However if I'd steal your laptop, I'd have your data and be able to use it without you knowing I was using it. I mean, if I had no ethics I would just buy that 100€ laptop and get rid of the BIOS password, format the harddisk and enjoy my new Dual Core Intel, or whatever cool toy you had. I do understand that underestimating muggers/thieves works, but it doesn't always work.
I do grant you that, but I did offer the solution because tracking software will not work. Regardless... If the thief doesn't boot in your OS, you're done. Never will you recoup your laptop.
So, what exactly is better? Losing your laptop and data and that the eventual thief can access the data (e.g. accessing the datea with another machine).... OR, getting your laptop refunded by insurance, having your data in a backup and the knowlegde that your data cannot be misused.
So, sure, I spout "Offtopic Nonsense" at +5... But perhaps, I just gave the most sensible answer to a question that had no answer in the first place. Tracking software? Unless it's in the hardware, it won't work...
As for "mugging insurance" ask your insurance agent for "laptop theft insuance". Mine does it, and I'm not someone special.
What part exactly didn't you understand of "I'm kidding"...
Still, private companies that monitor your "lost laptop" are always open to the highest bidder. They're about money, so you really don't know. Sure, the odds are low, but taking things in your own hands is always the best option if you can.
Besides, as others have said... if it's Windows software, then a format and reinstall won't get rid of it. No new laptop/computer I ever had, was used as it came from the factory. The first thing I do is reinstall. So, frankly, even if I got a stolen laptop I'd be safe. (Not that I'd buy one, after all laptops are cheap these days....)/p>
Granted, I didn't think of engravings... The same style as they do for cars where all windows are engraved with a serial number so that the car can be identified and that it would cost way too much to replace all windows.
However, in the cars case, I doubt that someone stealing your car and exporting it to Russia will care. (I live in Europe, this stuff happens) Someone who pays 100€ for a state of the art laptop knows that it doesn't come from legit sources. So an engraving won't help and who checks laptop engravings, eh?
I forgot to mention: for encryption you don't need to shell out big bucks like the dolts at the IT department did where I work. Just install Truecrypt and encrypt your data partition. Let that partion map on your My Documents folder and you're done.
I use it on my USB sticks.... Love it
That said, while Truecrypt exists for Linux, I'm sure there is a native way to do encryption without additional software. If anyone has more information about that, I'll be glad to hear of it. (Migrating to Ubuntu full-time, so one day I'll need it)
A pack of semtex in your laptop.... If you fail to write the correct password after three times, it explodes...
I'm kidding... If those programs can track muggers, they can also track you and that's why I wouldn't trust them. The best way to handle this is to encrypt all your data and insure your laptop against theft. Oh, and daily backups of your data on trusted media which you lock away in a safe.
Essentially, only your data is worth something. The hardware can be covered by insurance.
Quicktime/iTunes (pisses me off that they are so tied together these days)
Well, you can't use iTunes without Quicktime for obvious reasons. However, you can install Quicktime without iTunes just fine. No idea what you mean with "tied together"...
Yes, of course you can do that. It's a tad bit harder if it's a laptop, but apart from that: if you can physically access the machine and the data is not encrypted, you can recover it.
Ehm, you really don't remember, do you? There was functionality in Outlook that allowed emails to run midis, except it didn't check the MIME type and ran whatever declared itself as being a midi, including EXE, COM, SRC and PIF. So, the person opening those emails got infected by "just opening the email"
That was back in the day that we computer scientists were laughing at those "open an email and get virus emails". We didn't count with Outlook.... *sigh* That was a long time ago...
Just that you know.... You have access to those files witha Ubuntu Live CD and a USB harddisk to backup to.
I know, that harddisk of my parents failed (hardware), and I was able to recover most NTFS data using the Ubuntu Install CD. It now resides on an ext3 external USB disk.
You're technically competent, so what part of "AlignLikeMicrosoftWord98ForMac" is a good standard, eh? How much did you cost? I'd really like to know, I need a stripper for the bacherlor party of a gay mate of me...
I'm not sure of the parent poster, but we have some electronic documents that are archived from 10 years ago that can't be updated and then re-archived, they must match the printed documents that they produced.
Understandable... but how do you explain to the people that want this that the software that created these files doesn't exist anymore and worse that the programs that are supposed to read them do not render them correctly either.
I'm not claiming that OpenOffice renders them correctly, but Microsoft Office 2007 doesn't either. So you have a document that cannot be rendered, unless you dig out that XT that ran DOS with the DOS version of Word to reproduce them. (Just an example, subsitute with Mac OS/Word or DOS/Wordperfect wherever you want)
I think I have to drive a good 200km before I get to anything close like a "ghetto". For the others you may have a point, but you have to find those somehow.
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I admit, that's one situation where I'd be damned happy to be tracked. However, the described situation is pretty much an exception.
Okay, you have a point. Let's define "standard software" as "an apt-get away". AFAIK, that's not true for TrueCrypt.
Thanks for the tip, next time I look out for hot goods, I'll push down the price... Ehm... It was an example, I do not buy hot goods.
Thanks a lot!
I'm stupid, but not unwilling to learn... Teach me.
True...
