Abstract: A data protection system selectively deletes data from an electronic device when the device is reported as lost or stolen, or when another data protection triggering event occurs. Different data files may, for example, be treated differently depending on when such files were created. For example, data files that were created while the computing device was known to be in the owner's possession may be deleted, while data files created after the electronic device left the owner's possession may be left intact (since they may have been created by an innocent user). Data files created between these two points in time may be quarantined so that they later be restored, if appropriate.

Abstract: A computer process is disclosed for assessing the risk of theft or loss of electronic devices in particular locations. The risk assessments may be based on data regarding reported theft and/or loss events, and based on data regarding current locations of user devices. The risk assessments may be used to generate location-based alerts.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a security module deployed in a host device, which provides a secondary agent that operates in coordination with the host agent in the host device, but operates independent of the host operating system of the host device to independently access an existing communication network interface in the host device or a separate dedicated network interface, if available. In one aspect, the present invention enables robust theft recovery and asset tracking services. The system comprises a monitoring center; one or more monitored devices; a security module in the monitored devices; and one or more active communications networks. Monitored devices may be stand alone devices, such as computers (e.g., portable or desktop computers), or a device or a subsystem included in a system. A monitored device comprises a security module, a host agent and software to support the host agent that runs in the monitored device's OS.

Abstract: A system for locating and monitoring electronic devices utilizing a security system that is secretly and transparently embedded within the computer. This security system causes the client computer to periodically and conditionally call a host system to report its serial number via an encoded series of dialed numbers. A host monitoring system receives calls from various clients and determines which calls to accept and which to reject by comparing the decoded client serial numbers with a predefined and updated list of numbers corresponding to reported stolen computers. The host also concurrently obtains the caller ID of the calling client to determine the physical location of the client computer. The caller ID and the serial number are subsequently transmitted to a notifying station in order to facilitate the recovery of the stolen device. The security system remains hidden from the user, and actively resists attempts to disable it.

Abstract: Devices, methods, systems and a computer readable medium for the provision of alerts to electronic devices in response to real-time, location based analysis of the risk of theft or loss of such devices are provided. A continually updated database of locations of thefts, losses and/or stolen or lost electronic devices is accessed in order to provide the alerts to the electronic devices.

Abstract: A tamper resistant software Agent for enabling, supporting and/or providing various services (e.g., tracking assets; data delete and updating software) comprises multiple functional modules, including a loader module (CLM) that loads and gains control during POST, independent of the OS, an Adaptive Installer Module (AIM), and a Communications Driver Agent (CDA). Once control is handed to the CLM, it loads the AIM, which in turn locates, validates, decompresses and adapts the CDA for the detected OS environment. The CDA exists in two forms, a mini CDA that determines whether a full or current CDA is located somewhere on the device, and if not, to load the full-function CDA from a network; and a full-function CDA that is responsible for all communications between the device and the monitoring server. In another aspect, the servicing functions that the Agent performs can be controlled by a remote server, by combining generic sub-function calls available in the Agent.

Abstract: A tamper resistant servicing Agent for providing various services (e.g., data delete, firewall protection, data encryption, location tracking, message notification, and updating software) comprises multiple functional modules, including a loader module (CLM) that loads and gains control during POST, independent of the OS, an Adaptive Installer Module (AIM), and a Communications Driver Agent (CDA). Once control is handed to the CLM, it loads the AIM, which in turn locates, validates, decompresses and adapts the CDA for the detected OS environment. The CDA exists in two forms, a mini CDA that determines whether a full or current CDA is located somewhere on the device, and if not, to load the full-function CDA from a network; and a full-function CDA that is responsible for all communications between the device and the monitoring server. The servicing functions can be controlled by a remote server.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that records a user's interactions with online ads, and that detects associations between these interactions and subsequent purchases (such as in-store purchases). The system may include a mobile application that tracks the ad interactions and purchase events. Users control whether the associations between the purchases and ad interactions are divulged to an ad serving entity or any other entity. In return for divulging the associations, the user may be offered compensation. The system enables the ad serving entity to bill the advertiser on a pay-per-purchase basis, and enables advertisers to obtain clear performance indicators for their ads.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that records a user's interactions with online ads, and that detects associations between these interactions and subsequent purchases (such as in-store purchases). The system may include a mobile application that tracks the ad interactions and purchase events. Users control whether the associations between the purchases and ad interactions are divulged to an ad serving entity or any other entity. In return for divulging the associations, the user may be offered compensation. The system enables the ad serving entity to bill the advertiser on a pay-per-purchase basis, and enables advertisers to obtain clear and specific performance indicators for their ads.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus is provided for deterring unauthorized use or theft of electronic devices, or other sorts of items into which a tracking device has been installed, particularly those in a distribution channel.

