Computer software that enables a stolen laptop to seek help out loud has been developed. The Associated Press reported on Thursday that Front Door Software Corp. launched a Retriever program that combats laptop theft.

If a thief fails to enter the correct password, a loud voice shouts, "Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen," from the speaker. A message saying "Stolen laptop" and contact information of the owner appears onscreen every 30 seconds. Retriever also begins tracking down the location of the laptop while sending out the warning message.

As soon as the laptop is turned on, it will automatically connect to the internet by searching for a Wi-Fi network then send its location information to the Front Door Software website. The owner of the stolen laptop can check its location online and report it to the police. The owner can set a password on the website to hide important information stored in the laptop.

As slim, light laptops became increasingly popular, the issue of stolen laptops has become more serious. According to a survey by Dell, the world's second largest PC maker, about 12,000 laptops are reported lost in the airports of the United States.

This prompts many software companies to develop counter-theft programs that protect leakage of important information. Lenovo, a Chinese PC maker, plans to launch a program that stops operation of a stolen PC by sending signals using a mobile phone within the first half of this year. Ericsson, in collaboration with Intel, will launch a technology that tracks down the location of a stolen PC using global positioning system (GPS) in the second half of this year.