Lenovo Unveils SMS Laptop Executions

A simple text message is all that’s needed to kill upcoming models of Lenovo Thinkpad laptops. Meant to protect against the epidemic of lost and stolen laptops, Lenovo’s Constant Secure Remote Disable will allow customers to wirelessly lock their computers from their mobile phone. After recovery, the laptop can be unlocked with another text message.

The kill message is received through the laptop’s broadband wireless card. Of course this isn’t a foolproof solution because the laptop and phone need to be within mobile phone service areas, however, any message sent to the computer will rebroadcast itself until the computer is dead. Customers can configure up to 10 phones to send the kill message and a confirmation message is sent when the computer is disabled.

As with any security measure, remote disable is best used in conjunction with other precautions like hard drive encryption, strong passwords and common sense. As a Starbucks junkie, I’ve seen too many trusting people leave their laptops completely unattended. No amount of technology can protect you against stupidity.

Lenovo’s remote kill will likely be a hit with governments and corporations. While the intended purpose is to mitigate the damage caused by a lost or stolen laptop, this feature will be useful for corporate downsizing – IT admins will simply issue the kill command while the employee is getting the pink slip.

Lenovo plans to offer Remote Disable on Thinkpad notebooks in the first half of 2009. Customers will need to shell out extra money for the mobile broadband card and service.