IJacking

The term "iJacking" is used in two ways. The identity management company Intersections, Inc.  uses it to describe "the emotionally devastating and financially draining effects of identity theft and fraud," with the "i" standing for identity, and "iJacking" being a play on the term hijacking. Refer to identity theft for more details on that subject. The term is also used to describe the theft of a laptop by snatching it from an owner’s hands, and this encyclopedia entry focuses on that definition.

Laptops are valuable and easy to steal. As a result, the crime of iJacking has recently increased in frequency. Cafes and restaurants are likely scenes for iJacking, especially if the owner is not vigilant. Reported cases include ones in which the thief ran immediately to a getaway car parked nearby, making it very difficult for the owner to follow.

Because laptop owners are present during iJacking, the crime is different from burglary and therefore not reported under that category. The San Francisco Bay Guardian (SFBG) reported 30 iJacking cases in 2005, and the crime appears to be on the rise.

Laptops may contain very sensitive data and should be protected. Either all files should be encrypted or at least password protection should be in place in order to make sensitive data unavailable to the thief.

Some businesses attach non-removable ID tags to laptops in order to assist in their recovery. Some cafes also provide physical security by allowing you to attach your laptop to a cable while you’re working. But this doesn’t ensure full security, since the thief may follow you outside the café before snatching it.