Stolen laptop MSN messenger ID coming online

Lady_K

As some of you might already know my daughters laptop was stolen just over a week ago. She had some msn messenger IDs on there with password already remembered. She changed the password of her main one but forgot about the others till I was online today and saw her name come online when she was in the house downstairs and wasnt on the net. She then straight away changed the password of 2 of the other accounts but cant rem the final one

I was hoping at least they would have just wiped it and sold it on but obviously its not been wiped so we are really concerned about the data on it.

She has emailed msn to ask if they can do anything as she cannot rem her password for this one remaining account and she cannot rem the secret question nor didnt set up an alternative mail for them to sent a new pw to her. She did try for the reset option but it says go to the very email address that shes forgotten the password of to get it reset

Can msn trace the IP address to maybe pinpoint where the laptop will have logged in? Theres a lot of personal info on there including scanned car insurance docs, birth certificate and scanned passport so we are pretty worried, people were telling us it would no doubt be wiped then sold on so not to worry about the data but its obviously not been wiped

reehsetin

they should be able to pinpoint the IP depending on the IP used, but question is will they, unless authorities are involved cant imagine they would

albertross_2

Some discussion on the subject here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=308314&highlight=stolen

Tell the police..

albertross_2

Some discussion on the subject here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=308314&highlight=stolen

albertross_2

Some discussion on the subject here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=308314&highlight=stolen

computerwoman

I am sure if you report this to your local police, and give them any info you have on the make model whether you registered it when you got it and which copy of windows your using, then microsoft can effectively zap the laptop which renders it useless abit like a mobile phone and sim card, I am sure I've read about this on the microsoft website where they can zap the copy of windows so it wont work, but also it may render the laptop useless to, so if you did ever get it back it would'nt be working, but also MSN should be able to track the IP address via the police, if this is the case then leave at least one MSN account that the thief can use, so the police can effectively find the culprit and you can get the laptop back then, the police have alsorts of different departments now with the web getting so big, I'm sure they have a department that deals with this sort of theft. CID but with an internet interest. sorry about your daughter losing her laptop and hope you get it back.

j_davies

The only Zapping MS will do is if its a stolen XBox as the XBox is registered to one unique user via its serial number until a XBox legally changes hands then the prior owner has to reliquish the serial number to the new user, as for a PC MS wont even bother unfortunately as a new COA serial is easy peasy to get.

Hope they catch the scumbags :mad:

sarahlouise210

Did she have any other passwords saved ?? Some sites remember your card details for later purchases..........

computerwoman

j_davies wrote:

The only Zapping MS will do is if its a stolen XBox as the XBox is registered to one unique user via its serial number until a XBox legally changes hands then the prior owner has to reliquish the serial number to the new user, as for a PC MS wont even bother unfortunately as a new COA serial is easy peasy to get.

Hope they catch the scumbags :mad:

I thought MS could zap xp

j_davies

computerwoman wrote:

I thought MS could zap xp

Nah its because people are always changing PC compenents like mobos and youll need a new serial for that not to say there maybe a link to them zapping it but I have never found such a link and it would never be put into practice

Thats one of the problems owning a PC with a restore partition a theif doesnt need an XP CD to restore to factory settings to sell on, I would look out for any adverts in the local rag.

computerwoman

from the microsoft website
stolen laptops
4.
Trace a stolen laptop's location.
If your laptop does get stolen, wouldn't it be great if the system could do the high-tech equivalent of phoning home? There are programs that will report the location of a stolen laptop. They work when the laptop connects to the Internet.
Some claim to report the laptop's exact physical location. Tracing programs include zTrace (www.ztrace.com), CyberAngel (www.sentryinc.com) and ComputracePlus (www.computrace.com).
Security experts also say that engraving your name on the computer is helpful. That will make it more difficult to fence. A thief might decide to take a pass.




How to protect your laptop from thieves

By Kim Komando
So there you are, rushing to catch a plane. You've got an important presentation on your laptop PC, along with sensitive company and personal information. And then, suddenly, it's gone.

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Either you've lost it, or it's been stolen. Now you're in a real jam.
Airports and hotels are favorite places for thieves. Laptops disappear from both and that's bad enough. But often, irreplaceable data has gone with them. According to Safeware, an insurance agency specializing in insuring high-tech equipment, 591,000 laptops vanished in 2001.
None of this has to happen to you. But you have to be extra careful today. With the increased security at airports, losing track of a laptop is easier than ever. Here are six guidelines to help you avoid seeing your notebook PC disappear -- or, if it does, help you find it or get a quick replacement.
1.
Tips for getting through security checks.
Oddly, some airports have collected stacks of laptops. They're left behind by harried passengers in security areas. Most are reclaimed eventually. But some people never come back for their machines.





