I've gotten a few questions about computers being stolen, and a respected member of my local tech sector just had people close to him get what I am assuming are all the PCs they run their business on stolen. This is especially appropriate reading for your laptop toting college student or at least the parent that paid for the laptop to be 'toted'. (Is that a word?)
We cannot go back in time, but we can be smarter going forward.
There are several paid and free products out there. I may or may not be using them. You'll just have to try and steal my technology and see if the police come knocking.
I will assume since you have read this far you would like to inspire the same level of wariness in would-be thieves. We are busy people so let's just focus on three.
There is one paid product out there I am going to promote. I've installed it a number of times, it can be integrated into the computer's BIOS chip-- the electronics on the motherboard. That means if someone like me gets a hold of it copies the data and wipes the hard drive you will still have a chance that it will phone home and let you know where to pick up your baby. It is the only product I am aware of that has partnerships with vendors to do this. It is hands down the best and at $35 per year and less for multi-year agreements, it is reasonably priced. That product is the official Laptop LoJack. It will work without the special BIOS if your hardware manufacturer isn't a partner, it just won't be as crushingly effective. It can be installed on desktops. (Even the bulky towers are not immune to walking away.) For your money you get people dedicated to this as their job all day long. If $35 is in the budget, get this.
Then the other one I recommend and install is Adeona. It is an academic project and is somewhat effective. It wouldn't stop someone like me. But, I don't steal computers. It will help recover your laptop if the thief is like most average people that may or may not know much about this. Best of all, it is free for now.
The last one I saw is quick and dirty. It is by iHound software and as of now it is free. Also, check out their iPhone/iTunes application for you Apple device people. Keep an eye on these guys, the force is strong with these ones.
Lastly, most devices are just lost. Make them easy to return; etch your name & contact info into it or affix a sticker. The easier it is for someone like me (that does not steal computers) to let you know your device is safe and sound the more likely I am A) going to do it the first day & B) do it without digging through 'your business, miss thang'.
...that is unless you leave it on a bar stool and I can sell it to gizmodo for $10,000.
Take care & happy computing.
-Brad Chesney
Rebel Leader
The Rust Belt Rebellion
http://rustbeltrebellion.com
