Mac Security Alarm System

RogueAce writes "A program named iAlertU sounds a screeching siren when someone attempts to steal your Macbook. Thanks to the sudden motion drop sensors that Macs use to park the hard drive, iAlertU can detect when your Macbook is being picked up, moved or closed. Also, by using the handy remote that comes with the Macbook, you can turn the alarm on and off like you would a car, which the Macbook responds to by making the all too familiar chirping sound and a flash and flicker of the screen. The code behind it is from a guy named Christian Kleins."

Comments

But...

[Crasoum]

Will people ignore it just like a car alarm?

Re:But...

[binkzz]

For colleagues we offer the optional iHammer, which offers a revolutionary batteryless alarm disabling system.

Re:But...

[BillyBlaze]

Slashdot is one of those few places where saying something is "patented" doesn't make it sound cooler.

Re:But...

[drspliff]

$25/ounce..

Whoah dude, if I stopped smoking weed for a few months, I'd easily be able to buy one of these little babys (only to get it stolen a few days later).

But...

[artificialj]

Can you get flashy rims on your macbook?

Coffee Shop Use Case

[buckhead_buddy]

This is great news. There's a coffee shop in my town with a friendly college crowd and free Wi-Fi networking.

My problem arises when I take my old Powerbook in there and realize I need to use the restroom. The crowd is pretty honest and I'm pretty quick in the facilities, but I really hate packing up my whole setup and taking it into the stall with me. This might allow me that feeling of security to leave my old Powerbook out while I take care of business.

While there's still some risk involved, it sounds like this will be just the thing to make me:

• Carefree and proud to be a Mac owner.
• Careless about risks and have my computer stolen.
• Embarassed when someone bumps my table and I'm caught with my pants down.

I'd probably risk this with my old model Powerbook, but I don't think I'd do so if I upgraded to a new MacBook Pro.

Re:Coffee Shop Use Case

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"Embarassed when someone bumps my table and I'm caught with my pants down."

Look on the bright side: If you keep pulling your pants down while browsing the web at a coffee shop, sooner or later you'll see a rise in available bandwidth.

Re:I remember getting burgled

[Anonymous Coward]

He also took my laptop out of its case, opened the screen, turned it on and booted to the Windows login screen. And that's how I found it.

He was looking for a Linux laptop maybe? :)

The Mac Decoy Pro

[Skevin]

I work in an office where stolen property is nearly a common occurance (a stranger came in and simply sauntered off with a petty cash box the day I started working there). To guard against this, I keep my Mac Decoy Pro in my desk.

What's a Mac Decoy Pro, you ask? It's an extra nonworking Macbook Pro. Looks just like the real functional thing, just sitting there waiting to be taken.

Where did I get it? Well, when I heard that Powerbooks were going to use Intel processors, I bought a Macbook Pro with the express intention of swapping out the hard drive, memory and processor: the first two I did with nary more than a dented/warped casing. The latter... well, my screwdriver slipped and broke several components off the main board. I tried the purchase just the notebook mainboard from Apple, but essentially, they told me to go screw myself*. So with a heavy heart and a sigh of resignation, I did what any self respecting geek would do: I played poker for an hour until I had enough to buy another Macbook Pro. I've reassembled the broken one, which I leave out in the open in my cubicle when I go home at night. If it gets stolen, then that's my alarm indicator that it's time to leave the company.

* I'm still wondering that "incredible level of service" I keep hearing from Mac users.

Solomon