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Obviously, you've got to allow yourself plenty of time when you fly today. When I travel, I carry my laptop in a laptop backpack. There's lots of room in there, and it's inconspicuous. I see fashionable businesspeople carrying laptops in expensive cases. They're asking for trouble. Those cases say, "Laptop! Laptop! Steal me!"
Security people most likely will want to check the laptop. If possible, handle it yourself, rather than having them do it. Frankly, they're not all sophisticated computer users.
When recently traveling through the Los Angeles airport, I had to give some hints to the security experts on how to open my laptop. "Just slide the button there right on the top," I told the perplexed guard. Don't be afraid to speak up. You don't need your machine damaged gratuitously.
Be sure your battery is charged. The security people may well want to turn on the machine. Most important, don't let it out of your sight. This becomes especially difficult if you are selected for a random head-to-toe check.
Once on board your flight, put the computer -- safely stowed in your bag -- under the seat in front of you. Try to avoid putting it in the overhead bin. Others will have more access to it there.
2.
Have sensitive data? Encrypt it.
If you have sensitive information on your computer, consider encrypting it. Programs such as Pretty Good Privacy (www.pgp.com) make the job easy. If you have Windows XP, you already have the tools needed. While the thief has your machine, these extra steps will make it much more difficult to access the laptop's data.
Encryption will protect your business secrets, but it won't retrieve your data. To do that, you've got to back up your information to another computer. If you run your own server, you can easily upload files to it.
You don't have to back up everything on the laptop. Just copy the files you will need to the server. If your laptop should be stolen on your trip, you may be able to borrow a computer at your destination and download your important files. Finding time for backups is a pain, I know. Lots of people don't bother. But backups can save you.
3.
Make your digital-music player do double-duty.
If you don't have a server, or don't want to back up to it, take a look at some digital-music players. Some today have 20-gigabyte hard drives. They are easily hooked to a laptop through the USB or FireWire ports. The data can then be copied to the digital-music player. These things can copy any data, not just music files. Stick it in your baggage.
Archos (www.archos.com), for instance, makes players with hard drives that range from 6 to 20 GB and cost $200 to $350. They will connect to your computer via the USB port. Copying files to them should be fast and easy.
4.
Trace a stolen laptop's location.
If your laptop does get stolen, wouldn't it be great if the system could do the high-tech equivalent of phoning home? There are programs that will report the location of a stolen laptop. They work when the laptop connects to the Internet.
Some claim to report the laptop's exact physical location. Tracing programs include zTrace (www.ztrace.com), CyberAngel (www.sentryinc.com) and ComputracePlus (www.computrace.com).
Security experts also say that engraving your name on the computer is helpful. That will make it more difficult to fence. A thief might decide to take a pass.
5.
Set a system password.
Every road warrior should protect their laptop with a startup password. This way, a system password prompt will appear each time you start your computer before Windows even begins to load. It will prohibit any access to the computer at all. So, this is definitely not a password you want to forget!
To create a system password, you'll need to access your computer's setup utility (also known as CMOS BIOS settings, which stands for "complementary metal oxide semiconductor basic input/output system"). Doing this requires different actions for different computers.
Typically, however, if you press Delete, Esc or F1 as soon as you turn on your system, and before it begins to load Windows, you'll get the setup menu. If in doubt, check your computer's manual or search online at your system manufacturer's Web site.
Once you're into the setup utility, scroll through the options until you find a setting for "security," or it may even be labeled "password." Enter your desired password and make sure you press "save and exit" (usually F10, but this too varies by machine).
6.
Consider laptop PC insurance.
Finally, if your laptop is expensive, you might want to insure it. Some homeowners', renters' and business insurance policies don't cover computers, and if they do, they may be limited in the type of coverage.
But a few insurers, such as Safeware (www.safeware.com), specialize in insuring computers. You can get an online quote through Safeware or through InsuranceTraders.com, an online directory of insurance companies.
Today's laptops are ripe targets for thieves. If you follow these basic guidelines along with some good common sense, you don't have to give yours up.
Kim Komando
Kim Komando writes about workplace technology and security issues. She's the host of the nation's largest talk-radio show about computers and the Internet, and writes a syndicated column for more than 100 Gannett newspapers and for USA Today. Find Kim's show on the radio station nearest you, and [EMAIL="subscribe&#64;komando.com"]send an e-mail[/EMAIL] to subscribe to her free weekly e-mail newsletter.


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hope this helps found it on the microsoft website but it is old.