Ohio's Laptops Often Stolen or Missing

[obie7661]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DATA_THEFT?SITE=MIDTF&SECTION=NORTHWEST&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-07-01-20-52-17

[CarlE]

That's interesting coming from a freaking Detroit, MI. newspaper. Perhaps someone from Ohio should do some auditing on the laptops that are stolen or burned down along with the houses in freaking Michigan.

[monte81]

This has been a hot topic down here the last week or so. I really do not understand how 69 laptops can be stolen in 2 and a half years without knowing who is behind the thefts. Someone had to sign for the computer, be assigned to the computer, and issued to a employee. crazy things happening around here. We as citizens should be outraged at all the tax dollars being spent on computers that NOONE knows where they are!

[Kamd50]

First off, why are so many State employees so stupid that they leave a laptop in their car? Especially stopping on the Turnpike? They obviously are too lazy and careless to lock their car doors, let alone too lazy to put it in the trunk if the car is going to be unattended. I think these clowns should be held responsible for replacing them under such irresponsible circumstances:doh:

[monte81]

First off, why are so many State employees so stupid that they leave a laptop in their car? Especially stopping on the Turnpike? They obviously are too lazy and careless to lock their car doors, let alone too lazy to put it in the trunk if the car is going to be unattended. I think these clowns should be held responsible for replacing them under such irresponsible circumstances:doh:

Agree! However confidential information is stored on most laptops so they should not even be in a employee car.

[obiefan]

Being a network specialist myself, I have major problems with the state sending data home.

If it were up to me, they would be on a citrix "thin computing" network. I'd equip the laptops with cell phone access back to the main servers, where the data resides. I'd use token id security devices called "secure-id". These are really cool little devices that reside on the user's key chain, or in credit card format. You sign on to the data network using a username, password AND a secure-id (which changes the password every 15 seconds). This would make the data extremely secure.

They could steal ALL the laptops they want, and yet they get NO DATA. because it all sits back at the server, behind a highly secure data network.

Of course, citrix does not come without cost. but the peace of mind that is involved with knowing your data is safe is well worth the proce.

Furthermore, if someone checks out our laptop, they sign a statement that if it is lost, stolen, or physically damaged that they are held liable. We've never dinged anyone for normal wear and tear, but first drop or liquid spill, look out!

[obiefan]

Another possible secure way to data on laptops is to have the data reside on a data "jump stick" that is on a secure data chip. This means the data is as secure as the 128 to 256 bit password that you assign to it.

Data Jump sticks are small enough to keep on a keychain, which can of course be kept seperate from the laptop except when it is in use.

Just my 0.02 cents!

Anyone know a local company (Massillon or canton area) that needs a network specialist, or system administrator?

[monte81]

obiefan you should put in a bid for the Networking contracts. They could use some expert advice on the computer systems. My company contracts most of our work but it is slow and @hity!