The new feature comes from Phoenix Technologies and will basically allow the user to turn his computer into a worthless piece of plastic if stolen. In order to activate Remote Disable users must create a simple text message command such as "lockdown PC now" or "PC shut off".

When the laptop is stolen, the user sends the command to the ThinkPad notebook via cell phone to the PC’s onboard mobile broadband service and the computer becomes inoperable. In addition, the PC will also send a confirmation text message, so the user would know that the command was executed.

Should the PC be turned off when the message is sent, then the shut down command will be executed as soon as the thief turns on the machine.

When the PC returns to its original user, the latter can reactivate it simply by entering the chosen passcode he had chosen previously.

"Remote Disable dramatically reduces the anxiety and waiting people often experience when they’ve been the victim of a lost or stolen notebook PC," said Bob Galush, vice president, Software and Peripherals Marketing, Lenovo."Combined with features like built-in biometric fingerprint readers, full hard drive encryption and embedded security chips, Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks offer the latest industry-leading PC security technologies."

Lenovo stressed out that the Remote Disable feature will be supported worldwide wherever cellular phone systems support GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) SMS (Short Message Service) text message transmission.