Mac Theft Recovery Software Tracks Thieves 82
Dubpal writes "Apple Macintosh users can now fit their machines with theft protection software that reports back on what a thief is doing with their computer, should it ever be stolen. The software, named "Undercover" allows users to report their Macs as stolen, causing the software to report back with IPs, screenshots and even a picture of the thief and his surroundings. In addition to this, Undercover begins faking hardware faults, displaying messages and even reading them aloud, alerting anyone around that the Mac's been stolen."
Utter Bullshit. (Score:5, Interesting)
In other words, this piece of software is useful only to: Oh, and anyone tempted to quote the following from the faq at me: 1) Bypassing the firmware is also trivial on Apple machines - all you have to do is add some Ram, and boot
2) Noone has a firmware bios password.
Oh, and last thing - again from the FAQ Bullshit. If they could do that, they would be selling that, not their little toy spyware app.
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:3, Informative)
Horsecrap. The firmware password is trivial to get around - you can just add Ram & remove it. Bam. Done.
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:5, Interesting)
It's a $30 program that provides a far sight more chance of recovering a stolen laptop than nothing does. I, for one, think it's worth it, even if it would only have a chance of working work 1/10 of the time.
Which I would be willing to wager is a pretty low guess, given the tech-savviness of your average opportunist thief - someone who knows enough about computers to know how to reset the firmware password on a Mac is more than likely going to be tech-savvy enough to be able to get a better job than stealing computers off of tables at coffee shops.
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
Buy $30 worth of insurance - a much better solution.
enough about computers to know how to reset the firmware password on a Mac is more than likely going to be tech-savvy enough to be able to get a better job than stealing computers off of tables at coffee shops.
If the firmware password is set (I doubt it), then the thief will simply sell it to someone who knows how to bypass the firmware password. The va
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
I think you'd be better off investing in property insurance and a backup scheme. The insurance will replace the hardware, you backup will replace the lost content.
You'll also be protected against physical damage to the computer; the theft protection program won't do that.
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:1)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:3, Funny)
What if I like my false sense of security?
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
Well, to be fair... If you work at a prison, you only see the criminals who were dumb enough to get caught, and furthermore too dumb to find a lawyer who could mount a useful enough defense to keep them out of prison.
In the majority of crimes, the perp ge
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:2)
Yes, but the majority of crimes are committed by a small minority of criminals, and the odds that a criminal will get caught doing something is high. Criminals are generally not very bright, which is not a startling claim if you realize the average human is not very smart, and half of them are less smart than average! :-)
Mostly Bullshit. (Score:2)
Just call me Captain Nemo, then. (And it's not "BIOS" on a Mac; for anything even remotely recent, it's either "Open Firmware" or "EFI", depending on model.) "Only the seriously paranoid have a firmware/BIOS password," I will certainly grant.
I'll also note that a firmware bios password can also be bypassed by removing the hard drive and connecting to a new machine via any of the usual methods... at which point, removing Undercover becomes much simpler. And if there
Re:Mostly Bullshit. (Score:2)
We should also remember that said thief will need to -look for- this program... Not every laptop thief reads
Re:Utter Bullshit. (Score:1)
A picture of the theif? (Score:5, Insightful)
I have issues with this, in that if the webcam is hardwired to the machine, and can be accessed remotely without the users knowledge - what stops a hacker spying on you for less legitimate reasons?
Like the schokwave debacle? I would have preferred Apple to have included a physical shutter to close the webcam when not in use rather than chance the unsightly aspects of my private life being shown to the masses. It's a little too orwellian for me.
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:1)
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't let any shady characters in trenchcoats install apps on your Mac?
The camera does have an indicator light for when it's on..
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:1)
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:2)
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:2)
It's a program that you install on your computer ahead of time. Like any other program, this one has access to the hardware in the machine, including the webcame. Like any program you install in your machine, it also has access to the Internet. It phones home at regular intervals, and if home responds that it's been stolen, it then starts collecting this information and saving it.
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:1, Funny)
This is the one and only reason I let the hot blonde chick down the hall borrow my macbook.
thank god for duct tape (Score:2)
[O'Brian] - do we have the incriminating pictures of Smith yet? [Faceless Functionary] - umm.. no sir, there seems to be something blocking the camera. Our systems seems to have been defeated. [O'Brian]- What? We've spent millions developing this technology! There is nothing wrong with our system.
Re:A picture of the theif? (Score:2)
C'mon, who the hell would really use a built-in camera for anything serious after the first week of playing with the machine? Okay, besides the "video podcast" crowd or those chronic Internet expeditionists who get kicks out of waving their wangs around at complete strangers online. (Not that there's a whole lot of difference between these two gro
Audio Message (Score:5, Funny)
-tgpo
http://www.tgpo.info/ [tgpo.info]
Re:Car alarm syndrome? (Score:4, Informative)
Hint: it doesn't discover it is stolen, you (the owner) report it as such to the company.
