Best PC Tracking Software (in case of theft)

Hello all,

My beloved Kona Cindercone mountain bike was recently stolen and it got me thinking about security and tracking in general - I have an expensive laptop (see sig) and I was wondering if any of you have any experience, or indeed could recommend a particular piece of software that enables users to track & control their PC's/Laptops remotely if stolen?

This looks pretty good;
Open source anti-theft solution for your laptop, phone and tablet – Prey

Feedback and advice welcome

 

Other than a hardware chip in the laptop any software based solution can easily be removed or circumvented.

One thing I did once with my EEE 1000H is actually modify my bios spash screen so that it said "if ever lost or stolen this laptop belongs to XXXXXX"

As part of the bios nobody but a computer geek like me could get rid of it, even removing the hdd would do no good

This would really make it hard for somebody to use/sell it if it was stolen and would really increase my chance of getting it back.

 

sounds like a reasonably good idea - however should the thief decide to keep the laptop, a message on the BIOS will probably not be of much use. I am particularly interested in tracking software - that way if it ever gets stolen I get to deliver the WWF SMACKDOWN in person.

 

i use prey and its quite good. as we are both in london we see more opotunist theives than the rest of the country.
quite a lot keep their steals and this is where prey is good as they turn the computer on and use it. then prey kicks in.
if the hard drive is removed then your buggered.

try it. i think it still gives 10 attempts before they want you to buy the pro version.

 

As mentioned, it's completely pointless. All it would take is a fresh install, and your tracking software is gone. Complete waste of money and would make you look a little foolish bragging about this lovely piece of tracking software to your friends or on here, then it gets stolen and you can't track it.

Utterly and completely pointless.

 

+1 for the informative post!

.......and your suggestion would be??

 

yeah I agree - I am willing to bet the average London hoodie wont know much about fresh installs on the average laptop - never mind Alienware (surely the temptation to switch one of these on simply to see what appears is too great).

Anyway I haven't had many other suggestions from NBR members, other than BIOS boot so I might as well sign up for Prey.

 

The average hoodie knows how to remove a hdd or format things.

I knew how to install a windows disk and click "install" since I was old enough to walk. Doesnt matter if they are missing half the drivers your software is still gone.

Id never trust it, thus why the bios option was my idea.

Even with your software they may use the laptop in an are with no wifi/internet, or a public place where there is no way to track it.

Even if you tracked it to a place with pin point accuracy the cops are not going to be bothered to go on a goose chase for a laptop.

 

it worked in the london riots. a computer shop owner had it installed on all the laptops on display and all were recovered but one. think there was 8 in total as far as i can remember.

alternatively you could get a kensington lock as not many people carry bolt cutters around with them.
there was one insurance claim i read about where a kensington lock was used on a table leg. it didnt register with the numpty that all the theif had to do was lift the table and nick the computer and lock.

 

Not to waste any money.

This must mean you are very naive, in this day and age, even if the thief hadn't any prior knowledge about installing windows, it's probable someone he/she knows would, and would be very willing to do it.

 

its free for upto 10 attempts.
you test it even 5 times and youve still got 5 attempts left. so its still free.

 

If it's free then it can't do any harm

 

I use a kensington lock to secure my M17x R2 to my desk, or in a hotel room if I travel.

 

take a look Open source anti-theft solution for your laptop, phone and tablet – Prey

 

Will it make it easier to track computers that have integrated 4g antennae? I know it's not common but some of the newer models are starting to come with it.