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Just a month after distribution began, the OLPC organization has been hit by theft. Armed robbers in Peru stole 66 XO laptops from a school in the settlement of San Pedro. The motive for the theft is unknown but in poor areas thieves tend to steal anything they believe has resale, and the XO has tremendous value, just check out eBay to see for yourself. Sadly, MIT Media Lab co-founder doesn’t seem to get it. He had this to say when asked about the theft potential of the XO:

“There are thousands of cars in the United States stolen each day, but not one single post office truck has been stolen in the history of the United States. The reason is that there is no secondary market for post office trucks because they look like post office trucks.“

His analogy suggests there is no secondary market for the XO, due to the distinctive looks the unit has, but he is mistaken. The theft in Peru and the listings of XO laptops for sale on eBay are proof of that. See someone other than a child using an XO? Be suspicious.

Read [OLPC News]

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Intel has announced plans to release an anti-theft initiative for laptops by the end of the year. The rate of data hacked from stolen or misplaced laptops has been increasing, and Intel has planned to release this technology to help prevent your vital data from being widely misused.

“It basically locks the system, lock the disk, so people cannot be maliciously using and getting the data,“ stated executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Mobility Group – Dr Dadi Perlmutter at his presentation.

Based on what Dr. Dadi had elaborated, The Intel Anti-Theft Technology is apparently a method to lock a laptop down to the component level, and prevent any access to data. But information about this technology is still limited. As for Intel, they said that Intel would announce more details when it’s nearing the release. So let’s just sit back, and wait for the good news

Via [InfoWorld]

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Pugilists are not as interested in your case as in what’s in it. According to the FBI, Blackberries, iPods and GPS systems are the new, widely targeted devices.

Recent crime statistics show that motor vehicle theft last year remained nearly the same as in 2004. However, thefts of parts and accessories from vehicles has jumped 30% since the year 2000. Of course this isn’t hard to imagine, as tracking devices and radio-controlled ignition locks have become a standard, it would be pretty stupid for a thief to attempt to steal a vehicle. And, good thieves tend to not be stupid. Kleptomaniacs? Maybe. Stupid? Definitely not.

Stealing a GPS system on the other hand, proves to be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

“There’s no wires to cut or screw to pull out (as with) a radio,“ says Capt. John O’Leary of the Brookline, Mass., police, which has investigated a rash of the thefts. “You just pop off the suction cups.“

Guess it’s time to buy your GPS system a GPS tracker.

Read [Reuters]

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