Not foolproof! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Not foolproof! (Score:2)
Yeah maybe he just wants it for gaming HAHAHA!!
The only system I ever use regularly is my powerbook
Put your tinfoil hats (Score:4, Funny)
Obvious Headline generator (Score:2)
Re:Obvious Headline generator (Score:1)
Re:Apple's to learn a valuable lesson the hard way (Score:1, Offtopic)
No, now I did.
I've been always amazed how quickly registered users drop to AC's if they doubt it'll be good for their karma though.
Re:Apple's to learn a valuable lesson the hard way (Score:1)
guarantee (Score:2)
Sweet! So if my laptop gets stolen and they can't find it, I get 30 bucks back! How can you possibly go wrong?
Re:guarantee (Score:2)
iCal: Poor person's recovery tool (Score:2)
Re:iCal: Poor person's recovery tool (Score:2)
Hm.
Re:iCal: Poor person's recovery tool (Score:1)
A little complex, but should do the trick...
Re:iCal: Poor person's recovery tool (Score:1)
Re:So how silly are theifs? (Score:4, Funny)
13. Profit!!!
Re:So how silly are theifs? (Score:1)
Terrible idea.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Sounds like a guaranteed way to get your stolen mac smashed into unuseable pieces.
How to steal a laptop (Score:2, Funny)
1. Remove Kensington Laptop Lock. [digg.com]
2. Add / Remove Ram if firmware pw is set. [slashdot.org]
3. Boot from removable install media. [intelliot.com]
4. Format Hard Drive (after you go through it and keep the good bits, music pron etc) [slashdot.org]
5. Reinstall OS
Re:How to steal a laptop (Score:1)
6. Profit..
there is a pc version too (Score:1)
Re:there is a pc version too (Score:1)
Hey! that's my idea! (that and downloadable hardware upgrades....)
I don't want my stolen Mac back (Score:2)
My iBook was stolen recently, and although that is a PITA, I have backups so no data was lost. And with the money I got from the insurance company I can buy a new MacBook now!
Re:I don't want my stolen Mac back (Score:2)
Has the makings of a TV show.... (Score:2)
Re:Has the makings of a TV show.... (Score:1)
LK
I've dealt with several stolen laptops. (Score:5, Interesting)
The stolen laptops that law enforcement have contacted me about, have been largely pointless (as I work for an ISP and have access to the customer records). The perpetraitor or possesor of stolen goods is almost always at a hotel (wifi hotspot - what have you). Under US law - John Doe search warrant of a hotel isn't good enough.
You can't wake everyone in a hotel up and search thier rooms, the police need a specific name and room number, they can only search one room.
So thus screen shots, and knowing the identity of the person who's using their stolen laptop, improves your chances of recovery immensely.
Re:I've dealt with several stolen laptops. (Score:2)
Say he's using the laptop to coordinate a terrorist attack, that should get you a search warrent. You probably won't get the laptop back, but said theif will likely dissapear and never be heard from again.
Re:I've dealt with several stolen laptops. (Score:2)
Of course if it's WiFi the area could be a bit big.
All the people grousing about how useless this is (Score:5, Insightful)
This is really a bit convoluted as an anti-theft measure, although it does look interesting. By far the best way to avoid having your laptop stolen is not to leave it unattended, not to use it anywhere you wouldn't wave $1000 in cash above your head and not to keep it in anything that resembles a laptop bag - use a ratty old satchel or a diaper bag. Muggers are just about the bottom of the criminal food chain, it doesn't take a lot to outsmart them. Just like net security, you just need to be a slightly more difficult target than the next guy and that next guy is talking on his cellphone while walking through a car park at 11pm with a swanky leather 'dell' bag on his shoulder.
Re:All the people grousing about how useless this (Score:1)
Another Option (Score:2, Interesting)
Would this actually hold up in court? (Score:2)
a more reliable solution (Score:1)
Re:a more reliable solution (Score:1)
yeah goooood Idea, the next step would be either to add those chips in kids brain, just in case they get lost, or to add remote control on these chips (or even both)
I am always sad to see people willing to give-up privacy for security, I'd rather pay for the insurance. My laptop i
Re:a more reliable solution (Score:1)
the idea is to have small micrometer sized dots sprayed all over the car. it is *impossible* to clean-up the car of all the dots from a stolen car. investigators / spare part shops can detect stolen car parts this way. this prevents cars from being stolen and sold in parts as well. see here for more [montreal.ctv.ca]
Mac PhoneHome (Score:1)