Absolute Software Helps Recover 28,000th Stolen Computer

Vancouver, Canada: March 26, 2013 – Absolute® Software Corporation (“Absolute” or the “Company”) (TSX: ABT), the industry standard for persistent endpoint security and management solutions for computers, laptops and ultra-portable devices today announced the Absolute Investigations and Recovery Services helped recover the 28,000^th stolen computer. Illustrating the value of its Computrace® persistence technology and LoJack® for Laptops products, Absolute Software has released a list of some of the top recoveries over the past year.

“The Investigations and Recovery Services team works closely with police to recover stolen devices. But often the most important impact is the forensic evidence and other critical information we collect, which helps law enforcement lay charges and put criminals behind bars,” states John Livingston, Chairman and CEO at Absolute Software. “Over 450 laptops are recovered every month leveraging our powerful technologies, our team of forensic specialists and former police officers, and our relationship with over 6,755 police agencies worldwide. As a testament to both the expertise of our Investigations team and forensic tools, we recently accomplished another milestone, helping to recover our 28,000^th stolen computer.”

Inside Job
A laptop protected with Computrace was stolen from an office building in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The Absolute Investigations team identified two different suspects using the stolen computer and passed over the details to local police. The police obtained and executed a search warrant, recovering the laptop from a woman who had bought the stolen laptop from a man in a local mall parking lot. Thanks to the Absolute Investigations team, police were able to identify the thief; he worked as a janitor at the office building where the laptop was stolen. Police arrested the suspect and the case is now closed.

Violence in Nigeria
In Lagos, Nigeria, a family was awoken in the middle of the night by six armed men who had broken into their apartment. After attacking the family, the assailants stole a significant amount of property, including a laptop that was protected with LoJack for Laptops. With the help of the Absolute Investigations team, local investigators recovered the laptop and were able to make an arrest. Today, criminal charges are pending against one of the violent offenders.

Major Recovery – Like Music to Our Ears
Los Angeles is one of the top locations people come to kick-start their careers in the music business. It’s also where some criminals see opportunity for theft. Earlier this year, ten laptops, protected with Computrace, and production equipment belonging to a music production company was stolen from a vehicle in Los Angeles. The Absolute Investigations team worked closely with local police to recover nine of the laptops found in various locations throughout the city including seven different residences. Several of the laptops had been purchased through Craigslist and a local pawn shop.

Laptop Recovery Uncovers $70,000 of Stolen Goods
In Arizona, a corporate laptop was stolen in a residential burglary. Using Computrace and Absolute’s computer forensic tools, the laptop was tracked to an apartment building where local police not only recovered the laptop but approximately $70,000 worth of stolen goods from two different residences. The stolen goods included jewelry, collector coins, personal identification such as social security numbers, and electronics. As a result of this recovery six additional burglaries were solved in three different cities in Arizona.

Seven Laptops Recovered in Chile
After experiencing a wave of stolen laptops throughout Santiago, Chile, the local police department sought to take dramatic measures to not only aid citizens, but prevent future thefts by finding and prosecuting the offenders. Working with the Absolute Investigations team, the Chilean Investigations Police launched “Operation LoJack” in an effort to recover the stolen laptops. After identifying many of the locations where the stolen laptops were used or stored in Santiago, search warrants were obtained and executed at eight addresses throughout the city. The operation was a huge success, with seven laptops recovered using data provided from the Absolute Investigations team.

Office Burglar Locked Up
An office burglar was on the prowl in Philadelphia, stealing more than 30 computers over several months from various offices – including 10 laptops protected with Computrace. Thanks to the Absolute Investigations team and persistence technology, police were able to identify the location of one of the laptops to a local computer store. After obtaining and executing a search warrant, police recovered all 10 of the laptops protected with Computrace, as well as three other stolen computers. Following this recovery, police were able to arrest the burglar.

Globetrotting Laptop
After returning from a weekend away, a George Mason University student found his laptop had been stolen from his apartment. Luckily when the student purchased the laptop he had installed and activated LoJack for Laptops on the device. The student reported the laptop stolen to Absolute Software and local police. Using Absolute’s computer forensic tools, the laptop was tracked on the other side of the world in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. After the device was remotely frozen by the Absolute Investigations team, local police recovered it from a residence. The user had purchased the laptop from a second-hand dealer. The laptop was shipped safely back to the thankful student.