Configuring LoJack on thinkPads

[MischieviousMike]

With ThinkPads, you can set the computer to require a boot password or even better, a finger swipe. I’m sure there’s people out there who can bypass that, but it’s not common knowledge. So it’s fairly easy to stop people from booting into Windows even if they replace the hard drive.

But LoJack works only after booting into Windows and making a successful internet connection. So to make LoJack work, you can't use a boot password, and arguably, it would be better to not use a windows password (or at least have a guest account with enough privilege to change internet settings) so the theif quickly boots up and connects to the internet, informing the LoJack server the computer's location.

So what’s better: making it really hard for someone to access the computer via the boot password/fingerprint or making it easy to get into Windows and purchasing & enabling LoJack?

Or am I missing something?

This is for an X200 tablet.

[RealBlackStuff]

How is LoJack going to get your laptop back for you, do they have "heavies" that go after the thieves? (as in Dog, the bounty hunter?)
Do they notify you, and you have to go to the cops? (what a useless idea...)

[MischieviousMike]

If the IP address of the located ThinkPad is within US & Canada (and Australia, I think), the LoJack folks will get the court order for the ISP to release the location information and then contact the cops for you. Apparently they've got ex-coppers on staff who know the ins & outs of various police forces.

Because the police often find signs of other criminal activity (other stolen goods, drugs, guns) at the locations pinpoineded by the laptops, they do like to follow up. Makes sense to me.

I'm not sure what happens out of North America & Australia - I imagine you can get the IP address but aside from that you're on your own.

There is also the free
www.thelaptoplock.com
and
www.pcphonehome.com

There's also
www.musatcha.com/software/LaptopTheftPrevention
that uses the ThinkPad's accelerometer to detect movement and will sound an alarm, send an e-mail, etc when moved (once the alarm is set). This is great for places like libraries where you're nearby but walk away for a moment.


But because of Lenovo's support for LoJack in the BIOS, only it will re-install itself if the HD is replaced or wiped clean.

[ajkula66]

MischieviousMike wrote:

Or am I missing something?

The possibility that the thief might not be a complete ignoramus. Once he/she tries to enter BIOS, LoJack will become instantly visible, and the machine will be parted out in no time.

[MischieviousMike]

I wonder how many theives would think to even look in the BIOS. One option is to lock the BIOS... just not lock access to booting.

I believe the majority of laptop thefts are thefts of opportunity.

[ajkula66]

To each his/hers own, obviously, I just happen to immensely dislike the Big Brother aspect of the whole thing...I protect my data with a HD password and that's it...

[MischieviousMike]

Oh I get that. And I fully agree that *preventing* my laptop's theft is the most important step.

But if it is stolen, I want to best the chances that I can get it back. That's the main thing this thread is about - once we've decided on using LoJack, how best to configure the laptop's securtiy settings.