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    LoJack Linux Support

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by .nox, May 20, 2008.

  1. .nox

    .nox Notebook Consultant

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    Since my recent loss ( read here ) , I've been investigating on security and theft prevention measures. I learned about LoJack and after exchanging with LoJack's tech support, I have confirmed that Linux is not supported.


    Quite unfortunate for all Linux users
     
    .nox, May 20, 2008
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  2. jimmygoon

    jimmygoon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well, it just assures that I won't buy their product. Their loss. I'm sure that there are reporting scripts available for linux (for future reference) that can ping a known server with their location...
     
    jimmygoon, May 20, 2008
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  3. zephyrus17

    zephyrus17 Notebook Deity

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    That's just pretty uncaring of them. Discrimination based on the OS..
     
    zephyrus17, May 20, 2008
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  4. .nox

    .nox Notebook Consultant

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    I think it's really sad considering the community effort and monumental improvements that distros like Ubuntu, Fedora , etc... have been experiencing. Makes me wonder wether I'll even get the LoJack now...since I'll be using XP on a VM.
     
    .nox, May 21, 2008
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  5. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    Here's a secret. I know that the way lojack works is with the BIOS. That's why you can replace the disk or reformat the disk and lojack still works. So the none support would be in terms of a bios loading mechanism. It's possible that an XP VM would be a suitable delivery mechanism is it can write to the BIOS. On the other hand, VMs are used to provide a layer of insulation. People who test viruses, do that testing in a VM. It then may be a little foolharding to allow a VM to load the BIOS.
     
    Renee, May 21, 2008
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  6. zephyrus17

    zephyrus17 Notebook Deity

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    Give them some time, they'll soon see the light.
     
    zephyrus17, May 21, 2008
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  7. jimmygoon

    jimmygoon Notebook Enthusiast

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    What?! LoJack is bios based? If thats the case then how can LoJack say that they won't recover a laptop based on the OS?
     
    jimmygoon, May 22, 2008
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  8. .nox

    .nox Notebook Consultant

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    Look it up on the website. There are 2 components, the BIOS agent and the OS software. They work together to form the LoJack theft prevention system.
     
    .nox, May 22, 2008
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  9. Volker

    Volker Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not very happy with the fact that a bios component automatically infecting the harddisk with whatever LoJack (or some virus) managed to slip into the bios.

    In any case, instead of relying on some software that can be disabled with a google search in a few minutes, how about putting a "Reward - no questions asked" sticker on your computer and setting the bios password.
     
    Volker, May 23, 2008
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  10. ssnseawolf

    ssnseawolf Notebook Consultant

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    BIOS passwords are inherently insecure. Each BIOS manufacturer or laptop manufacturer has backdoor passwords to recover forgotten user passes.

    In the end, I'm a fan of a $15 laptop lock. LoJack preys on fear, in my opinion.
     
    ssnseawolf, May 23, 2008
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  11. Volker

    Volker Notebook Consultant

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    I've never heard of a default password in thinkpads. The only way is to physically remove the eeprom and reprogram that chip. Possible, but above the technical abilities of the average crackhead trying to sell your thinkpad.
     
    Volker, May 23, 2008
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  12. batman5315

    batman5315 Notebook Evangelist

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    actually you just remove the battery (CMOS battery) to reset the bios password
     
    batman5315, May 23, 2008
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  13. defcon3

    defcon3 Notebook Guru

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    Until this is built-in the hardware, there is little use of it - except for marketing purposes... Pop-out the battery, reset the bios password, down/upgrade bios and voila - no lojack.

    For my next upgrade I am keeping an eye on ThinkPad SL, which WILL have the lojack on the board :cool:
     
    defcon3, Jul 16, 2008
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