Computer theft is estimated to have cost companies $8 billion (€7.36 billion) worldwide last year - equivalent to $120 for each PC purchased. Until now, the most cost-effective deterrent has been a standard tagging system. This involves attaching barcode or radio tags to IT equipment and then monitoring movement through readers placed around a building.

However, an asset identification system developed by Atmel, a US-based semiconductor designer and manufacturer, takes this a big step forward by using "smart" asset identification chips containing memory and a two-way wireless.

With this system, each employee can be given an ID badge which can be read by an asset identification reader. If an employee attempts to carry an asset identification-enabled PC out of the building, the system interrogates the ID badge and the tag to check whether the user has permission to remove it. The AT24RF08 chip costs $1.99 for bulk orders and does not require external power. (www.atmel.com)