Help! Someone Stole My Laptop!: How RFID Technology Can Be Used to Counter the Growing Threat of Lost Laptops

This article examines the most frequent cause of data breach today—that of stolen or lost laptops. Over one million laptops go missing each year in the United States, creating tremendous problems and exposure for American companies, universities, government agencies, and individuals. This article first looks at the size and scope of the laptop theft problem and the ramifications of the loss of the hardware and data contained on the device. Then, the article examines new developments in the use of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology as a potential deterrent and detection device for laptop security. It concludes with an analysis of the impact of the application of RFID in this area, looking at the legal, IT, and financial aspects of the issues involved in enhancing laptop security. With laptop sales far-outpacing those of PCs and with form-factors shrinking, the issues involved with laptop security will only increase in coming years.