Need a laptop? Go to the airport!

Apparently, 12,000 laptops are lost each week in major airports in the US, more than 65% of which are never reclaimed, according to a study sponsored by Dell and conducted by the Ponemon Institute. (You can download the PDF here.) The problem is not just a matter of hardware loss, but “53% of people admit to carrying business confidential information and 65% of those people do not take appropriate steps to safeguard their information,” says a Ponemon executive.

Could it also be that some of those laptops are left intentionally by people who see the disappearance of their laptops as the only surefire way to get their companies to give them an upgrade that matches what is provided to new hires?