result, there are potentially millions of files containing sensitive or confidential data that may be accessible to a large number of airport employees and contractors.
This goes beyond the loss of physical data. Sure, the laptops cost money, and losing one will always carry at least the monetary cost of the hardware. But, the fact that these laptops can (and probably do) contain some sensitive information is certainly more worrisome. Either private data belonging to the owner, or private data belonging to the company the owner might work for may be at risk.
It seems perfectly possible for a shady individual to walk up to the “lost and found,” give a detailed description of a common laptop make and model, and walk away with a shiny new laptop that might contain information worth more than the device itself.
With the rapid explosion of the laptop / portable-computer industry, it becomes more and more important for users (and companies) safeguard the information stored on them. For the average user with little technical knowledge, an often over-looked technique would be the simple act of labeling the laptop with their contact information. At least this would allow a good Samaritan or the airport staff to potentially return it to the rightful owner.