Possible to figure out if someone is online with my laptop?

[eLiu]

So my laptop was stolen... is it possible to figure out if someone is using it to access the internet?

The only info I have on the unit is the model#, serial# (doubt those 2 will be useful) and MAC address (if that's useful, I'll post it).

Advice?
-Eric

 

[QED]

Did you have a program set to auto-login to anything at bootup? If so, you might have a very, very slim chance at locating the theif.

If not, you're very, very likely outta luck.

 

[eLiu]

Originally posted by: QED
Did you have a program set to auto-login to anything at bootup? If so, you might have a very, very slim chance at locating the theif.

If not, you're very, very likely outta luck.

Everything I log into requires me to enter a password... so nope. Weak.

 

[ForumMaster]

doubt it. i recall a story not long ago of a macbook that was located after the stupid thief took pictures of himself (herself in this case) and since Mac OS X features something like remote desktop, the owner was able to get the picture of the thief and thus find the laptop. but in your case, i'm afraid you may be out of luck.

 

[akshatp]

Out of luck. Just like I was when the TSA stole mine

 

[alkemyst]

have you tried following the ethernet cable?

 

[alkemyst]

seriously MAC would be what you'd need, but they aren't truly unique and you'd still have to prove the stolen laptop was yours and the person using it the criminal before anyone would sniff connections for you.

I'd check ebay and craigslist with an aggregator. Keep it general as those that steal laptops will usually make a few typos to make searching for them harder.

 

[Hammerhead]

Ask this guy how he did it
Text

 

[funkymatt]

i install logmein on the laptops I have... as long as there is an internet connection you can take control of the computer. I don't know of any way to track a notebook without a program on it, sorry. keep your eyes open on craigslist and ebay.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: funkymatt
i install logmein on the laptops I have... as long as there is an internet connection you can take control of the computer.

This is a great idea. For some reason I've never though to do it before. Thanks.

KT

 

[onlyCOpunk]

If you have autologin for things like your bank account and what not. You could always call the business and ask if anyone has logged into your account. If they by chance happened to do that then they would be able to give you an IP address and if I was tied to someone's home account or if they frequented a local hotspot or something.

Otheriwse as much as I hate logging into Windows everytime, I'm somewhat thankful as if my laptop ever got stolen as least they would be able to log on.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Probably doesn't do you any good right now.....but, I know that IBM has a LoJack chip in their laptops to do just this (detect stolen laptops if they go online).

Support for the software agent that powers Computrace LoJack for Laptops is built into computers from the world?s leading manufacturers during the manufacturing process1. The agent is shipped turned off, and can be activated with the purchase of a subscription to Computrace LoJack for Laptops. When a Computrace-equipped computer is reported stolen, the embedded Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute?s Monitoring Center providing critical location information. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to recover the computer, and, if necessary, assist with search warrant applications and subpoenas to ISP?s. Hidden in the BIOS of a computer, the Computrace agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.

 

[Miklebud]

Originally posted by: Hammerhead
Ask this guy how he did it
Text

Holy crap, ownage.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Probably doesn't do you any good right now.....but, I know that IBM has a LoJack chip in their laptops to do just this (detect stolen laptops if they go online).

Support for the software agent that powers Computrace LoJack for Laptops is built into computers from the world?s leading manufacturers during the manufacturing process1. The agent is shipped turned off, and can be activated with the purchase of a subscription to Computrace LoJack for Laptops. When a Computrace-equipped computer is reported stolen, the embedded Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute?s Monitoring Center providing critical location information. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to recover the computer, and, if necessary, assist with search warrant applications and subpoenas to ISP?s. Hidden in the BIOS of a computer, the Computrace agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.

I've seen that same program offered by Dell either just on Latitudes or all their notebook lines.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Miklebud

Originally posted by: Hammerhead
Ask this guy how he did it
Text

Holy crap, ownage.

LOL SO THAT'S WHERE IT IS....

I used to go to webcast.berkeley.edu to watch it, but then they cut out the stupid last 3 min on the webcast due to the overloading of the site. I think I was a freshman or sophomore when this incident happened and I had plenty of friends in this class (Bio 1A? 1B?)

 

[lokiju]

Not that I'd ever steal anything, but if I did steal a laptop, the first thing I'd do is format it.

After that and removal of the serial numbers it'd be pretty hard to even prove it used to be yours, let alone track it down some how.

 

[SKORPI0]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
have you tried following the ethernet cable?

It's wireless, LOL...

 

[Atomic Playboy]

You can do a reverse lookup on the primary DNS and trace the wireless to it's source via MAC IP spoofing, which you can cross-coordinate via GPS to get an exact physical position. Note that this only works if you're in Hollywood.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Not that I'd ever steal anything, but if I did steal a laptop, the first thing I'd do is format it.

After that and removal of the serial numbers it'd be pretty hard to even prove it used to be yours, let alone track it down some how.

Fortunately most thieves are not that smart.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
seriously MAC would be what you'd need, but they aren't truly unique and you'd still have to prove the stolen laptop was yours and the person using it the criminal before anyone would sniff connections for you.

MAC addresses are used at Layer 2, which is only recognizable at the next hop. Each next hop is a new MAC address as it only defines the physical interfaces along the route.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
have you tried following the ethernet cable?

This made me laugh out loud, really... so LOLRLY

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: Miklebud

Originally posted by: Hammerhead
Ask this guy how he did it
Text

Holy crap, ownage.

LOL SO THAT'S WHERE IT IS....

I used to go to webcast.berkeley.edu to watch it, but then they cut out the stupid last 3 min on the webcast due to the overloading of the site. I think I was a freshman or sophomore when this incident happened and I had plenty of friends in this class (Bio 1A? 1B?)

I remember that. Did the prof ever get his laptop back? (To be quite honest, I thought he was bluffing ass off.)

 

[ViviTheMage]

Id be screwed, my laptop has a BIOS password...so my autologin stuffs doesn't work to well, haha.