USB alarm helps secure laptops

Thursday, October 01, 2009

While laptops have improved computing in innumerable ways, the fact remains that they are a lot of expensive hardware compacted into an easy-to-steal package. Enter LAlarm.

The program, which is free for personal use and runs only on Windows, lets users turn either the power cord or USB drive into an alarm, which sounds if the cable or USB device is removed from its port. If the latter option is used, the USB drive must be secured to something stationary or difficult to move, like a table.

LAlarm can be set to perform any combination of a number of functions when triggered, from simply whooping an audible alarm via the laptop's speakers, up through wiping the hard drive and sending critical files to a remote storage location to prevent data loss.

Experts say that the surest way to prevent laptop theft is to keep laptops in view at all times and sit far away from possible escape routes in public settings. Most laptop thefts happen when the owner is not paying attention to his or her device.