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Absolute Software's Computrace LoJack for Laptops Helps Consumers Fight Computer Crime

Posted on: Thursday, 11 October 2007, 09:00 CDT

VANCOUVER, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Absolute Software Corporation (TSX:ABT) ("Absolute" or the "Company"), the leading provider of firmware-based, patented Computrace Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) announces several recent incidents where its consumer product - Computrace(R) LoJack(R) for Laptops - recovered stolen laptops and thwarted computer criminals. In the most recent quarter, Absolute's theft recovery services have: led police to home invasion suspects, recovered a US citizen's laptop stolen in Argentina and helped Arizona detectives apprehend a convicted felon.

Like other Absolute products, Computrace LoJack for Laptops uses the Internet to track and recover missing laptop computers. Absolute has successfully recovered thousands of laptops and in the process, has assisted police departments in solving other crimes, breaking theft rings, and apprehending and prosecuting criminals.

According to Detective Dave Butler of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, "Following the theft of a laptop in a residential burglary, Absolute's Recovery Team provided real-time, actionable information on the location of the stolen computer. We executed a search warrant at a motel and arrested the suspect while he was still online. The laptop was returned intact to its owner. This was my first experience with Absolute's Recovery Team, and their responsiveness was exceptional. I would recommend their products to anyone who owns a laptop and wants to keep it."

Among the hundreds of computers recently recovered with the help of Computrace are the following computer recovery stories:

Absolute Recovers Laptop: Leads Police to Home Invasion Suspects

A student at a Connecticut-based University awoke to find three shotgun-wielding home invaders in his room. At gun point, the thieves made off with his wallet, cellular phone, car keys and notebook computer. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt and the University had installed Absolute's Computrace LoJack for Laptops in his university issued laptop. The University immediately alerted Absolute's Recovery Team.

While Bridgeport police officials were initially skeptical, they realized the value of Absolute's product when, four days later, Absolute was able to provide its location information along with names of three individuals who were known felons to police and possibly involved in the invasion. After working with the Absolute Recovery Team to obtain a search warrant, Bridgeport police recovered the laptop along with other stolen property and are pursuing an investigation into the alleged home invaders.

Computer Signals Authorities: Leads to Arrest of Convicted Felon

After a thief broke into a locked car and escaped with a laptop and other electronic equipment, the victim immediately informed law enforcement in Chandler, Arizona, and the Absolute Recovery Team.

The laptop was protected by Computrace LoJack for Laptops, which allowed the Recovery Team to provide Chandler law enforcement officials with the IP address of the laptop as soon as it went online. A detective then used this information to subpoena the thief's home address from his Internet Service Provider ("ISP") and went to the residence with a search warrant. The suspect, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of the stolen laptop computer. Other items confiscated at the scene included: various handguns, rifles, shotguns, a large sword as well as illegal drugs and other allegedly stolen property.

LoJack for Laptops Recovers US Citizen's Laptop Stolen in Argentina

When student Steve Kinard bought his Dell Inspiron laptop, he didn't give much thought to the fact that a subscription to Computrace LoJack for Laptops was included in his Dell(R) CompleteCare(TM) warranty. He was glad it was when while studying abroad in Buenos Aires, his new laptop was stolen. In a brazen, daylight theft, his computer was taken from a bag sitting beside his chair while he ate lunch at a restaurant. When he realized his laptop was missing, he reported the theft to the Absolute Recovery Team.

Unencumbered by international borders, Computrace LoJack for Laptops allowed the Recovery Team to identify where the stolen computer was as soon as it accessed the Internet. Then, working with Buenos Aires police officers and Car Security (a LoJack Corporation licensee), the Theft Recovery Team provided critical location information, leading to the successful recovery of the stolen computer - Absolute's first computer theft recovery in Argentina(1).

How It Works

When a Computrace-equipped computer is reported stolen, the embedded Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute's Monitoring Center providing critical location information. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to recover the computer, and, if necessary, assists with search warrant applications and subpoenas to ISPs. The stealthy Computrace software agent can survive accidental or deliberate attempts at removal or disablement. With embedded support in the BIOS(2) firmware of a computer, the Computrace agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.

For more information on Absolute Software and its range of Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) solutions, please visit http://www.absolute.com/ or http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/.

For more information on Absolute's success in recovering lost or stolen computers, please visit: http://www.absolute.com/resources/resources-by-market.asp

1. Note: Absolute Software makes reasonable efforts to track and recover computers all over the world, but offers no guarantees for lost or stolen computers outside of our current recovery territory. For full details visit: http://www.absolute.com/pdf/eula.pdf. 2. For a complete list of BIOS-supported computers please visit http://www.absolute.com/BIOS. About Absolute Software

Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) solutions. Absolute Software provides organizations and consumers with solutions in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection and theft recovery. The Company's Computrace(R) software is embedded in the BIOS of computers by global leaders, including Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Motion, Panasonic and Toshiba, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software and Computrace, visit http://www.absolute.com/ or http://blog.absolute.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the expected performance of our services and products, possible guarantee payment eligibility, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. When used in this press release, the words "plan,""expect,""believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and general market conditions. In light of the many risks and uncertainties you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized.

(C) 2007 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Computrace U.S. patents # 5,715,174, # 5,764,892, # 5,802,280, # 5,896,497, # 6,244,758, # 6,269,392, # 6,300,863, and # 6,507,914. Canadian patents # 2,284,806 and # 2,205,370. U.K. patents # EP793823 and # GB2338101. German patent # 695 125 34.6-08. Australian patent # 699045. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this news release.

Absolute Software Corporation

CONTACT: Public Relations: Courtney Chauvin, Affect Strategies, (212)398-9680, courtney@affectstrategies.com; Investor Relations: Dave Mason, CFA,The Equicom Group, (416) 815-0700 x237, dmason@equicomgroup.com

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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