630,000+ Laptops Lost at Airports Each Year!
My good friend Alec sent me some great links to statistics about the numbers of laptops lost at airports each year...thanks Alec! :)
Here they are...
- Airport Insecurity: The Case of Lost Laptops
- Survey: More than 10,000 laptops lost each week at airports
- Dell Mobility Services Aim To Protect Notebook Data
Holy cow!! Over 630,000 laptops lost...that we are aware of...at airports each year?!
And most often at the security checkpoints...?! Geez, folks, pay attention to your own stuff and quit gawking at the others around you getting frisked!
Alec also made a very good point, "At $2K per laptop, losing 630,000 machines is $1.2B in hardware loss. Since the worth of the data on lost/stolen laptops is much greater than the machines, can you imagaine how much the lost information is worth?!"
Indeed!!
I know many organizations typically value laptops and other mobile computing devices solely according to the hardware and software values. Organizations must start tracking the data on those mobile computers, and include consideration for the value of the information.
You can use a scaled-down version of my privacy breach impact calculator to see what a breach involving personally identifiable information (PII) could cost your organization. It will help to show the value of that PII if it is lost or breached.
I created the calculator around 6 or so years ago, based upon my own experiences and research, but I have seen that it is still very helpful to demonstrate to CxOs the potential negative financial impact a privacy breach could have upon their organization. I have the full version, with 15 additional variables (for around a total of 45 different variables), within my Privacy Management Toolkit.
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Comments
I am in total shock! How do people lose their laptops? And so many of them? That is crazy! I hope I didn't jinx myself - I am traveling tomorrow with my laptop in tow... ;)
Posted by: FatFighter | July 16, 2008 10:45 AM
I'm speechless as to how this can happen. So much for the saying, "Do not leave your luggage unattended."
Posted by: Cathy Severson | July 16, 2008 12:03 PM
This is the perfect reason for ALL of us to be certain to back up all of our data on a consistent basis...
"Can you imagine how much the lost data is worth?" Indeed, indeed!!!
Thanks for sharing this information. A great reminder to keep our eyes open.
Cheers, Naja (Fellow LWLer)
Posted by: Naja Hayward | July 16, 2008 4:49 PM
OMG - I had no idea that people could be that forgetful. I could see people walking off the plane without luggage, or a jacket but could not see myself ever forgetting my laptop. WOW - what a shocking number
Posted by: Irene Hammond | July 16, 2008 6:22 PM
That figure is staggering. I think people have SO much on their minds these days trying to keep track of 101 things at once, juggling their personal and professional lives, adjusting to the economy, etc., something is bound to give, right? So easy to become distracted in a busy airport, worrying about flight schedules, delays, security and the weather. Add to it that everyone brings every personal electronic device they have available, and someone is bound to forget something.
Posted by: Caroline | July 16, 2008 6:49 PM
Wow, that's scary to even think! I'll keep a closer eye on my laptop next time I travel with it.
Posted by: Cathe Huynh-Sison | July 16, 2008 8:04 PM
This number has had me thinking... Where do all the laptops go? Do they sell it like lost & unclaimed luggage? If so how does someone pick up a lost laptop?
Posted by: Irene Hammond | July 21, 2008 8:55 PM
Irene, great questions!
You have motivated me to seek out some answers to your questions...
I'm traveling this week, so I'll do some asking at the airports on my flight back home. After that I'll do a bit more digging.
Anyone else have any answers to these questions?
Thanks for your note, Irene!
Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca | July 22, 2008 5:24 PM