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Absolute Software Announces Successful Laptop Recovery for Austin Area Schools

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 July 2009, 07:15 CDT

AUSTIN, TX, July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Absolute(R) Software Corporation ("Absolute" or the "Company") (TSX: ABT), the leading provider of firmware-based, patented, computer theft recovery, data protection and IT asset management solutions announces its first laptop theft recovery for the Austin Independent School District (AISD).

According to Gray Salada, Executive Director of Technology at AISD, "We started using Absolute Software's Computrace(R) solutions after hearing about the success other school districts had with laptop recovery and asset management." Now, each of the over 6,000 teacher laptops and desktops at AISD are being protected with the software. "We have been so impressed with the results that it will be added to all future computer purchases. The low cost of the software definitely outweighs the cost of replacing any stolen computers", Salada said.

The laptop was stolen out of car parked in downtown Austin. AISD reported the theft to the Austin police department and then to Absolute. Soon after, the laptop started calling into the Absolute Monitoring Center and an Absolute Theft Recovery Officer forensically mined the laptop for evidence. That evidence was then given to the police officer assigned to the case, search warrants were issued, and the laptop was recovered. The unauthorized user alleged that the laptop was purchased from "some guy" driving around with a stack of computers.

The increase in laptop and netbook use and the decreasing size of desktop computers has caused many school districts to look into protecting and managing their IT assets. "School districts usually have thousands of computers they need to track and protect from theft", said Carter McCrary, Chief Operating Officer at Absolute Software. "Computrace makes it easier for IT personnel and school administrators to monitor and protect multiple computers while remaining within a tight budget."

How Computrace Solutions Work

The Computrace Agent that powers Absolute Software solutions is embedded in the firmware of computers right at the factory or it can be installed by the customer.* Embedded in the firmware of a computer, the stealthy Computrace Agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging. The Agent can be activated by customers when they purchase a subscription with terms ranging from one to four years.

The Agent regularly contacts the Absolute Monitoring Center - sending location and IT asset management information that is accessible via the Absolute Customer Center web portal. Customers log in to the Absolute Customer Center to access that information, manage their IT asset population, run reports, remotely delete data and plot the location of their computers and mobile devices on a map.

If a computer is stolen, the Absolute Theft Recovery Team can use location information sent by the computer and forensically mine it using a variety of procedures including key captures, registry scanning, file scanning, geolocation, and other investigative techniques to determine who has the computer and how it is being used. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to help recover the computer.

For more information on Absolute Software and its range of computer theft recovery, data protection and IT asset management solutions, please visit www.absolute.com.

* For a complete list of firmware-supported computers, see www.absolute.com/firmware. About Absolute Software

Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in computer theft recovery, data protection and secure IT asset management solutions. Absolute Software provides organizations and consumers with solutions in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection and theft recovery. The Company's Computrace software is embedded in the firmware of computers by global leaders, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, General Dynamics Itronix, 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 www.absolute.com and 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, functionality and availability of our services and products, the likelihood of successful recoveries, 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)2009 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation. 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. Japanese patent # JP4067035. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this news release.

SOURCE Absolute Software Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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