What is Digg?63 Comments
- tazamore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Pretty cool.
But a more typical situation is a crackhead thief snatches laptop then sells it to someone who immediately reformats the hard drive, so I'd be more impressed if there were a hardware device with a small bit of flash memory that could be hidden inside the laptop that reinstalls itself and phones home even if the OS and hard drive is wiped. - joel2600, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3there are a lot of these applications that actually exist out there, ones that even will stay on even if you re-format (because the relevant stuff is on another partition) ... so if they end up wiping all partitions off then you're screwed.
a lot of these software/services packages end up costing more than they are worth IMHO. i've never used the program in the article though, it seems like a good solution and different than a lot of the products I was referring to that are more geared toward larger corporations.
The real problem here though is the double edged sword you run into with using this against people. If spyware removers/antivirus and others ignore this helpful software, then it would end up being extremley easy for malicious users to install this software on other people's machines and use it to do a lot of very bad things..... which becomes a very real possibilty if antivirus makers and others are willingfully ignoring the program.
My guess is that the people making the detection programs won't end up ignoring this program, so it would be up to you to add it to a bunch of exclusion lists and what have you in order to try to avoid alerting the thief that something else is going on. - WaLk3r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just so you guys know, you can't format/reinstall OSX unless you know the firmware password.
- camtech, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"All this should urge the thief to bring the Mac to an authorized Apple reseller."
More likely sell it on ebay. - sofa0ne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Dupe... but I will say once again that this is pointless software, that assumes criminals are stupid.
It may help in some situations but honestly isn't worth poop.
Even if it was hardwired into the machine I am sure it could be circumvented.
http://digg.com/apple/Track_your_Stolen_Mac_via_the_Internet - frem001, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1wasn't this on here before? oh well for those who haven't seen it enjoy.
- mc1123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1what would be funny is if the computer spontaneously dons wheels and runs from the theif.
- jk_baller23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Once again, I don't see how installing software will protect your notebook from getting stolen. Unless the theif stole the notebook for the information that is on it, one could just steal the notebook and then reformat it. And if reformatting isn't possible somehow, switch out the hard drives. $100-$200 hard drive instead of a $1800-$2500 notebook.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0...and most thief's simply flatten the HD then reinstall the OS to prevent back tracking the laptop to an owner. This would pretty much negate the security software.
- Cypher001, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is GREAT!
- knightblade2oo4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"All this should urge the thief to bring the Mac to an authorized Apple reseller."
Yes that works great in theory.
Except for the fact that the computer would get thrown away/destroyed/sold/reformatted. - theendlessnow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I would just leave Win XP on it... that'll make em thing twice!
- DellMan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0if you steal a laptop you probably arent going to take it to a apple store to get it repaired
but the first one is good - caleberx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I wish it was for windows but oh well. What would be better if there was an isight built in the laptop it would turn on and get a picture of the thief that would be awesome! DUGG
- poipoipoi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wire the battery with a -little- C4; you wont get your laptop back but you can remote-detonate the thief's hands off, which is almost as good. :)
- fli7e, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"In fact, it's the first theft recovery software on any platform to do this."
A false claim. LowJack is a piece of software that does this for Windows and it's been around for a good while. I am not sure if it is available for Mac. - LoungeActx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it's nice...and funny...but whatever happened to backing stuff up and insurance? sure there is a deductable...and it's an inconvenience...but at least you'll end up with a new laptop in the end...
- streamlined, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0that freaking rocks!
- Mediaright, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Dupe, but still cool. digg+ In response to earlier comments: most criminals ARE stupid. There's a reason they're criminals in the first place. I'd buy it if it were cheaper.
- diggidydawg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0too cool...
- einsfahrt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0...hmm, I was referring to PCs. I'm not sure about my statement in regards to apples.
- eclectro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You need to rewrite the bios to do this. That will stop all the know-it-alls above dead in their tracks ;)
- ArthurSucks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I was going to say install bonzi buddy, but this works too.
- ZMorek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You'd be suprised how much sensitive information people leave on computers. Though I don't know the average mac user's intelligence in storing sensitive info, I assume that a theif with enough intelligence would squeeze the stolen lappy for all it's worth, identity and all.
