Webcams used 42 times to find laptops

and if you believe the subject you're pretty darn dense.

Young tells The Associated Press that only two technology department employees were authorized to activate the cameras - and only to locate missing laptops.

He says Lower Merion school officials did not tell students and parents about the security technique. 

I'm not sure exactly what software they are using, but I suspect its similar to "lojack" and when the computer accesses the internet the software will phone home and allow anyone with the proper permissions to remotely access the PC. 

The school is within their rights to protect their property but against popular myth not all IT people have a proper moral compass and many will abuse the power they have for personal gain or just for cheap tricks.  For instance email admins will read your email, often times not to be nosy but to investigate problems, or look to see why you're sending 5megs of something across the network. 

In the end, this may work for finding lost computers but only if they are turned on.  Along the same lines if someone wanted to steal the computer it they would likely be smart enough to either disable the camera or reformat the hard drive. 

I mean it's not rocket science.

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