Comments on: CyberNotes: Track a Stolen Computer http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/ Technology News Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:48:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: JMisner http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-139185 JMisner Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:41:52 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-139185 Another great program that is similar and seemingly more powerful is LaptopLock. Currently a free service which not only tracks your laptop by IP, but you can set it up to automatically encrypt or wipe sensitive information you choose, should the thief connect to the internet on your PC. You can also have the program run another program, such as a batch script. The way this works is you would login to their website and report your laptop stolen; then when the LaptopLock service on your PC polls the website for the laptop's status and finds it stolen, it will execute the commands you set it up to. www.thelaptoplock.com Ofcourse, as noted, this wouldn't fool an intelligent thief -- they would likely never run the host operating system live, rather ripping the data directly off the hard drive. However, it seems very lightweight on resources, better than nothing for an important laptop. Another great program that is similar and seemingly more powerful is LaptopLock. Currently a free service which not only tracks your laptop by IP, but you can set it up to automatically encrypt or wipe sensitive information you choose, should the thief connect to the internet on your PC. You can also have the program run another program, such as a batch script. The way this works is you would login to their website and report your laptop stolen; then when the LaptopLock service on your PC polls the website for the laptop’s status and finds it stolen, it will execute the commands you set it up to.

http://www.thelaptoplock.com

Ofcourse, as noted, this wouldn’t fool an intelligent thief — they would likely never run the host operating system live, rather ripping the data directly off the hard drive. However, it seems very lightweight on resources, better than nothing for an important laptop.

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-138069 Ryan Mon, 19 May 2008 19:44:17 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-138069 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-137929" rel="nofollow">Brandon wrote:</a><blockquote>Does the application work before the computer is actually logged in or not until after you enter your login credentials? If someone stole your computer and couldn’t login they would probably format it and get rid of it before the application had a chance to grab the info.</blockquote>[/div] That's one of the downsides... the user does have to be logged in for it to run. Hopefully in the future they would be able to make this run as a service. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-137951" rel="nofollow">Anonymous wrote:</a><blockquote>What a POS. this will hardly work against a smart theif</blockquote>[/div] It's free, and anything that could help return your computer is a big plus in my book. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-137961" rel="nofollow">Anthony wrote:</a><blockquote>It will NOT work at all - any network that proxyes the traffic (where no direct SMTP connections are allowed) will stop it dead. Most ISPs do not allow to use foreign SMTP servers…</blockquote>[/div] I doubt some thief is going to take this to an elaborate corporate network or anything. They'll likely take it hope and connect it to a simple router. Brandon wrote:
Does the application work before the computer is actually logged in or not until after you enter your login credentials? If someone stole your computer and couldn’t login they would probably format it and get rid of it before the application had a chance to grab the info.

That’s one of the downsides… the user does have to be logged in for it to run. Hopefully in the future they would be able to make this run as a service.

Anonymous wrote:
What a POS. this will hardly work against a smart theif

It’s free, and anything that could help return your computer is a big plus in my book.

Anthony wrote:
It will NOT work at all - any network that proxyes the traffic (where no direct SMTP connections are allowed) will stop it dead. Most ISPs do not allow to use foreign SMTP servers…

I doubt some thief is going to take this to an elaborate corporate network or anything. They’ll likely take it hope and connect it to a simple router.

]]> By: Anthony http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-137961 Anthony Fri, 16 May 2008 14:24:38 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-137961 It will NOT work at all - any network that proxyes the traffic (where no direct SMTP connections are allowed) will stop it dead. Most ISPs do not allow to use foreign SMTP servers... So, this is a real POS. It will NOT work at all - any network that proxyes the traffic (where no direct SMTP connections are allowed) will stop it dead. Most ISPs do not allow to use foreign SMTP servers…

So, this is a real POS.

]]> By: Syahid A. http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-137953 Syahid A. Fri, 16 May 2008 08:25:40 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-137953 Personal firewall will be able to block the SMTP outgoing messages. Will work for non techie thieves only. :D Personal firewall will be able to block the SMTP outgoing messages. Will work for non techie thieves only. :D

]]> By: kcpdx http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-137952 kcpdx Fri, 16 May 2008 08:25:22 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-137952 "What a POS. this will hardly work against a smart theif" That's a pretty bold statement, from what Ive seen most theifs aren't very smart to begin with, that's why there theifs. Implemented right this tool can be very useful, beats paying a monthly fee or the potential of having a third party monitor your computer/s. “What a POS. this will hardly work against a smart theif”

That’s a pretty bold statement, from what Ive seen most theifs aren’t very smart to begin with, that’s why there theifs.

Implemented right this tool can be very useful, beats paying a monthly fee or the potential of having a third party monitor your computer/s.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-137951 Anonymous Fri, 16 May 2008 07:56:20 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-137951 What a POS. this will hardly work against a smart theif What a POS. this will hardly work against a smart theif

]]> By: Marty http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-137933 Marty Thu, 15 May 2008 14:46:56 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-137933 From their web site. Too many restrictions for me. * LocatePC can only send email if a user is logged in to the PC, and the PC is connected to the Internet. * LocatePC does not support HTTP proxy servers, mail servers that use SSL or SPA or IMAP (including Gmail and Hotmail), or email accounts that only work when the PC is connected to a specific ISP. From their web site. Too many restrictions for me.

* LocatePC can only send email if a user is logged in to the PC, and the PC is connected to the Internet.
* LocatePC does not support HTTP proxy servers, mail servers that use SSL or SPA or IMAP (including Gmail and Hotmail), or email accounts that only work when the PC is connected to a specific ISP.

]]> By: Brandon http://cybernetnews.com/2008/05/15/cybernotes-track-a-stolen-computer/#comment-137929 Brandon Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:16 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12507#comment-137929 Does the application work before the computer is actually logged in or not until after you enter your login credentials? If someone stole your computer and couldn't login they would probably format it and get rid of it before the application had a chance to grab the info. Does the application work before the computer is actually logged in or not until after you enter your login credentials? If someone stole your computer and couldn’t login they would probably format it and get rid of it before the application had a chance to grab the info.

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