Airport security increases lost laptop risk

Mislaid devices are putting firms' data in danger

Up to half of the laptops and mobile phones held at UK airport lost property departments are never collected and end up being auctioned, posing a potential security risk for firms, according to research published last week.

A survey by security and data encryption software specialist Pointsec found that a quarter of the recovered machines had no encryption or password security, allowing airport staff and whoever picks up the devices at auction to access any sensitive corporate or personal data present.

Pointsec said that Heathrow alone auctions 730 laptops and almost 1,500 mobile phones every year. It added that the number of lost laptops handed in had increased following the recent terror alert and enhanced security procedures at British airports.

Peter Larsson, chief executive of Pointsec said in a statement that business travellers were unlikely to collect lost laptops as they prefer to get an upgraded machine from their firm instead. "Therefore it's far more important for the company to protect the information and make it a mandatory procedure to have encryption on all mobile devices; and individuals too should always use passwords and try to encrypt the data if it is sensitive," he added.

Frank Hannigan, managing director of lost and found service YouGetItBack, said firms should also consider using asset tagging services such as that provided by YouGetItBack, which labels kit so that staff in lost property offices can notify them to collect and return items to their corporate owners.