When it comes to lost and found, electronic tracking like GPS theoretically sounds like the perfect tool. Why not rely on your phones built in GPS to help you locate it if it is ever lost or stolen? There are some obvious reasons why GPS is the not the most reliable, not the least of which is the fact that it requires your phone to be on with the battery charged. Any software solution is also prone to computer viruses and hacking. But perhaps the greater argument against location-based electronic surveillance is the worry of the wrong people getting access to our past location history. Do you really want a stranger to know where you live, where you work, or the location of your children’s school?

The MicroTrax system offers a better solution. With labels and nearly invisible identification tags, the MicroTrax system has been proven effective in returning over 75% of lost or stolen items to their rightful owners. The tags, called MicroDots, are passive (not electronic and do not transmit or store any location data) and can be applied to anything, not just electronics, because they do not actively monitor your every move. MicroDots do not require anything other than their initial application – after that, your protection is permanent, confidential, and indisputable. In this day and age where rapid evolutions in technology are presenting us with more and more moral dilemmas that threaten our privacy and security, it is nice to know that there is still a high-tech product that works without such compromises.

Implications of losing devices

Loss of intangible information –

There are devices today such as phones and laptops that store a vast amount of personal and business information (e-mails, texts, numbers and addresses).  Nowadays, many persons use smart phones as a money management tool to conduct multiple financial transactions (payments, deposits and transfers).  In some instances, the smart phone may be even be swiped in a similar manner as a credit card.

Increased insurance premiums –

Insurance coverage is a form of protection against accidents, theft or disasters.  Loss of personal and expensive devices such as laptops and phones can result in higher premiums for the customer.  Insurance companies now see the coverage of certain items as a greater risk; therefore, a greater premium is required.  This means that you will have to find more money in your budget for your insurance needs.

Solutions

The solutions for the protection of valuable personal are two-fold – theft prevention strategies and property recovery solutions.

Theft Prevention Tips

• Avoid walking and texting without being unaware of your environment.
• Keep phone in your bag or pocket as you enter and exit the Metro.  If you must have your phone in hand then keep hold it firmly in your hands at all times.
• Hold your bag containing your laptop or notebook close to you or firmly in your grasp.  If you have to place your laptop on a table then keep your eye on it at all times.

Property recovery solutions

• Smart phone technology that enhances lockout and remote wipe-out.  If the device is stolen, it can be located via a GPS tracker and locked from use.  Therefore, the thief will not have access to the phone contents and the police is able to track the phone.  The wipe-out option facilitates the erasing of information on the phone once it is reported as lost or stolen.

• Microtrax is an innovative strategy that helps to deter theft and recover items which have been stolen.   Microtrax uses microdot technology to be able to track and locate stolen items.  Microdots were first used in World War II as a form of covert communication but it has evolved into an identification and theft prevention tool that is able to determine absolute ownership.

Losing intangible personal information is something to be avoided.  However, there are instances when you will lose a device containing vital information.  Either way, there are theft prevention tips you can follow and property recovery solutions that you can explore.