Download FREE! software that can help tracking stolen or lost laptop,

cirrus18

Download FREE! software that can help tracking stolen or lost laptop,

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/08/14/download-adeona-free-open-source-software-to-help-keeping-track-of-lost-or-stolen-laptop/

As there are so many laptop thefts I thought this might help somebody to get theirs back if it gets stolen in the future.

Cat695

erm what happens then if i wipe the hard drive in my newly nicked laptop?? or even change it for a new one

the software is good in but has one BIG weakness

timbim_2

Yes, but not all oportunists will bother to do that.

superscaper

And if you do install it and the thief erases the drive you're no worse off for having installed it in the first place. At least there's a good chance the thief won't wipe the drive first. They'll probably be rummaging around anyway to create a false identity from your personal info. (remember to encrypt your stuff)

I thought it was a good suggestion. I've looked into some various software before but not really found any relatively decent open source alternatives. Will have to give this one a go.

Conor_3

timbim wrote: »

Yes, but not all oportunists will bother to do that.

But most people who end up recieving the lappy will.

superscaper

loaner wrote: »

Pretty useless in this country, even if you had an IP, it wouldn't get investigated.

Is that "fact" based on stats or cynicism?

superscaper

loaner wrote: »

All of the above mixed up. Can't guarantee it as fact in all cases, but realistically I doubt any time would be wasted on a second hand laptop (unless possibly violence was involved).

Can't hurt having it. You're right in this country they'd probably not bother about a single laptop but if there'd been a spate of thefts it could end up being the only lead and worth investigating. It's like a couple of years ago when a guy installed security software on his desktop that took a photo and emailed it if there was any motion detected. When his house was broken into and everthing taken (including the computer). The police caught the guy because they recognised him, being as he was a perpetual thief, from the photo. No big manhunt or anything. It just all helps and you never know. I don't see how the fact it's not got the answer to everything means that it's carte blanche useless.

superscaper

Actually thinking about it, now you mention other stuff, I use logmein quite a bit and since that logs the IP address of when it was last online I suppose in my case it would be superfluous anyway.