- TridenTBoy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Dude this is the way to capture STUPID theifs. Not how to capture normal and smart ones. If the stealer had any sense, he/she would of course totally format the hdd to where all data is COMPLETLY gone forever.(D00M)
- joel2600, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0and yes i know that installing these 'trojan' programs on my PC directly no longer makes them 'trojans' but rather just good ol' software. but i was just referring to programs typically classified and used as trojans. BO, Sub7, et. al
- joel2600, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0also, in which case you could just as easily use readily available trojan packages to accomplish the same goal. (or a lot of other software for that matter)
install trojan on my pc that connects to IRC server when online, exclude it from AV checks, etc. that way if my laptop gets stolen i can just interact with it over IRC or something a lot cooler than this program and have a lot more features and functionality. - dracula7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i hate OLD NEWS - the obvious bads,
you would need to keep a dummy account w/o a password so that the criminal could actually get to the desktop and he or she would need to be connected to the internet and its susceptible to a reformating------------------- still ill probably get it for my macbook pro IF isight support comes--which it will - bmc152006, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0hfs
- Mongoose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Sweet! They should implement this feature on real computers. Er.... I mean PC's. +digg
- Dingle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0These programs can work. Not all thiefs format the computer right after stealing it. They like to poke around the computer to see if they could find personal things, such as credit card numbers and *****.
- jonashwing, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0dupe!
at least the comments here are much better then the lame ones on the link - drbroccoli, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"You need to rewrite the bios to do this. That will stop all the know-it-alls above dead in their tracks ;)"
You should be able to just reset the bios. - TechHacker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh no, wiping the trace on laptop, it's so easy guys! Too easy that I done this every single day! Don't ask! Level 5 clearence! We have the technology and the hardware that the computer we "get it" from are wiped with Dept. of Def. (DoD) 4-wipes standard, non of the trakcing software or personal data wil be on there, we then open it, "make sure" the is no "BUGS" inside the system, and we clean it ans sell it! It's that simple, final word guys, nothing is full proof, once the laptop or system get into our hands, there is no return! So be sure to keep "good care" of your system, don't let the praying eyes see it, otherwise it will be gone like "THAT"! sHOO. byebye....
- Dustyb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Lmfao, thats freaking awesome.
- digitarius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Laptop theft sucks, but I agree with all the posters pointing out the crackhead will just sell it to a fence who will know enough to reformat and scratch off serial numbers.
I advise anyone who uses a laptop to encrypt the important stuff with Truecrypt. Google for it, it's a very interesting piece of software that will definately protect your data. They even have ways of basically encrypting everything so that the thief would be unable to do anything in Windows.
I'd like to see someone put together a trap that ignites a layer of thermite inside the casing when someone tries to reformat your HD. Granted, it'd probably melt the legs off of the thief, but that'll learn 'em, now won't it? If I was a terrorist or big time pirate or somebody with a lot to lose if someone accessed my data, that would be the one feature I'd put my money into. - barbobot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0When my girlfriends lappy got stolen, someone used it for their visual basic class, it was quite odd, as all the code was written in .doc format...
We got it back a week later, nothing officially deleted, but the recycle bin was filled with all her old files, and the wallpaper changed. - rolandog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Bah... you should only set your wallpaper to the goatse guy. That's enough for any thief to leave your laptop and run away.
- compu73rg33k, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is so lame. Could most definitely be worked around with a live linux distro.
- LaCamiseta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't know if anyone else has seen it, but the article has stolen whole paragraphs from the competitor, LapCop (http://homepage.mac.com/sweetcocoa/lapcop/)
- hongy_r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"How about a small amount of plastic explosive that blows the CPU if the power-on password is entered incorrectly 5 times?
Wheels9999"
- idiot - peerk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"if i was to steal a laptop the 1st thing I would do is format"
NO NO!
The first thing you do is boot it up and snoop around for naked pictur...umm...I mean banking information. Yes, look for banking information.
You only format after you realize the guy's girlfriend is 200+ lbs with more rolls than...umm...I mean after you find no banking information. Yes, format after you find no banking information. - squeakypants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0awesome, but it needs to be in a hard device, because anyone smart enough to steal a mac (as opposed to pc) would reformat ASAP
still, digg for hilarity - striker1211, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Put a little cell phone inside the laptops or tracking device where if u go to apple.com and enter your serial number and a special password the laptop's location will be sent to you via email... now that would own.
*knock *knock
Them: Uhh, hello?
You: Yeah, you have my laptop.
Them: I bought this laptop!
You: Do you know the iLocate password?
Them: Huh?
You: *whack with heavy object* ESC
lol... im bored... - Nobi-Wan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wait, wasn't this another Digg a long ass time ago?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Its a mac... thats already the best anti theft already..... whod want a mac? even for free?
+1 flame bait, o wait this isnt slash - cantaclaro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0http://www.rufy.com/laptop.pdf
This is from the Fall 2004 2600: Hacker's Quarterly.
Better article, because the guy goes more indepth. - vann, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0First, Apple doesn't use BIOS, it uses OpenFirmware. That said, it's really easy to reset the OFW password: just remove one of the RAM modules. If you need user passwords, you can just boot into single user mode and reset passwords willy-nilly.
- mrkamil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0thermiteee!
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