GadgetTrak retrieves 95 percent of stolen laptops, puts RoboCop to shame (video)
By Vlad Savov 
posted February 22nd 2010 7:16AM
posted February 22nd 2010 7:16AM
posted February 22nd 2010 7:16AM
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I wonder if this is the same software being used by that principal to spy on students.
@DDragon Nah, I know somebody that goes to one of those schools and I'm pretty sure this is different software. Probably does pretty much the same things, though.
This sounds a lot like Undercover?
This sounds great, but are there any privacy issues?
@Dgosh
umm, yes. Someone is riffling through your stuff because they've stolen your laptop.
@TheImirOfGroofunkistan ONE WORD!
FORMAT
One simple format of the Hdd or switch of the the actual Hdd if so desire and the criminal is home free!
Unless ofcorse its a MAC, then it might not be so simple as that, but hey if you have a Mac OS disc laying around, ur set!
As a bonus you will have assistant principle Lindy Mastko contacting you when you are "engaged in improper behavior in your home"
This kind of software has been around for awhile. It's mainly used by businesses to keep track of employees laptops, as they can often contain very sensitive company data.
There's actually a Canadian company (can't think of the name) that has hardware built into business oriented laptops, that can track the laptop even if it's turned off.
@nachotech
I think dell uses computrace.
@shamowfski
Yep, lojack is a standard option on all dell machines now
I know how to remove them all anyhow. LoJack doesn't do much but I rather have a passive GPS locator like what my company does =D
....and pray that the 12 year old boy who swiped your laptop isn't getting a shower
you mean pray he IS having a shower.
@FAP FAP FAP
goddamn you, that made me laugh and now I feel wrong :-/
Goody, next time i steal a laptop i 'll be sure to secure erase a hard drive first.
What if the guy who stole the laptop never goes on Internet and formats the computer? I think this is gay!!!!
@jmpvir
I was just thinking the same thing. I've been given a stolen laptop in the past. First thing I did was format it and reinstall the OS which is what I imagine most people would do if you couldn't get around the password.
So really, you're safer just putting a password on there, preferably a startup password for BIOS, backing up any important documents (foolish to only have a single copy anyway) and getting insurance.
@combatcameraman
You were thinking this software was Gay too?
@jmpvir
It depends on the software. Lojack actually installs itself in the bios, so no matter how many times you wipe it, it will still report. Can't remember what the actual chip itself is called, but most if not all computers post 2007 have it.
I lojacked my laptop about a year ago, and I've wiped it twice since then and my laptop still reports, if it doesn't I get a nice email.
@PBB
The BIOS part resides in an OptionROM, which when the software is activated gets read and executed at every boot. The sw loaded in the OptionROM reads and modifies the disk (FAT32 and NTFS supported) and installs itself *before Windows boots*. Cool uh?
The bad part is that you have NO WAY to completely eliminate it if the BIOS doesn't let you do it other than modifying a BIOS image and flashing it. So if the BIOS doesn't let you and the update is signed you're screwed.
Why would you want to remove it, you may ask. The answer is: because the little bastard is vulnerable, as it uses a URL to contact the server and doesn't do any check to ensure that it is indeed the server it's supposed to connect to to get orders. It makes for a perfect rootkit platform, as some researchers have showed (see http://blog.coresecurity.com/2009/08/11/the-bios-embedded-anti-theft-persistant-agent-that-couldnt-response-handling-the-ostrich-defense/).
@jmpvir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_MIb3mYznE
if only there was software like this that supported linux.
@gaurdro Why would you need it. no one would steal that.
@kettigm Yeah because a laptop with Linux on its not worth stealing. /s Its still a laptop and could be reloaded out to about any OS you would want.
A few things:
1st of all: Anyone stealing a Notebook and then hooking it up to the interwebs must be a complete moron.
2nd: @gaurdro: Why would they, the second he sees a *nix Login even the dumbest thief will reformat the drive as its a complete waste of time hacking that thing open.
3rd and most important: So, the service tracks the device and send me info about it. What should I do with this? Grab my gun and head over to the suspect?´I can´t think of the police heading over the second I get the necessary data. These 95% seem to be way to high.
@flintstones
You just summed it up perfectly, 95% of thieves are complete morons.
Once a subway employee stole my wife's purse when she left it alone briefly on accident. The employee proceeded to hide it under the counter of the register she worked at, right under a blatant video camera, and lie to my wife's face on said camera when my wife asked if she had seen it. Because she then proceeded to rifle through credit cards and pocket my wife's iphone on camera in the break room, she's now serving time for grand theft.
@flintstones The report says that the software is still on even after wiping/reformatting...
Eizo from AC2 is on Flickr and stole your laptop? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e5/Assassins_Creed_2_cover.jpg
why the... has my comment been deleted? i've just referred to a rising alternative.
http://preyproject.com/ available for ANDROID, osx, windows, linux, for FREE.
@xemino
Yes great free alternative, and what they say in theire page is wright
"You may be thinking “but what’s the point of this program if the guy will probably just format the thing right away?” and you’re completely right. However, experience shows that thieves tend to look in stolen computers for valuable information, so there’s actually a chance you can catch the guy (and there’s even some successful cases!)."
They also admit that tha chance is very small.
@jlgrobe
So the only value in this software comes with me NOT protecting my laptop with a password?
I mean, I COULD set up a separate account with no password...but that's just tiresome having to switch every time I turn on.
95% retrieval rate?!
Wow, thieves are dumber than I thought. Most anyone with half a brain knows not to let the laptop power on with access to a public network (or a connected 3G card) while it has a webcam pointed at your face.
I started to post the steps you would take if you wanted to avoid having one of these recovery programs get you busted... but I guess if it's not public knowledge to people who steal laptops, I'll avoid posting what I believed to be the obvious...
I can't see how this software has a 95% recovery rate, no one will be silly enough to connect straight to the internet after stealing a laptop. Also any fool would rather spend that money on an insurance policy and simple regular backing up of data
@jabzthman360
Most criminals are idiots anyway so....
@arifballi for the record, I have no idea what this Guy is talking about nor did I provide him a link to any site.
If i ever steal a laptop i will probaply format it 20 times... , and what's the point ? google is already watching you...
Bet that unsuccessful 5% is the iPhone. Mine got stolen at there was no recourse thanks to the limitations associated with the phone and AT&T's unwillingness to utilize their network in a way that it's entirely capable of.
@deciBels
I figured I was smart, I have my Nokia set up to broadcast it's location via Latitude (starts up automatically and runs in the background, you don't even know it's there) but when I looked at it on a map...yeah I know what street it's on...but seeing at there's a couple of hundred properties, where would I start? Figured it was useless.
@deciBels I just had mine recovered a few days ago after 8 months of it being missing. (i was robbed at gunpoint right after i got the new 3gs on launch day). Just keep complaining to the local PD, and you can get it back. They can subpoena the records from at&t that will tell them who's sim card has been inserted into the phone, and when. You won't always find the person who stole it, but you can always get it back. Good luck.
J
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I'm so glad there's a photo of the supposed thief. Now I know to look out for black guys in hoodies. 'Cause, y'know, that's who's gonna steal your laptop, right?
Note to self:
When stealing laptops, do what I want to do (A.K.A. creep), then format the HDD, then go on Wifi
Open Source and completly free soluton http://www.preyproject.com/
So, laptops are like $400, and netbooks are like $270 now.
If you really worry about one getting stolen to go to these extremes maybe you need a desktop computer instead?
and FOX NEWS had to cover this.
I don't see how this thing would work if my computer has only the admin as the user, and a thief won't be able to use the computer in the first place without wiping the drive...