THEFT of computers, and the memory chips and modem cards inside them, is
costing British firms more than 拢200 million each year. Now, thanks to a
networked 鈥渟py-in-the-computer鈥� circuit board, managers can be alerted the
moment anyone starts tampering with equipment.
Shield-it, a company in Yatesbury, Wiltshire, has devised a way to make use
of spare wiring in computer networks as part of a security system.
Shield-it connects the spare network wiring to a special circuit board
plugged into one of the PC鈥檚 expansion slots. This card communicates with a
control card installed in the network鈥檚 central server, which can monitor 100 or
more PCs. Network servers are rarely turned off, and the control card can keep
an eye on PCs that are switched off as well as those that are working. A
conductive strip inside the computer case normally makes contact with a terminal
on the top of the card. Opening the case breaks the contact and triggers an
alarm.
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Richard Watkins, managing director of Shield-it, says many companies find
that computers and components go missing during the day when building alarms are
turned off. 鈥淭he big problem can be mysterious disappearances or shrinkage,鈥� he
says.