Do you know how identity theft happens most of the time?

Many people probably think that identity theft occurs most often as a result of hackers gaining unauthorized access to our computers. However, this is not the case.

I attended a Web 2.0 round table discussion yesterday (called "The New New Internet"). I was quite surprised to hear Mike Bradshaw, a self-described Google Department Head, tell us that the # 1 security concern was not hacking but having your laptop stolen. When you think about it, it really does make sense.

When you think about how many laptops get taken on business trips, into cafes and restaurants and anywhere else that users can get a WIFI signal, it's no wonder that so many are stolen. Not to mention the fact that the average laptop costs in excess of $1000.00 and is easy to pick up and carry away.

Mr. Bradshaw's statement reminded me that I had read some time ago about latop thefts reported by Government employees and taken from Government offices and vehicles. The news often covers stories about laptops being misplaced and stolen and having thousands of personnel files being compromised as a result.

Signing-in on my laptop is done through Biometrics. My password is my finger print which is captured when I swipe my finger across the log-in portal. It's probably only a matter of time before they can have some kind of built-in biometric sensor that would know the difference between a thief and the real owner. If I had my way, I think I would like to have it give off a nice little electrical shock when someone tried to steal it.

However, the icing on the cake would be then if the machine could exclaim in a very loud voice to the thief: "I tasered you, bro".