LoJack anti-theft device: would you really install that thing in your laptop?

The customized laptop I'm about to buy from HP is kinda expensive. I'm going to use it for work and school. Since it's expensive and since it's very much a part of my everyday life I'm going to want to do everything I can and look at every option that'll help keep my laptop as secure as possible.

Knowing about the potential security hole in LoJack, would you, today, go ahead and customize your new laptop with LoJack embedded in your BIOS firmware or would you say fuhgeddaboudit!!??

http://www.vancouversun.com/busines...loit+software+commit+crime/1850869/story.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gDEcxr3CSkM0RlVSqVzNWlccf6XwD99P33N82
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=3828

 

The security hole kinda sucks, but really, (even though I bought LoJack before I knew), LoJack is not that great, imo. All it does is basically phone home with a tracert if it is stolen, so you have to hope the theif keeps using your laptop from the same access point over and over before nuking LoJack if you want any hope of recovering it, really. If they are in even a suburban area and hop from connection point to connection point, it will be nearly impossible to get the machine back.

 

My M1530 came with LoJack for 2 years. I did not want it, but it was just part of the deal at the time and I would have actually spent more to get the same laptop with worse specs and without LoJack. I plan on leaving it enabled until it expires, then disabling it in the BIOS. I'd imagine disabling it in the BIOS would cover up any security holes.

 

If it is that important to you, and you think the laptop is high risk for theft? There is no harm in buying it. I didn't even know this, but apparently if LoJack fails to recover your computer you *might* get a $1000 payout.

But, they only do one recovery and then your subscription is dead. So purchase it once per year, every year, so that you don't end up wasting 2 years of a 3 year subscription.

Also consider the alternatives. Many renter's insurance and home insurance policies will cover laptops, even while you are using them outside of the home, or that coverage can be purchased. I think I'm paying all of like $60 a year to cover all of my computer equipment as well as that of my wife's. If something gets stolen, insurance pays for it.

 

I use Adeona instead of Lo-Jack. It's free, and never expires.

http://adeona.cs.washington.edu/

The downside: It only works when the computer is connected to the internet.

 

Pfft. Dont you guys think that someone smart enough would just open the laptop and sell the spare parts?

 

A NBR member Renee bought it and used it with her T61p. The T61p was stolen and lojack helped recovery the machine and she has it back now and using it. I am waiting for her to chime in this thread.

 

Although its a good idea, not great, I would not waste my money. I professional thief knows about it. Just like cars. If the thief is a pro, there will be NO recovery. If its a low life goof-ball then a possibility. I would NOT like any extras in my BIOs. Just another thing to go wrong.

The bottom line is for YOU to be secure. Dont be setting it in the back seat of your car, put it in the trunk, out of sight. Dont be leaving out in the open for an easy snatch. Stay away from low-lifes. Consider the compromises of your surroundings.

Other words, dont be ignorant of what surrounds you and ALWAYS consider security, not convienence.

Best regards
N

 

But if a thief is another student on a school campus...you get the idea.

 

Regarding the matter of disabling LoJack:

1) I read that one person had to call LoJack directly in order to have LJ removed from their laptop. According to the statement, it was removed from the laptop remotely by a LoJack technician. Yes, remotely

2) Another person said that once it's embedded in the BIOS firmware it's firmly embedded so you can never remove it

I am not sure how true those statements are.

 

Well, if it were easy to strip out without anyone knowing, it wouldn't be a very good security feature, would it? That's like complaining that it takes a toolbox and hours to remove the lock from your car door. If it didn't, the lock would be pretty worthless.

 

wow... so I need to have a wire connected to the stolen laptop to retreive it?

I could just follow the wire in that case...

 

Oh wow... That was supposed to say connected to the internet...