PC Guardian Quarterly, Premier Edition, Fall 2006, Volume I
Welcome to the first edition of the PCG quarterly newsletter designed with you in mind. Our goal is to inform you of the latest physical security news to assist you in your daily decision making. Please send us any questions or ideas for additional topics to cover. Thanks for reading, and be sure to opt out below if you decide not to stay on our newsletter list.

 HERE TODAY... GONE TOMORROW
Worldwide computer sales are projected to grow a modest 10.7% in 2006 (down from 15.5% last year), but mobile computers are flying off the shelves. Gartner Research projects more than 30% growth in 2006. The bad news is that computer theft is keeping pace. The rate of computer loss and theft grew 25% from 2003 to 2005. Some estimate that 750,000 computers were either lost or stolen in the US alone last year.

In a recent article, PC World reported that “eighty-one percent of companies lost one or more laptops containing sensitive information during the past 12 months” according to a survey of nearly 500 security professionals. The survey, conducted by Ponemon Institute and Vontu, concluded that the “loss of confidential data—including intellectual property, business documents, customer data, employee records—is a pervasive problem among US companies.”
Read the full PC World article here.

For another perspective, the 2006 CSI/FBI report on computer theft has just come out, and it makes for interesting reading. Their report concludes that although computer theft is down from last year's report, nearly half of those surveyed reported a laptop or mobile hardware theft in the last 12 months. And hardware theft is the second most frequent attack or breach behind computer viruses, and the third costliest behind viruses and unauthorized access
Download the entire report here.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR COMPANY HAS A DATA BREACH

If you are involved with security at your company, you probably already have everything in place to respond to a security breach. You have a plan, you formed an action committee, you know the law, and have notification letters already prepared, etc. But just in case you don't, or you want to update your plan, the California Office of Privacy Protection has developed a series of recommended practices that are likely applicable in other states as well.

For companies, the cost of a security breach doesn't stop at hardware replacement. Losses and liability can mount fast if there is valuable information on the machine such as personally identifiable information. The cost of notifying victims, staffing hotlines, hiring public relations firms to manage inquiries, and paying for affected customers to have their credit monitored pushes the average cost to $5 Million per incident (Ponemon Institute, 2006). To learn what a business should do if they experience a data breach, check out these recommendations from the State of California, the leader in data breach notification legislation. If you are located in a state with a security breach notice law, contact your Attorney General's office for guidance on what to do.

For a helpful FAQ on how to prevent a security breach at your company, check out the non-profit Privacy Rights Clearing House's website here.

To get an idea of the type and number of organizations effected by data breaches, see a list of reported data breaches nationwide here.

TWO NEW PRODUCTS COMING SOON FROM PC GUARDIAN
Many security administrators prefer the convenience of a Master Keyed system to manage their companies' computer locks, requiring the purchase of a keyed lock solution. However, many end users want a combination lock to avoid having to keep track of a key. PC Guardian will soon offer a solution to satisfy administrators and end users alike; a “Master Keyed” combination lock system. Our engineers have also been busy developing a new kind of USB lock that promises a new level of computer data security.

“Master Keyed” Combination Lock The soon to be released combination lock “Master Key” fits over the lock dials, and in a two-step authentication process, electronically identifies the forgotten combination. This capability offers a great alternative to purchasing a keyed lock solution. The new combination lock “Master Key” is an affordable, high tech time saver that looks good too—with flashing green light sensors and a shape that some would describe as resembling a mini Starship Enterprise.

USB Lock Say “back off” to data and USB device bandits with our new USB Lock. Scheduled to be available early next year, the USB Lock fends off unwanted file downloading and uploading to further protect your sensitive data and networks. Designed to fit most computers on the market today, the patent-pending USB Lock secures dual USB ports while simultaneously allowing secure access to the USB ports for your mouse, keyboard, or other peripheral devices.

Be the first to find out when our new products become available by clicking here. You'll be added to our first call priority list.
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ARTICLES
Protected: Be Informed About Computer Security(PDF 1.2MB)

PC Guardian Partners with The Douglas Stewart Company

2006 CSI/FBI Report on Computer Theft

Dealing with Data Breaches

Public list of reported data breaches


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