BIOS program helps recover stolen Thinkpads?...

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xcountryrower · #1 Post by **xcountryrower** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:33 pm

I think I heard somewhere that some thinkpads have a program that helps the owner locate the laptop in case someone steals it and the program is immune to hard drive formatting. True or false?

Kenn · #2 Post by **Kenn** » Tue May 03, 2005 9:16 pm

Dunno if it's immune to formatting or resides on the BIOS or anything, but the new laptops do ship with a 3rd-party program that acts as a software transponder - it pings a central server with its IP location when connected to the Internet. Definitely a step in the right direction, but I think you're right in that the best place for it to reside would be on the firmware.

mattfromomaha · #3 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Wed May 04, 2005 10:31 am

My understanding of the new Computrace is that it does reside in the computer's bios. However, I'm not sure I put much faith in a stolen laptop ever being recovered, Computrace or not. Hell, the police department around here is busy enough as it, I doubt it would go out to recover a laptop. Plus, if my laptop were stolen I wouldn't really want it back - I just worry about my data.

Get an insurance policy on your ThinkPad. I pay about $60/year for complete theft coverage.

craigg · #4 Post by **craigg** » Wed May 04, 2005 10:32 am

Some users install Computrace on their Thinkpads. It is a program that resides on the hard drive, running in the background, and whenever you connect online you can be tracked to your isp. If the laptop has been reported as stolen then law enforcement can be notified. If you format the hard drive the tracking program will be removed.

If you set up your advanced security features within the Thinkpad you can effectively lock someone out of your Thinkpad if they do not have the passwords. From what I understand, IBM can not or will not unlock the computer for you and the embedded security is extremely difficult to bypass.

Leon · #5 Post by **Leon** » Wed May 04, 2005 12:23 pm

Do new Thinkpads come with CompuTrace?

rssb · #6 Post by **rssb** » Wed May 04, 2005 1:53 pm

The newer thinkpads , have a computrace module in the bios. This is similar to the fingerprint module, even when your hard is removed the finger print still works once it is in place.

So my guess is it is highly possible that this computrace version also works similarly, where in you need the program to setup everything first which runs of the hard disk, and once set it runs even without the hard disk, using the regular ethernet port.

If someone has a better understanding of this , or brought this service can tell us more.

Leon · #7 Post by **Leon** » Wed May 04, 2005 2:05 pm

So, even though it comes with it, you have to buy the service?

craigg · #8 Post by **craigg** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:02 pm

My new T43 doesn't have Computrace listed in the bios so I did some research and see that it is a new option offered by IBM. Here is a link to the press release:

http://www-1.ibm.com/press/PressServlet ... cunid=7525

I am not sure if one can buy the software and if the software is capable of updating the bios or not but I assume unless your Thinkpad is specifically sold with Computrace that you would have to get a newer version of the bios. I did a search on IBM and can't find any further details but I am sure if one were interested in this service that a phone call to either IBM or Computrace could provide more details.

rssb · #9 Post by **rssb** » Wed May 04, 2005 6:57 pm

The code is already there in the BIOS, no need of any software to update the bios. To this similar to embedded security sub system, which needs the client security software, its just that you dont see any enable / disable options in the bios directly.( atleast with what i have seen)

My guess is ...
The compu trace software needs to be purchased in order to connect to thier server and use thier services.

The software on the HD is needed to configure the code in the bios, and setup an account with the server, and send some hardware specific ids etc.. which will be checked everytime the machine is powered on.

It's like having a cell phone with no service on it, unless you sign up for a plan.

xcountryrower · #10 Post by **xcountryrower** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:08 pm

But if u buy a T-pad with it already installed is it good to go? That would suck if you had to purchase the plan seperately.

rssb · #11 Post by **rssb** » Wed May 04, 2005 9:17 pm

You have to sign up with computrace or add it when you buy the system then it will be good to go.

Leon · #12 Post by **Leon** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:34 am

"SafeGuard PrivateDisk-Personal Edition will be available for free web download for IBM customers at www.ibm.com starting March 1, 2005."

.... where?

Plinkerton · #13 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri May 06, 2005 12:30 pm

Get an insurance policy on your ThinkPad. I pay about $60/year for complete theft coverage.

Hey mattfromomaha, what company do you do this thru, and where can I sign up?

Thanks,
Plink

mlykke · #14 Post by **mlykke** » Sun May 08, 2005 9:45 am

My questions is - How the hell can a piece of software tell you where the computer is physically located without imbedding a GPS in the actual laptop?
I cant see how thats possible. All i can see is that it could send an IP number of the internetconnection being used but even that dosnt help if it's a hotspot, a mobilephone or similar.

Kenn · #15 Post by **Kenn** » Sun May 08, 2005 10:26 am

mlykke wrote:My questions is - How the hell can a piece of software tell you where the computer is physically located without imbedding a GPS in the actual laptop?
I cant see how thats possible. All i can see is that it could send an IP number of the internetconnection being used but even that dosnt help if it's a hotspot, a mobilephone or similar.

It is by sending an IP ping when connected to the internet. And theoretically it can be VERY helpful. True, you don't get a physical coordinate like with a GPS, but if you're at a starbucks hotspot, that would narrow the location down to one address, as opposed to connecting through a nationwide ISP that says "this IP is was reserved in San Francisco" or something similarly broad.

Now, I think the real question is how cooperative ISPs are with this. With a given IP at a given time, it would be possible for the ISP to track down which household/business it connected from and give you an account name, address on file, etc., which is what I think this software is meant to help with. But ISPs are busy, they probably don't have time to dig through logfiles, law enforcement has better things to do than hunt down laptops, yadda yadda...so there's a lot in the way that has nothing to do with the location-finding capabilities of the software/hardware infrastructure that might keep you from getting your machine back.

mlykke · #16 Post by **mlykke** » Sun May 08, 2005 1:48 pm

Not to mention that every ISP i know wouldnt handout that kind of information unless required to be a court order which is not gonna happen in a million years with the busy police.

Leon · #17 Post by **Leon** » Sun May 08, 2005 10:54 pm

Plinkerton wrote:
Get an insurance policy on your ThinkPad. I pay about $60/year for complete theft coverage.
Hey mattfromomaha, what company do you do this thru, and where can I sign up?

Thanks,
Plink

safeware.com

Plinkerton · #18 Post by **Plinkerton** » Mon May 09, 2005 12:40 am

Thanks dude.

BIOS program helps recover stolen Thinkpads?...

BIOS program helps recover stolen Thinkpads?...

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