How this guy got his stolen laptop back

[zoiks]

Explained on Techdirt better with the actual tweets. But basically what happened was that this new NY resident got his notebook stolen right before he was to leave for a brief trip to Canada. Fortunately for him, he had this open source security software called 'Prey' installed that sent him the picture of the guy who stole his laptop, his gmail email address,name, ip address, and the physical location of exactly where the dude was using it. The guy who lost the laptop started tweeting everything (from Canada) and some good Samaritans in NY came to his aid and confronted the pincher and took the laptop away from him.
Good read. Although it does sound like creative advertisement for the security software.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20...op-twitter-prey-purple-sarong-to-rescue.shtml

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I was hoping for something cool that happened that allowed him to get it back.

I was disappointed.

 

[purbeast0]

not nearly as cool as the guy who told his story at some hackers convention.

 

[Lean L]

I don't understand these stories. The camera light comes on whenever the camera is active. Do these people not know that?

 

[lord_emperor]

I don't understand these stories. The camera light comes on whenever the camera is active. Do these people not know that?

Criminals who can't make an honest living? Yeah I bet they don't.

 

[drinkmorejava]

How does this stuff work again? Does this mean he had a non-password protected account so someone who stole the laptop could login?

Maybe I'm just overestimating the intelligence level of a thief to expect them to reinstall windows.

 

[LordMorpheus]

How does this stuff work again? Does this mean he had a non-password protected account so someone who stole the laptop could login?

Maybe I'm just overestimating the intelligence level of a thief to expect them to reinstall windows.

I have a password on my BIOS on my laptop. You can't do anything without it. Anyone steals it, they just get a brick (I'm sure there are ways to defeat a BIOS password, but I doubt Joe Criminal is going to know how).

 

[Lifted]

I don't understand these stories. The camera light comes on whenever the camera is active. Do these people not know that?

It only takes a few seconds at most to come on. Even if the criminal knows, most people would at first be surprised and do the whole "deer in headlights" freeze, then start looking around for some messaging application that launched it. I don't think anyone's first reaction would be to jump out of view.

 

[JTsyo]

I have a password on my BIOS on my laptop. You can't do anything without it. Anyone steals it, they just get a brick (I'm sure there are ways to defeat a BIOS password, but I doubt Joe Criminal is going to know how).

DO you need the password to flash the BIOS?

 

[waggy]

i wanted to watch the video but its private =(

 

[KeypoX]

DO you need the password to flash the BIOS?

yes but you dont need a password to take the case apart and remove the bios bat.

 

[amdhunter]

Bullshit viral campaign.

 

[alkemyst]

not nearly as cool as the guy who told his story at some hackers convention.

if you mean by "some hackers convention", the most high profile DEF CON...then I present you with Zoz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4oB28ksiIo&feature=player_embedded

 

[The_Dude8]

could you just format the whole harddrive? and any softwares on there will be gone right?

 

[alkemyst]

could you just format the whole harddrive? and any softwares on there will be gone right?

More people are interested on what's on the harddrive...also most don't know how to / nor want to buy the software to reinstall.

On a side note those willing to spend some time to know why mapping is so important (google cars driving all over and the like)...you should know they are not just taking pictures of your house.

They are capturing mac addresses too. While not always globally unique it's extremely rare to run into those that match...your mac address is basically the same as you saying "HEY INTERNUT, I AM JOHN SMITH! I LIVE AT 123 MAIN STREET" everytime you connect.

It's scary, even more scary those that think it's all conspiracy talk.