Absolute Computrace Plus - How It Works

ComputracePlus offers Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and basic Secure Asset Tracking™. The product is centrally managed and ideal for customers with large populations of remote and mobile users that are sometimes difficult to locate.

ComputracePlus deters theft, minimizes computer drift and recovers stolen computers. If your computer is stolen, the Absolute Recovery Team will partner with law enforcement to track and recover the machine.

The remote data delete function ("Data Delete") enables customers to remotely delete sensitive data on target computers that have been lost or stolen. It can also be used effectively for lifecycle management to ensure that computers are left clean and free of sensitive data at the end of their life or lease.

How it Works

ComputracePlus tracks the location of your computer using a small and undetectable software agent ("Computrace Agent"), enabling the computer to report its location to Absolute's confidential and secure Monitoring Center each day it connects to the Internet. As well as collecting location data, the Computrace Agent also collects user, hardware and software information to help you track and manage your remote assets. You can also set up a Data Delete request so that sensitive data on a stolen or missing computer is deleted the next time the computer calls in to the Monitoring Center.

Advanced Reporting for the Complete Picture

Users can view a variety of asset management reports via Absolute's online Customer Center website ("Customer Center"). These reports (or modules) allow IT Managers and Directors of IT to better prepare their organizations for a complete Secure Asset Tracking™ program that takes into consideration regulatory compliance, lifecycle management, lease management, upgrades and company-wide deployments.

ComputracePlus Recovers Stolen Computers

If a computer protected by ComputracePlus is stolen, Absolute Software's Recovery Team will work with local law enforcement agencies to locate and recover the machine. When you report a theft to the Absolute Recovery Team the following steps occur:

• The Recovery Team flags the reported computer as "stolen" at the monitoring center
• The computer calls in every 15 minutes online to report its location
• The Recovery Team provides your local law enforcement agency with tracking information and the necessary documentation to procure subpoenas, search warrants and recover your stolen computer
• ComputracePlus gives you the option to remotely delete sensitive data from the missing computer

5 Easy Steps to Computrace Success

The Computrace technology is more than just software – it's like having your own security team watching over your computer. Here's how it works:

• You install the client software on your computers using your preferred method – this could be an MSI installer, login script, image or any other deployment method that works for you. It's easy and it's secure. The client software is small, stealthy and hidden on the computer. The end-user will not even know it is there.
• Your computer reports location, user, hardware and software information to our confidential, secure Monitoring Center every day it connects to the Internet.
• You track and manage your computer assets, including remote/mobile computers, using reports, alerts and administration functions from the secure Customer Center website.
• If your computer is lost or stolen, the Absolute Recovery Team works with local law enforcement agencies to track the location of the computer, secure subpoenas and warrants and return your stolen computer to you.
• If you choose, and at your request, an optional Data Delete function can be performed on your stolen computer to keep sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.

What Makes the Computrace Technology Platform Unique

The Computrace Agent distinguishes Absolute's services from competitive solutions in a number of ways, and offers customers many advantages over conventional computer tracking mechanisms and larger enterprise asset management applications:

• Persistence - Easy to install and unobtrusive to the end-user, the Computrace Agent, or software client, runs silently and automatically and is virtually impossible for an unauthorized user to accidentally or deliberately delete. Most Computer manufacturers also provide embedded support for Computrace in the BIOS or Firmware of the notebook computer. This ensures that if the Computrace agent gets altered or removed from the hard drive by an unauthorized user, the embedded support module will rebuild the Computrace Agent application on the drive. We call this rebuilding feature ‘persistence' and it ensures that our customer, the rightful owner of the computer, will have the fullest opportunity to make contact with the computer after it has been compromised and left the customer's traditional sphere of control. Ultimately the persistent feature is critically important for Absolute to be able to recover and return a stolen computer to its rightful owner.
• Automatic & Reliable: Easy to install and unobtrusive to the end-user, the Agent runs silently and automatically and is difficult to accidentally or deliberately delete.
• Secure Communications: Because the Agent initiates the connection to the Monitoring Center, it is inherently more secure than conventional auto-discovery mechanisms and does not rely on an open and listening port that could potentially render systems vulnerable to hackers. As well, communication is TCP-based and always encrypted.
• Small Footprint & Low Bandwidth: The Agent itself occupies a small amount of memory when idle. When placing a call, the Agent optimizes data transfer, which means a very low demand is placed on the network.
• Easy Installation: The Agent can be installed seamlessly on a corporate image, centrally deployed over a LAN, or even pre-installed at the factory by OEM partners. Once installed, the Agent simply needs an Internet or phone connection to communicate with the Monitoring Center; no user intervention is required.
• Frequent & Regular Calling: The "always on" Agent calls frequently on a scheduled basis over IP and dial-up connections, without requiring any action from system users. With accurate, up-to-date computer information at their fingertips, customers can proactively implement their security and asset tracking practices for company-wide compliance.
• Scalable: Once the client, or Agent, is installed, updates need only be done on the server side to enable various services. This allows other products and services offered by Absolute Software to be "turned on" without a cumbersome rollout of client software.