What I like about it is that unlike Lojack for Laptops, this product lets you remotely retrieve files over the Internet if my laptop ever gets stolen. Plus it apparently also lets you monitor everything the thief does on your stolen computer.
Just wanted to get other’s feedback if possible before I made the purchase.
If I ever stole a laptop, I’d first scan it for anything useful such as files with bank details or any other private info - offline - and then I’d proceed to format it clean.
If I couldn’t get in, I’d format it straight off the bat.
Just password protect your machine, by using something like the BIOS password - it will render the machine useless if someone doesn’t know it or you forget it though so be careful.
All they would have to do is remove your hard drive, which most intelligent thieves would do anyway.
If you honestly just want to be able to access your hard drive, and don’t think they would change stuff, www.logmein.com offers that for free, at least they did when i was there last.
Get some good hard disk encryption software and encrypt your drive. Also a standalone hardisk and make regular backups.
Ignore the other stuff, if the thieves are smart you’ll never see the machine online, if their dumb you’ll never see the machine online either as it’ll be sold to someone who’s smart.
The crazy thing is that it was my work laptop and it was password protected and the files were encrypted.
The big problem (as the head of the IT department at work explained to me) is the huge proliferation of password cracking software.
Most laptop thieves nowadays know that the information on the laptop is often more valuable than the laptop itself.
What they do is use the password cracking software (which is readily available online for under $50 or so) to create a temporary Windows password that gives them admin access to the machine. They then reset any passwords and Voila! They have complete access - encryption or not.
The reason I’m looking at Laptop Cop is because I want to be able to remotely delete or retrieve files as well as monitor the thief’s activity.
I will buy the software and test it out. Then I’ll let you all know.
If anyone has ever used it, I’d love your opinion.
Honestly, it would essentially be a waste of money. A thief who is after sensitive data will not connect the computer to any Internet connection until they have what they want and the machine has been wiped. The only individuals stupid enough to connect as soon as they steal it are the ones looking for porn and surfing the web who could care less about banks statements and business contacts.
I’ve had to break my way into several friends computers after they’ve done various stupid things to them. What it all comes down to is this: if there is data on the computer, no matter what you do, someone will get it if they want it.
Have a password on your system? They’ll use ophcrack.
Have BIOS password? They’ll take out the RAM battery for ten minutes.
If you want to ensure that no one gets your data, you need to do this - buy a 32GB USB flash drive ($100 at Newegg). Buy a belt clip. Save all data on USB drive only. Encrypt USB drive with TrueCrypt with highest level (not easy to crack). Clip USB drive to your belt when finished. Back up data at home on a stationary desktop.
Everyone has great points. I really appreciate all of the insight.
Now that I have my new laptop, I went ahead and purchased the software.
It is cool as hell!
Basically, after installing Laptop Cop onto your laptop, you can get remote access to it and pull files right over the Internet or delete them too.
I spoke to the company (I know it’s not the best place to get unbiased info but they really did seem totally honest) and they talked about the many successes they have in recovering laptops and retrieving and deleting files for their customers.
They gave me one statistic that seemed high to me but I checked it out with a web search and it is in fact valid.
They said that according to the FBI crime stats, 93% of stolen laptops end up hitting the Internet again so there is actually a very good chance that I’ll be able to do everything they promise if my laptop is ever stolen.
In any case, I certainly feel a lot better having it on my new laptop.
I lost so much important info when my last one was stolen that my life is still upside down.
Oh - and I also learned:
MAKE REGULAR BACKUPS OF ALL REALLY IMPORTANT INFO!!!
[quote]The Seeker wrote:
They said that according to the FBI crime stats, 93% of stolen laptops end up hitting the Internet again so there is actually a very good chance that I’ll be able to do everything they promise if my laptop is ever stolen.
[/quote]
I guess a lot of criminals are dumber than I thought.
Glad you’re happy, no doubt that backing up is majorly important. I even backup my backup drive.
[quote]rsg wrote:
If I ever stole a laptop, I’d first scan it for anything useful such as files with bank details or any other private info - offline - and then I’d proceed to format it clean.
If I couldn’t get in, I’d format it straight off the bat.
Just password protect your machine, by using something like the BIOS password - it will render the machine useless if someone doesn’t know it or you forget it though so be careful.[/quote]
in which case you open up the machine and manualy reset the bios
[quote]Nich wrote:
rsg wrote:
If I ever stole a laptop, I’d first scan it for anything useful such as files with bank details or any other private info - offline - and then I’d proceed to format it clean.
If I couldn’t get in, I’d format it straight off the bat.
