Over 10 000 notebook computers are stolen each year in SA, and corporates are the worst affected, says David Marshall, CEO of security firm Marshall International.
He says the 10 000 figure is based on feedback from the market and customers. "It is an estimate, as no accurate figures exist, but the problem is enormous, as is the case with cellphone theft."
Laurika Moller, BMI-TechKnowledge division manager for marketing, says the research firm does not keep track of stolen goods figures. However, 90 000 notebook units per quarter are shipped in SA, she adds.
Marshall says by the pure nature of their mobility, notebooks are vulnerable as targets of theft. "Some companies have standardised on notebooks in favour of PCs for mobility, further exacerbating the problem."
Tarsus Technologies operations manager Chris Wentzel argues that the 10 000 figure sounds a bit high and says there has hardly been any large-scale theft of notebooks lately.
"I am not aware of any major notebook theft cases reported, but there have been certain small incidents where syndicates steal about 10 notebooks all at once. But large-scale theft is isolated," says Wentzel.
Richard Watters, business development manager at Sahara, notes: "We as Sahara cannot speak on behalf of the entire industry, but as far as we are aware, there is a problem with theft of notebooks in the industry."
The insurance route
Dennis Gamsy, chairman of insurance firm GIB, says he cannot comment on the 10 000 figure as he is not sure whether it is correct. However, he adds that corporates do insure high-risk electronic equipment, and most of them seek insurance on equipment such as notebooks.
Gamsy could not provide statistics for the rate of claims on electronic equipment, but says cellphone rates per annum are 10% to 14%, which means one in 10 cellphones are stolen each year.
Outsurance head of editorial Marthinus Visser says there is an average insurance claim for about six out of every 100 notebooks per annum.
Visser says the importance of companies insuring their electronic equipment depends on the size of an organisation. "The smaller they are, the more important it is. That is because it is more difficult to absorb the volatile cost of losses for a smaller company/individual."
Taking precautions
Marshall says using radio frequency identification tags is one way to cut down on notebook theft within companies.
"A tag inside a notebook computer can ensure protection of its movement and location. If stolen, the tag will enable the notebook to be tracked and traced using a standard scanner which has a range of up to 100m," says Marshall.
"Although RFID tags are good, they do not stop the perpetrators from taking the notebook, and the tags only help to track the item lost," argues Watters.
"If you have important information, you should have it in encrypted files or protected with a fingerprint reader. But usually it is the hassle of recovering lost work, reloading software and settings that is most disturbing," says Marshall.
Watters says Sahara offers notebook locks and hard drive password protectors. "Nonetheless, it`s difficult to control as most clients are mobile and do not have their notebooks at their desks most times."
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