atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Be prepared....it could happen

The first one who sees this, maybe move it to the mod section.

Anyway, it was a very bad day for me today. Someone got off with a laptop and cell phone. Managed to get the cell number back, but looks like they were all over the place. I think I am going to have to stop even using it. The laptop was protected via password, but I don't know how long that will last.
I have changed all the passwords I can think of and even notified my credit card company. The only positive thing is that I just reloaded it, and I had not gotten around to re-installing all the data. Maybe that will save. Anyway, please don't give out ANY personal information whatsoever. Sounds like this guy pissed off a few people before I could put a stop to the phone, and I don't want them to think I am him...

thanks

Z

I see no need to move this. Been there, done that for the cell phone anyway. So far been lucky with the LT (knock on wood).

Actually I lost the cell, made the calls like you did, then got a call from some lady saying that her son had found it. When we met up, I gave the kid $50 to show him it's worth while being honest. He must have thought it was Xmas....his eyes lit up like a Xmas tree.

For the LT, a password won't help much, they can just change the hard drive.

Been down that road too, Zane. A few years ago on a weekend visit to Montreal, I parked in a public parking lot, in broad daylight on a sunny Sunday afternoon, in a very touristy part of town. I came back to find a window smashed in the van and my laptop gone.

It was a drug money smash and grab. Never would have happened if cities weren't so cheap by using automated pay stations instead of live attendants in their parking lots.

Zane if it's got the capability built into the board, don't forget to have the manufactuer try to track the laptop. My brother in law actually recovers quite a few of them that way for the hospital system where he works.

Do you know what capability needs to be built into board? Good to know for future laptops.Also was it hard for brother in law to get laptops traced?

also dell keeps detailed service tag info! dont ever try to get support for a stolen dell

There is a lojack for computers that you can install for not a lot of money. https://www.lojackforlaptops.com

From what I have read it requires who ever has it to try and connect to the internet so it reports in to the control center.

Once you report it stolen to Lojack control if it shows up they notify whatever police department you also reported it stolen to and the police can investigate.

It's BIOS based so even a new drive and o/s won't remove it.

Here's a couple fun/free ones

Laptop alarm.
https://syfer.nl/

Adeona
https://adeona.cs.washington.edu/
(The location is recorded when a laptop connects to the Internet.)

but LoJack is pretty much the best, as mbhydro mentioned.

Dell offers either Lojack or something similar from the factory. I question its effectiveness though. First problem is getting the police "interested" in your "problem". Second is that it could turn into a wild goose chase because wireless laptops move around. Still, it couldn't hurt.

Trace, I suspect that your brother-in-law's success may be tied to the thefts being done by hospital employees?

-Hal

I got my laptop stolen a few years ago, during a job, the van was parked right in front of the business. The thief was caught on camera, he was on a bike, broke in and took off. The police took a report and took a look at the video but nothing came of it.