Missing Census Bureau Laptops

[Case]

It is absolutely scary to think that over 217 laptops (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2476800), with sensitive census bureau information on them, have gone missing in the last 3 years. Wow. Think some one needs to invest in Lowjack for laptops...

Lost or stolen from the Census Bureau since 2003 are 217 laptop computers, 46 portable data storage devices and 15 handheld devices used by survey takers. Although the number of people affected isn't known, the Commerce Department reports that passwords, encryptions and other safeguards were in place.

[Al]

Yeah it is scary and I imagine the passwords they mean are going to be words like "password", "qwerty" "12345"

[hulkster]

There was a HUGE deal over ONE laptop that was stolen from the VA department a few months ago - that obviously pales in comparison to this - gotta love the government ...

[Case]

I like to file this one under human stupidity...I really would love to see a real good write up review on the lowjack software for laptops and how reliable it really is. Al that needs to be the Next coolest gadgets review id love you for it...

[keith]

What is a lowjack software?

[Case]

Lowjack is a device we have here in the state you can have isntalled on any car if its stollen you call your hot line and they can track the car live via gps and have the cops fine it...

Theres software modeld after it thats like a virus that you cant get off with a format that stays hidden when it goeso nline hte system it phones home if it sees its stolen it collects data to help trace it

[tater03]

How in the world could you lose that many laptops since 2003. With the information that they collect you would think you would be more careful in the secruity aspect. Not to mention why we have not heard about this before. I least I have never heard about this mishap. If you want to call it that.

[Case]

you would think that but of course human stupidy and just plain old being lazzy about secuirty policies is what reality really is... its sad

[addyisback]

Well thats because they make so simple passwords like admin, 12345 ......