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Hidden App for MAC

One question:

What/who tells me that these kind of apps like hidden or prey don't take screenshots and photos all day long and log my keyboard entries (and thus passwords) although they're not active?

I mean, basically, if you install one of these applications, they could do anything.
 
They could its true, but what would be the point? I mean what would they do with that information? Steal and sell personal info? I think it would of come out by now if this was the case. Besides there was a story in the media recently about a guy who had his MBP stolen and he had either hidden app or Prey installed and he posted on his blog the photos it was taken of the person using his stolen MBP, he got it back once an online news media show like Dateline contacted his local police department as they wanted to do a story on it, I think he got it back the next day.
 
All that stuff about anti-theft protection seems to be crap: normal thief will shut that Mac down just after he steels it (and the same with phone), boot from CD/DVD and make clean system install. That's absolutely logical.
So you will just download/buy another app which does nothing.
 
Dave Braine said:
That's assuming that he knows about computers and has stolen the install discs as well. I doubt it.
Click to expand...
Someone who stole computers should know at least something about them.
Install disks - you can grab Mac OS install image via torrents and burn them on disk in 20 minutes (if you have good internet connection).
 
Nikh said:
Someone who stole computers should know at least something about them.
Install disks - you can grab Mac OS install image via torrents and burn them on disk in 20 minutes (if you have good internet connection).
Click to expand...

I think you over estimate the computer abilities of the common thief; my guess would be that most don't know the different between Mac and PC.
 
CylonGlitch said:
I think you over estimate the computer abilities of the common thief; my guess would be that most don't know the different between Mac and PC.
Click to expand...
Maybe. But all mobile phone thiefs know, that first thing they should do - turn off the phone. And they really learnt that and do that.
People who steal notebooks (not the first one, but work in that 'industry') should know that simple rule as well.
 
Nikh said:
Maybe. But all mobile phone thiefs know, that first thing they should do - turn off the phone. And they really learnt that and do that.
People who steal notebooks (not the first one, but work in that 'industry') should know that simple rule as well.
Click to expand...

Yes, but then they sell it to someone who thinks it is legit and they have no reason to really wipe the whole thing.
 
ashman70 said:
They could its true, but what would be the point?
Click to expand...
Stealing my Paypal password (by logging my keyboard input) and steal all my money?
Hijacking my ebay account and buy lots of ****?

I mean what would they do with that information? Steal and sell personal info?
Click to expand...
Yes?

I think it would of come out by now if this was the case.
Click to expand...
Not if they're only waiting until they collected enough data.
 
Nikh said:
(...) normal thief will shut that Mac down just after he steels it (and the same with phone), boot from CD/DVD and make clean system install.
Click to expand...
Wrong.
The hidden FAQ's suggest to set a Firmware protection password for the Mac.
Once set, it's impossible to boot from other devices than the internal harddrive and thus it's not possible anymore to install a new OS.
See http://hiddenapp.com/support/#faq4
 
As the above poster said, when using this you should have a firmware password on so you cant change the boot order without the password. You also cant do SMC or PRAM reset with a firmware password on...just an FYI. If the guy is gonna steal my computer and rip the hdd out, then I guess he won but I am sure doing as much as I can to get it back if it ever does happen.
 
Afaik the "firmware" we're talking about doesn't belong to the HDD. It's on the mainboard.
So, replacing the HDD won't help the thief.
He'd need to replace the whole board or at least find a way to clear the firmware setting.
 
valmar said:
Afaik the "firmware" we're talking about doesn't belong to the HDD. It's on the mainboard.
So, replacing the HDD won't help the thief.
He'd need to replace the whole board or at least find a way to clear the firmware setting.
Click to expand...

Yes but if you remove the HDD, Hidden/Prey is no longer tied to that computer and therefore wont find it.
 
valmar said:
Wrong.
The hidden FAQ's suggest to set a Firmware protection password for the Mac.
Once set, it's impossible to boot from other devices than the internal harddrive and thus it's not possible anymore to install a new OS.
See http://hiddenapp.com/support/#faq4
Click to expand...
...and Mac OS knowledgebase tells, that :
Warning: The Open Firmware Password can be reset and changed by any one of the following (except MacBook Air):
By any administrator user, as designated in the Accounts preferences (or in Server Admin).
Via physical access to the inside of the computer.
When the computer is started up in Mac OS 9.
 
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