Just password protect your machine, by using something like the BIOS password - it will render the machine useless if someone doesn’t know it or you forget it though so be careful.
in which case you open up the machine and manualy reset the bios
[/quote]
Usually, yes.
A friend of mine had a client lock up the laptop this way, and we tried everything to remove it but couldn’t - the manufacturers themselves said the machine is useless so we stripped it for parts.
[quote]rsg wrote:
Nich wrote:
rsg wrote:
If I ever stole a laptop, I’d first scan it for anything useful such as files with bank details or any other private info - offline - and then I’d proceed to format it clean.
If I couldn’t get in, I’d format it straight off the bat.
Just password protect your machine, by using something like the BIOS password - it will render the machine useless if someone doesn’t know it or you forget it though so be careful.
in which case you open up the machine and manualy reset the bios
Usually, yes.
A friend of mine had a client lock up the laptop this way, and we tried everything to remove it but couldn’t - the manufacturers themselves said the machine is useless so we stripped it for parts.[/quote]
I concur. I’ve seen this on several occasions - No way to reset the bios other than literally swapping the chip on several manufacturers systems.
[quote]rsg wrote:
If I ever stole a laptop, I’d first scan it for anything useful such as files with bank details or any other private info - offline - and then I’d proceed to format it clean.
If I couldn’t get in, I’d format it straight off the bat.
Just password protect your machine, by using something like the BIOS password - it will render the machine useless if someone doesn’t know it or you forget it though so be careful.[/quote]
BIOS password? It shuts your whole system down? Is this somehow more effective than the password already formatted for my computer?
[quote]Professor X wrote:
rsg wrote:
If I ever stole a laptop, I’d first scan it for anything useful such as files with bank details or any other private info - offline - and then I’d proceed to format it clean.
If I couldn’t get in, I’d format it straight off the bat.
Just password protect your machine, by using something like the BIOS password - it will render the machine useless if someone doesn’t know it or you forget it though so be careful.
BIOS password? It shuts your whole system down? Is this somehow more effective than the password already formatted for my computer?[/quote]
You mean your Windows/Other operating system password? If so, then yes.
Your BIOS password (you can set it by entering the BIOS with one of the F-keys) can be set on most systems with 2 independant options:
A) Set a password to enter the BIOS, thereby disabling anyone from fiddling with settings and;
B) Set a system password which your computer asks for just before booting up into your OS.
These are basically a lot stronger since you cannot boot into DOS and would need to either a disk with special software or to reset the BIOS, which as mentioned before isn’t always possible.
I vote for just being extra vigilant with your laptop, since it has such sensitive information on it. Hide it in your house when not using it, and if you are out on business, just keep it with you at all times.
There are times at college when I take my macbook pro to the shitter with me because of the rampant theft.
On many laptops now, Like the Dell Latitudes for instance a power on password renders the machine useless without the password.
Removing the battery doesn’t work as there is an isolated block of eeprom memory where the security info is stored that is not reset under any circumstances I know of short of replacing the motherboard which I had to do once on a C610 with a power on password that nobody knew because the guy set it when he was fired.
Dell also uses an outfit which name I don’t recall at the moment that is like lojack in the bios and once it’s subscribed to set and activated it cannot be deactivated. However if it’s disabled before activation it cannot be enabled either. It is completely independent of any other piece than the eeprom soldered on the motherboard.
As soon as the machine goes live on the internet it invisibly phones home to a manned monitoring center with an ip address that can be chased down by the authorities if a theft report has been filed. It does this even with no hard drive at all if it is started on a live cable or in range of a WAP.
No I don’t work for Dell, but was a Dell certified warranty technician for 6 years and have the most experience with them.
BTW, I don’t mean to be a joykill, but anything on the hard drive can be defeated or eliminated with relative ease as far as keeping the machine out of the reach of recovery. Good encryption may keep your data out of the hands of all but the most l33t miscreants, but it won’t get the machine back.
Like the other guys said. If I stole a machine I would look it over offline with the bios being first and slam the drive. Even format resistant partition table protection can be defeated by freely available wiping tools and even if not it’s no big deal to just put another drive in it.
Why would anyone buy that piece of software? If you know the guy is going online at some point, then you could ssh to it which gives you total control over your machine.
If all you need is an IP and a pic of the guy (assuming it has a built-in cam), you could get away with a basic script to do just that.
[quote]lixy wrote:
Why would anyone buy that piece of software? If you know the guy is going online at some point, then you could ssh to it which gives you total control over your machine.
If all you need is an IP and a pic of the guy (assuming it has a built-in cam), you could get away with a basic script to do just that.
Enter an incorrect password on more than 2 occasions and not only will all your sensitive data be destroyed to stop unauthorized access, but the thief will get his face burnt off too!
