Lenovo will be rolling out software to allow remote disable of laptops via the WAN card. Apparently you'll be able to send a text message to the laptop from any of ten phones that will disable it immediately if it is on, or the next time that it is turned on if off. There also appears to be a provision to unlock it if it is recovered. Also mentioned is a similar service from Dell.

http://www.eweek.com/index2.php?option=content&task=view&id=50568&pop=1&hide_ads=1&page=0&hide_js=1

Ummm thanks?

Hrmmm warzapping?

that is so funny.  that was my first thought. "so how do we find that text and exploit it?"

It's brief but it's out there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warzapping

If anyone wants to improve on it, feel free.

Definitely worth a bit of experimentation. As it so happens, I should have a Lenovo laptop arriving in the next week or so  .

If its looking for a particular phone number to be sending the disable signal, it might be spoofable, depending on what exactly it's looking for. If it's something simple like caller ID (seems unlikely), then it should be really simple to fake.

Warzapping could also apply to certain mobile phones. I've seen a feature on some Symbian phones to lock the phone on reciept of a text message with a predetermined keyword. As far as I can see SMS message can originate from anywhere. So spam a whole load of phones with the message 'lock' and see how far you get 

Jimbob

I'm curious to see what other devices have features like this. So far laptops, PDAs, phones, and vehicles.