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Domain: computrace.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to computrace.com.

Comments · 7

  1. Re:What it doesn't do by CaptBubba · · Score: 1 · on Stolen Laptop Alarms
    There's already something somewhat like that for buisnesses. Computrace allows for tracking of stolen computers when they come online. The client "phones home" every now and then and is generally ignored unless you contact them and tell them the computer is missing or stolen. I'd assume one an IP address has been associated with the stolen hardware all that would be required to find it would be a few subpoenas in the right places.

    What's even more interesting is that the client can be issued a command to delete everything on the stolen machine, if the company is willing to fork over $200 every time it happens.

    Sure, it isn't cheap at $50 for a year of monitoring per machine, but short of replacing the hard drive there's apparently not much a theif can do to get rid of it. According to their FAQ thier agent can survive a repartition and reformat, although I have a hard time seeing how.

  2. Re:PC call home by PunchMonkey · · Score: 2, Informative · on Laptop Thief Caught via AOL Login

    Computrace

    I know an office that uses this software... it's not bad, it stays quite hidden in the OS (Windows only of course). Login with your ID and you get a list of all your laptops and the last IP they were detected as being logged in from.

  3. Re:PC call home by Mattcelt · · Score: 5, Informative · on Laptop Thief Caught via AOL Login

    There are several software packages including Ztrace and Absolute Software's Computrace which deal with the issue of laptop theft directly. It seems very likely that these computers were protected with one of these type of programs.

  4. Computrace Plus or similar product? by Dynamoo · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Laptop Thief Caught via AOL Login
    It *might* be something like Computrace Plus which sits on a laptop and silently transmits audit information back over whatever IP network it connects to. They've got some case studies that show how the product actually works.

    Basically, it's legitimate spyware. I've personally never used the product, although we are about to evaluate it.

  5. We have been using a similar product for years by Dejohn · · Score: 5, Informative · on Phoenix Unveils Anti-Theft BIOS

    In my organization, we have been using Computrace which serves the same function. The software installs into the computer's boot sector and is nearly invisible if you don't know to look for it. It contacts the Computrace NOC frequently over IP or modem and reports it's IP address (or caller ID). We now have a pretty nice log of where all our laptops go. The software isn't capable to destroying or disbling the PC, but it's invisibility and reporting features are enough to make it useful.

    Computrace reports having retrieved a number of stolen computers based on the data reported by the software. It's definitely useful for any corporate IT department!

  6. Re:Can I do this with my laptop? by tcrown007 · · Score: 1 · on Mac Thief Caught Thanks To Applescript & Timbuktu

    There is a company that makes software that tracks your computers movements, calls home at specified hours, logs the phone number you dialed from, and can record inventory and programs. They work with law enforcement to recover your stolen things for you, as well.

    They say their program survives fdisk, but it didn't survive mine. However, their inventory tracking software is one of the best I have seen at getting everything.

  7. Re:Gimme a break by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1 · on Are Toshiba Notebooks 'Phoning Home'?

    Ummm, www.computrace.com looks pretty legit, and offers software that matches his claims. Do you actually do any research before spouting off nonsense?