Lenovo (LNVGY) announced the first ThinkPad notebooks using security technologies from Utimaco that enable people to fully encrypt the contents of their hard drive with a single swipe of their finger.

Lenovo worked with Utimaco to integrate and offer SafeGuard Easy 4.30, a software program that encrypts information on the hard drive with the single swipe of a fingerprint reader on select ThinkPad notebooks. Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks are the first to offer this rock-solid, layered security solution, which currently provides one of the highest levels of data protection available on mobile PCs.

According to the Computer Security Institute/FBI's 2006 Computer Crime and Security Survey, unauthorized PC access and theft cost companies more than US$16 million in losses in 2006. For the past several years, unauthorized PC access and theft have been leading causes of financial loss among IT users.

"Statistics show few stolen computers are ever recovered, and companies today know the increasing numbers of stolen notebooks bring a high risk for data and identify theft," said Bob Galush, vice president software and peripherals, Lenovo. "Every person carrying unencrypted sensitive information on a notebook PC is at risk. Thinkpad and Utimaco's SafeGuard Easy will help customers better manage this security risk."

The SafeGuard Easy software has received FIPS 140-2 certification from the U.S. government. The U.S. government requires this certification when purchasing encryption products.