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Leader: Who cares about their laptop?
Some business travellers don't, it would seem...

By silicon.com

Published: Tuesday 05 September 2006

Last week we revealed the surprisingly high number of laptops that go unclaimed at airport lost property offices.

It seems incredible to think travellers, many of whom will be on business, can show such disregard for something as important as their laptop, especially as there are serious data issues here.

David Elliot, the chairman of Excess Baggage which handles lost property at a number of UK airports, told silicon.com all laptops his company sells at auction are wiped clean of all data, which is reassuring.

But even if that data therefore can't fall into the wrong hands at auction, are these travellers really so sure there's nothing on those laptops they can't afford to lose in terms of projects they were working on, vital contact information or other intellectual property?

And furthermore, it's probably safe and sad to assume that not all these laptops end up in the hands of airport lost property, given we were told there are criminals who make a living lifting stray items and luggage at airports.

To be robbed is one thing, to have something stolen because you left it lying around is quite another. And simply walking off and forgetting about your laptop is reckless.

Excess Baggage's Elliot also said one reason there has been a slight increase in recent times in the number of laptops lost at airports is due to the process of having to screen them separately through security.

It seems some travellers now put their jackets back on, put their belts back on, pick up their bag and forget their laptop is coming through in a separate tray. Admittedly travel can be stressful and confusing at times - perhaps more so of late - but this is careless.

Guy Harris, director of global desktop services at Cadbury Schweppes, read the story and commented that it's further evidence why all organisations must get on top of the automated back-up issue. "If your company does not have this type of technology put pressure on them to provide it," wrote Harris, especially if your company expects you to travel it would seem.

In terms of what companies should be doing to mitigate risk when it comes to lost or stolen laptops, the Information Commissioner's Office told silicon.com companies must put in place means to ensure data is not accessible if there is any chance it could contain personal, sensitive information - and who can really say their laptop doesn't?