However if I'd steal your laptop, I'd have your data and be able to use it without you knowing I was using it. I mean, if I had no ethics I would just buy that 100€ laptop and get rid of the BIOS password, format the harddisk and enjoy my new Dual Core Intel, or whatever cool toy you had. I do understand that underestimating muggers/thieves works, but it doesn't always work.
I didn't answer the question.
I do grant you that, but I did offer the solution because tracking software will not work. Regardless... If the thief doesn't boot in your OS, you're done. Never will you recoup your laptop.
So, what exactly is better? Losing your laptop and data and that the eventual thief can access the data (e.g. accessing the datea with another machine).... OR, getting your laptop refunded by insurance, having your data in a backup and the knowlegde that your data cannot be misused.
So, sure, I spout "Offtopic Nonsense" at +5... But perhaps, I just gave the most sensible answer to a question that had no answer in the first place. Tracking software? Unless it's in the hardware, it won't work...
As for "mugging insurance" ask your insurance agent for "laptop theft insuance". Mine does it, and I'm not someone special.
Do you have a HOWTO?
What part exactly didn't you understand of "I'm kidding"...
Still, private companies that monitor your "lost laptop" are always open to the highest bidder. They're about money, so you really don't know. Sure, the odds are low, but taking things in your own hands is always the best option if you can.
Besides, as others have said... if it's Windows software, then a format and reinstall won't get rid of it. No new laptop/computer I ever had, was used as it came from the factory. The first thing I do is reinstall. So, frankly, even if I got a stolen laptop I'd be safe. (Not that I'd buy one, after all laptops are cheap these days....)/p>
Granted, I didn't think of engravings... The same style as they do for cars where all windows are engraved with a serial number so that the car can be identified and that it would cost way too much to replace all windows.
However, in the cars case, I doubt that someone stealing your car and exporting it to Russia will care. (I live in Europe, this stuff happens) Someone who pays 100€ for a state of the art laptop knows that it doesn't come from legit sources. So an engraving won't help and who checks laptop engravings, eh?
I forgot to mention: for encryption you don't need to shell out big bucks like the dolts at the IT department did where I work. Just install Truecrypt and encrypt your data partition. Let that partion map on your My Documents folder and you're done.
I use it on my USB sticks.... Love it
That said, while Truecrypt exists for Linux, I'm sure there is a native way to do encryption without additional software. If anyone has more information about that, I'll be glad to hear of it. (Migrating to Ubuntu full-time, so one day I'll need it)
A pack of semtex in your laptop.... If you fail to write the correct password after three times, it explodes...
I'm kidding... If those programs can track muggers, they can also track you and that's why I wouldn't trust them. The best way to handle this is to encrypt all your data and insure your laptop against theft. Oh, and daily backups of your data on trusted media which you lock away in a safe.
Essentially, only your data is worth something. The hardware can be covered by insurance.
Which is aptly mimicked in the video game, isn't it?
People like him are so grotesque that their parodies look too much like the real thing...
Quicktime/iTunes (pisses me off that they are so tied together these days)
Well, you can't use iTunes without Quicktime for obvious reasons. However, you can install Quicktime without iTunes just fine. No idea what you mean with "tied together"...
Sure they can.... They are not a monopoly and as such standard rules apply. They might simply drop AMD compatibility completely.
Yes, of course you can do that. It's a tad bit harder if it's a laptop, but apart from that: if you can physically access the machine and the data is not encrypted, you can recover it.
Ehm, you really don't remember, do you? There was functionality in Outlook that allowed emails to run midis, except it didn't check the MIME type and ran whatever declared itself as being a midi, including EXE, COM, SRC and PIF. So, the person opening those emails got infected by "just opening the email"
That was back in the day that we computer scientists were laughing at those "open an email and get virus emails". We didn't count with Outlook.... *sigh* That was a long time ago...
Just that you know.... You have access to those files witha Ubuntu Live CD and a USB harddisk to backup to.
I know, that harddisk of my parents failed (hardware), and I was able to recover most NTFS data using the Ubuntu Install CD. It now resides on an ext3 external USB disk.
Also, most versions of windows I have used(since 95) ask before opening executable files(even .SCR)
You clearly don't remember the Outlook Midi exploit.
You have now officially jumped the shark!
You're technically competent, so what part of "AlignLikeMicrosoftWord98ForMac" is a good standard, eh? How much did you cost? I'd really like to know, I need a stripper for the bacherlor party of a gay mate of me...
I've been a teacher: don't tell me. I got so disgusted I quit.
Allow me to rephrase that:
The public education system has been failing students since long before No Child Left Behind.
Does No Child Left Behind mean that nobody can get ahead, either?
Yes, next question please...
I'm not sure of the parent poster, but we have some electronic documents that are archived from 10 years ago that can't be updated and then re-archived, they must match the printed documents that they produced.
Understandable... but how do you explain to the people that want this that the software that created these files doesn't exist anymore and worse that the programs that are supposed to read them do not render them correctly either.
I'm not claiming that OpenOffice renders them correctly, but Microsoft Office 2007 doesn't either. So you have a document that cannot be rendered, unless you dig out that XT that ran DOS with the DOS version of Word to reproduce them. (Just an example, subsitute with Mac OS/Word or DOS/Wordperfect wherever you want)
I think I have to drive a good 200km before I get to anything close like a "ghetto". For the others you may have a point, but you have to find those somehow.