Undercover
Posted on Wednesday, January 18th, 2006 at 11:07 am under Mac Geekery.Tags: anti-theft, powerbook, undercover
LapCop is a laptop anti-theft software that helps you recover your stolen laptop. When LapCop detects a new network setting it send a silent email to your specified email address. If your laptop gets stolen, authorities can use this info to track down exactly where it is. LapTop rocks, but now comes Undercover, the next generation of LapCop. In case of theft, Undercover can send screenshots of the stolen Mac, it will also simulate hardware failure and alert the new user that their Mac is a stolen one. And all that for $29.99, sign me up.
Undercover routinely checks with the Undercover server. In case of theft, the Mac’s unique Undercover ID is added to the database on the Undercover server, initiating the recovery process. During the recovery phase, Undercover transmits its current location on the internet, enabling the Undercover team to identify the computer’s exact physical location. Moreover, Undercover also sends screenshots of the stolen Mac, revealing details of the thief’s identity. The Undercover recovery center will then work with law enforcement to recover the Mac.
In case recovery fails, the software has an ingenious plan B: it will simulate a hardware failure, urging the thief to send the computer in for repair or sell it. As soon as the thief gets rid of the Mac, Undercover will warn the new user that the Mac has been stolen and that it should be returned as soon as possible. The computer will shout from time to time that it has been stolen and Undercover will take over the screen, displaying how the Mac can be returned while making the computer unusable.
Link : orbicule.com
Jan 18th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Hmmm. Is simulating hardware failure, or alerting the new user that it is stolen a good thing? Would a the thief decide to toss it out if they thought it was boken, or destroy it if they thought the laptop had the intelligence to know it was stolen? I’m just wondering if a silent attempt of discovery, and location of the notebook and it’s new owner would be better. If they are the one who stole it, they’ll think everything’s peachy, then wham! …you, and several Po-Pos jump out of the bushes!
Jan 19th, 2006 at 5:15 am
Sounds a great idea. Even better if when using the new macbookpro it uses apples photobooth software to take a photograph of the thief and send its to the police!
Jan 19th, 2006 at 6:06 am
I think that’s a great start on helping with computer thefts. Kind of hangs some hope out there. Possible upgrade ideas … how about having the computer kick out a 40,000 Amp jolt to the evil user … or better yet, making use of the new intel chips, the computer could lockout OSX and switch to Windows … that’s enough punishment right there.