Lenovo ThinkPads to get text-message kill switch

Lenovo is to build a new security feature into some of its upcoming ThinkPad notebooks, allowing users to remotely lock their machines' functionality by sending an SMS. Lenovo said that there will be no extra cost for laptops using its Constant Secure Remote Disable feature, and the feature will be supported anywhere that GSM communications and text messaging are supported by local cellular networks. This kind of cellular-based remote-kill functionality is fairly widespread in the corporate mobile-phone market and is common in military and secure voice-communications systems, but is only now becoming feasible in the laptop world, through the embedding of cellular connectivity into notebooks. In October, security company McAfee and communications firm Alcatel-Lucent announced they were working together on a similar mobile-security package that would use embedded cellular capabilities to protect notebook computers.