Tom's Hardware > Forum > Laptops & Notebooks > General Laptops & Notebooks > Lojack for Laptops: Unsecure?

Lojack for Laptops: Unsecure?

Forum Laptops & Notebooks : General Laptops & Notebooks - Lojack for Laptops: Unsecure?

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r_manic   05-20-2009 at 10:28:12 AM

For the sake of argument, how would one keep the Lojack for Laptops from doing its thing, and leading police to a thief? Since the whole setup is actually based on software, wouldn't the following measures:

1) Remove battery as soon as possible
2) Boot from a CD
3) Format the hard disk
4) Install new OS

...Defeat it? Of course, this means you'll lose all the data, but for most thieves this isn't a particular concern.

------------------------------ Desktop | E7300 | P5KPL-AM | 2GB DDR2 667MHz | NVIDIA 9500 GT | ST3320613AS | w2228h
XPS M1330 | T8300 | Dell 0U8042 | 2GB DDR2 800MHz | NVIDIA 8400M GS | WD2500BEVS-75US | 1280 x 800
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Bronze Laptops badge frozenlead   05-20-2009 at 05:18:46 PM
- 0 +

You could remove the hard disk and put it into another computer, preferably running Linux so the software couldn't self-execute, if it can even do that. Then you can take the data and the computer.


Why are we talking about this? :whistle:

------------------------------ Sager NP5793 | T8100 2.1GHz | 4GB DDR2-667 | 8800mGTX 512MB | 320GB 5400rpm | 1920x1200 17", 24" | Win 7 x64
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r_manic   05-22-2009 at 11:42:05 AM
- 0 +

Because I... want to steal a certain someone's laptop... sssshhhh...

Seriously though, an annoying friend kept on insisting I get the service, and I keep on telling him that if people really want to steal your laptop and get away with it, they will! No anti-theft system is foolproof, especially one that looks majorly dependent on software. :P

------------------------------ Desktop | E7300 | P5KPL-AM | 2GB DDR2 667MHz | NVIDIA 9500 GT | ST3320613AS | w2228h
XPS M1330 | T8300 | Dell 0U8042 | 2GB DDR2 800MHz | NVIDIA 8400M GS | WD2500BEVS-75US | 1280 x 800
 Reply to r_manic
Bronze Laptops badge frozenlead   05-22-2009 at 06:51:25 PM
- 0 +

I've heard of a few systems that use on-board chips separated from the disk that can lock things up...but I don't know how you're supposed to defend against the hard disk being taken out. All in all, you're right, there's no good way to protect your stuff other than to not let it out of your sight. That's what I do.

------------------------------ Sager NP5793 | T8100 2.1GHz | 4GB DDR2-667 | 8800mGTX 512MB | 320GB 5400rpm | 1920x1200 17", 24" | Win 7 x64
 Reply to frozenlead
r_manic   05-25-2009 at 08:51:51 AM
- 0 +

Yes, which is why I actually pack everything up and bring it with me when I need to go the bathroom in coffee shops. :P

------------------------------ Desktop | E7300 | P5KPL-AM | 2GB DDR2 667MHz | NVIDIA 9500 GT | ST3320613AS | w2228h
XPS M1330 | T8300 | Dell 0U8042 | 2GB DDR2 800MHz | NVIDIA 8400M GS | WD2500BEVS-75US | 1280 x 800
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