Stolen laptop :|

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spt60 · #1 Post by **spt60** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:13 am

Hey guys my last roommate right after he moved out stole my laptop and the cop couldn't do anything about it. It's been 2 years ago and I'm still searching for it online but couldn't find it. He's probably smart enough not to sell it.

My question is that is there a free software/service to protect from stolen laptop (effectively)? I know my Dell Vostro has a service in bios but I haven't tried it yet. It's only free for one-year though.

All I can do with all my pc is to lock boot order to 1st boot directly to hdd and lock the bios. But they can reset it right? My stolen one was a Vaio, I currently own a Vostro and a T60.

Any experience?

Thanks.

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:48 pm

One reason I like ThinkPads is that you can password protect the hard drive. Reasonably, the HD password cannot be legally broken, so if my TP were stolen, the crook has to get a different HD as mine will never run again. ... JDH

spt60 · #3 Post by **spt60** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:59 pm

actually you can also do that with Dells' laptops. Not sure how effective it is compares to TP.

Moskito · #4 Post by **Moskito** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:03 pm

@spt60
There's something called "Computrace protection services from Absolute" offered by Lenovo:

Computrace® LoJack® for Laptops is a theft protection service that tracks, locates and recovers stolen laptop and desktop computers.

@jdhurst
Just setting a hd password will neither protect the data on the hd nor make sure that the hd can't be used again.

Regards, Moskito

#5 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:13 pm

As far as I know, the only software / service that you can get which basically puts a LoJack on your laptop will cost you some $$$ (think: yearly subscriptions). I'm not a security expert, but I think that if you are looking for an effective solution, you need a system which is built into the hardware (seemingly like your Vostro) and not anything based upon a hidden program which "phones home" at set intervals. I looked at stuff like this several years back when my laptop was stolen in Australia. All of them nstalled a stealthy program on your laptop which reports the IP address and/or phone number used when connecting the laptop to the internet. As there were several holes in this type of security, it's not what I would consider effective.

If all you are concerned about is the data on your hard drive, then I think the Thinkpad's hard drive password system is about the best thing you can get for "free".

hart22 · #6 Post by **hart22** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:11 pm

Another option is StopTheft. It also charges a fee, but unlike subscription based services the StopTheft coverage, once purchased, is active for the life of the company that provides the service. Registration in their database can be transferred when selling laptops.

StopTheft places a conspicuous physical anti-theft tag on the machine that is virtually impossible to remove. The previous owner of a T60 I bought registered for this service, which was transferred to the new owner to whom I gave the machine. If you're willing to live with your new laptop fashion statement then I'd imagine the tag should be a pretty good deterrent against many would-be thieves; probably makes the machine hard to resell, and most thieves simply try for goods with easier turnover.

One problem with the tracing software-based services is that there's no way of telling they're active; simply knowing a laptop has anti-theft coverage of some kind probably is deterrent in itself.

#7 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:25 pm

hart22 wrote:Another option is StopTheft.

I've had some experience with this service. I received an X22 laptop almost a year ago from an eBay seller which still had the metal STOP plate on the lid. After checking with them to make sure that it wasn't stolen, they offered to transfer ownership to me. I declined since the system was purchased as a parts machine (motherboard problem and a couple of stuck pixels). Such a visible sign that the system is "protected" may or may not be all that useful. I've not tried to remove the metal plate but the lid assembly is now on my spare parts shelf

.

wearetheborg · #8 Post by **wearetheborg** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:27 pm

Cant you set a boot password so that the laptop wont boot unless the password is given ? Is that the same as the HDD password ?

You can also keep the serial numbers, and notify the manufacturer as it being stolen. It wont be a deterrent, but it wont get any warranty if stolen.

#9 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:53 pm

wearetheborg wrote:Cant you set a boot password so that the laptop wont boot unless the password is given ? Is that the same as the HDD password ?

That's basically what the HD password will do; you will not be able to "cold" boot the system without first providing the password. The password prompt does appear even if you hibernate the system. My recommendation is that you always set the BIOS (aka, supervisor) password different than the HD password. Better to lock two doors with different keys

.

wearetheborg · #10 Post by **wearetheborg** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:58 pm

But in that case, the laptop will boot with a new HDD ?

If so, is there any way for locking down booting no matter what ?

#11 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:00 pm

Ah, I see your question now

.

Yes, once you replace the HD with one which does not have a password enabled on it, you could still boot the system. I know of no way in which to effectively lock down a Thinkpad for any and all boot devices. The Power On password (POP) is the only thing which comes close but as the users manual already describes the procedure to disable it, I wouldn't trust this feature alone with any important data that's on the system or consider it a useful means to deny a thief access to his ill-gotten gains. However, in conjunction with the POP, if you also install a BIOS password then when the CMOS battery is removed or eventually dies.... surprise!

I suppose within the definition of the OP's original request, these three Thinkpad password systems could be all used together and provide some level of protection of the data and make the laptop "brick" itself. If spt60's intention is to retrieve the system, then these things will not be of any use. If a deterrent is what is being considered, then the StopTheft system is one way of handling it. Having a 2.5" x 2" metal plate semi-permanently bonded to the laptop might make one stop and think before deciding to rip it off (the laptop, not the plate

).

#12 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:25 pm

Moskito wrote:<snip>
@jdhurst
Just setting a hd password will neither protect the data on the hd nor make sure that the hd can't be used again.

Regards, Moskito

Nope. If the ThinkPad HDD password is set, then no one can use it. You MUST have the password to access the HD on any computer. I have done this and worked on it many times. I could not even access my own drive by booting with a OS-based CD. It wanted the password just to access. ... JDH

Moskito · #13 Post by **Moskito** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:18 am

Yeah, that's true, but if you haven't got a hd with FDE the data on the disk itself is stored unencrypted. So any data recovery company can restore all the data on the hd. Also, for many hds, services are offered by several companies to remove or recover the hd password.

So it can't be considered secure.
Of course it is an additional barrier and so it should be used, but it isn't unbreakable.

Regards, Moskito

crazyeddie1 · #14 Post by **crazyeddie1** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:41 am

You can buy insurance to secure your expensive belongings, I have done so and pay premium once a year. Funny story just came to me, few years ago when I was living in school's residence there was a theft in few rooms including mine, the school was responsible and luckily insurance was included in the tenancy terms thus they covered it all.

There was also one more incident in those years, somehow Flea got in some rooms, the school threw all students belonging out including laptops, sheets, clothes, food etc and bought them these stuff new.

spt60 · #15 Post by **spt60** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:38 pm

crazyeddie1 wrote:You can buy insurance to secure your expensive belongings, I have done so and pay premium once a year. Funny story just came to me, few years ago when I was living in school's residence there was a theft in few rooms including mine, the school was responsible and luckily insurance was included in the tenancy terms thus they covered it all.

There was also one more incident in those years, somehow Flea got in some rooms, the school threw all students belonging out including laptops, sheets, clothes, food etc and bought them these stuff new.

You're pretty lucky, your laptops were those expensive Apple too

Stolen laptop :|

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