Abstract: Devices, methods, systems and a computer readable medium for the provision of alerts to electronic devices in response to real-time, location based analysis of the risk of theft or loss of such devices are provided. A continually updated database of locations of thefts, losses and/or stolen or lost electronic devices is accessed in order to provide the alerts to the electronic devices.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for capturing screenshots on an electronic device of a user, and for transmitting representations of the captured screenshots to a monitoring system for storage. The captured screenshot data may, for example, be used to recover a device that is lost or stolen.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that protects private data of users while permitting the monitoring or tracking of electronic devices that are shared for both business and private purposes. The electronic devices may be configured to selectively encrypt location data, and/or other types of data, before such data is transmitted to a monitoring center. For example, data collected or generated on a user device outside of work hours may be encrypted with a private key of the device's user prior to transmission to the monitoring center, so that the data is not accessible to the employer. Data collected or generated during work hours may be transmitted without such encryption.

Abstract: Approaches for a server, upon receiving notification that a device has been stolen, composing a legal requisition document. An identification of the device is received or otherwise obtained. A legal requisition template for use in a particular jurisdiction where the device was stolen is retrieved. Upon consulting a database which stores information about police departments of a plurality of jurisdictions, the legal requisition document is composed using the template, the identification, and data retrieved from the database. The server may electronically send the legal requisition document to a police department associated with the particular jurisdiction. Advantageously, information about the activity of a device reported stolen may be obtained before the device is factory reset.

Abstract: Techniques for securing a client. An operating system agent is one or more software modules that execute in an operating system of a client, such as a portable computer. Portions of the operating system agent may monitor resources of the client. The operating system agent sends a message, which describes an operational state of the operating system agent, to a BIOS agent. The BIOS agent is one or more software modules operating in a BIOS of the client. The BIOS agent performs an action based on a policy that is described by policy data stored within the BIOS of the client. The BIOS agent performs the action in response to either (a) the operational state described by the message, or (b) the BIOS agent not receiving the message after an expected period of time.

Abstract: An electronic device, prior to entering a distribution channel, is equipped with a loss prevention client which permits limited use of the device until correct authentication is provided by a legitimate purchaser. By permitting limited use before authentication, the device remains both useful to a legitimate purchaser and valuable to a thief. While allowing operation in the possession of a thief, options can be provided to permit tracking of the device or to allow proper purchase of the device.

Abstract: Devices, methods, systems and a computer readable medium for the provision of alerts to electronic devices in response to real-time, location based analysis of the risk of theft or loss of such devices are provided. A continually updated database of locations of thefts, losses and/or stolen or lost electronic devices is accessed in order to provide the alerts to the electronic devices.

Abstract: A system and associated methods are disclosed for tracking mobile electronic devices while conserving cellular network resources used for such tracking. The tracking may be performed for purposes of facilitating recovery of lost or stolen devices. To conserve network resources, different telephone numbers may be assigned depending upon the location of each device and the time of each call, and individual calls may be made only after a determination has been made that a telephone call is required. A determination that a telephone call is required may be made depending upon whether a protected electronic device had been reported lost or stolen, and/or whether an internet communication between the protected electronic device and a monitoring center has been made within a selected previous period of time. A dynamic schedule permits reserved telephone call slots to be freed up if not needed so that they can be used for devices that need the communication time.

Abstract: A device, method, system and computer readable medium are disclosed for the remote, intelligent capture of screenshots and keystrokes which can subsequently be transmitted with reduced bandwidth requirements.

Abstract: A tamper resistant servicing Agent for providing various services (e.g., data delete, firewall protection, data encryption, location tracking, message notification, and updating software) comprises multiple functional modules, including a loader module (CLM) that loads and gains control during POST, independent of the OS, an Adaptive Installer Module (AIM), and a Communications Driver Agent (CDA). Once control is handed to the CLM, it loads the AIM, which in turn locates, validates, decompresses and adapts the CDA for the detected OS environment. The CDA exists in two forms, a mini CDA that determines whether a full or current CDA is located somewhere on the device, and if not, to load the full-function CDA from a network; and a full-function CDA that is responsible for all communications between the device and the monitoring server. The servicing functions can be controlled by a remote server.