An anti-theft software could create security

The software "Computrace", made by Vancouver-based Retriever Software Corp.. Is part of a subscription service that is used to find lost or stolen computers. Many people do not know is on their machines, but it is included in the largest computer builders. The software is integrated into the computers at the plant because it incorporates so deeply that even the supreme act of uninstalling the operating system does not delete. The software is included in a part of the computer called the BIOS, which refers to programs used to start Location Tracking the computer. The absolute selling service may be valuable because sensitive data can be erased remotely from a stolen computer. The computer is still able to pursue a specially designated website for instructions, even if a criminal is cheating with the machine. But research by Alfredo Ortega and Anibal Sacco with Boston-based stolen laptop Core Security Technologies and Security Conference here, presented Thursday at the Black Hat shows he can cut two ways. If a criminal has infected a computer with Computrace technology, it can take control of a machine deep. Because he is able to modify computer settings to maintain a connection to this machine, even if the operating software is uninstalled and reinstalled - an extreme laptop recovery way, but sometimes the only way for you ensure a computer is clean of viruses."You have something that has pre-installed and considered non-malicious, you can manipulate and transform it into a malicious program - which is pretty unique," said Ivan Arce, Core Security Officer Chief Technology Officer. Arce said than absolute can solve the problem with an update of the software that is then sent to the affected computers. He added that users can disable the ability to be a software problem laptop tracking on their own, too. It takes some technical knowledge, however. "It is not difficult to block once you know what you are looking for," said Arce. Spokesman absolute Craig Clark said the company would comment after the presentation of heart Thursday, but then not everyone is available. He said crew of Absolute "must understand the core concerns raised before they can talk to her with precision. Schouwenberg, a senior researcher with Kaspersky Lab antiviru, said that the vulnerabilities discovered basic security could be a "big enough challenge for the Security Community", if exploited. But he added that the special access, a hacker can obtain is compromised somewhat by the fact that they are trying to download malicious programs have yet to coming into the computer the same way they always do and may be laptop theft recovery protected against. All the files download "is not stealth, they will not hide, they will be visible on the system," said Schouwenberg. " Anti-malware (software) will be able to analyze them. It could have been a worse crowd. "