PC users are familiar with the term BIOS (standing for Basic Input/Output System), although few know exactly what it does, they do know that they need it and occasionally you are required to press F1 or some other combination to invoke it and save your computer from certain doom.

According to an article on PC World, Pheonix Technologies, makers of PC BIOS systems for many years have released a new version that uses the internet to detect that a computer has been stolen and potentially to erase the hard drive of the stolen computer.

The product is being released in conjunction with Softex Incorporated (obnoxious MSIE-only website) and the press release says it will be called TheftGuard.

I wonder when we'll see the firewall information about how to prevent the systems from calling home?