More on Airport Security and Computer Insecurities
Today Silicon.com reported some interesting statistics about the increased number of computers being found in the UK now that those airports do not allow for electronics basically of any kind to be taken onboard.
Heathrow reportedly obtains an average of 120 laptops monthly from travellers who misplaced them, and around 15 go unclaimed, ending up at auction.
The story makes a good point about how it seems travellers just assume that their laptop was stolen, so they don't even check with the airport's or airlines' lost and found to see if their computer is indeed within the custody of the airline management.
From the report, "Research out last week suggested 40 per cent of all electronic devices lost at UK airports go unclaimed, with mobile phones more likely to be left unclaimed than laptops and PDAs."
A good lesson for travellers in and through countries with the onboard electronics restriction: If your computer, cell phone, PDA, etc. goes missing, check with the airport security or lost and found department. If you're lucky it may be there. If you're even luckier none of the data on it will have been compromised.
Just one more reason to encrypt sensitive and personally identifiable information (PII) on mobile computing devices, to use boot and login passwords, and to use tracking labels and services, such as StuffBak, 4found, IMFound, STOP, Huzizit, or Yellowtag.
Technorati Tags
information security
IT compliance
policies and procedures
asset tracking
stolen laptop
lost laptop
airport security
awareness and training
privacy
Email This!
Digg it!
Sphere it!
Del.icio.us
Reddit!
Newsvine