Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Just bought MBP - anti-theft app recommendations?

M

mark2741

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 6, 2011
8
0
Just bought my first Macbook Pro (the 13" one) yesterday. Been drooling over a Mac laptop for years but was always hesitant due to cost. Picked up the $999 MBP 13" i5 one yesterday. Loving it so far.

Wanted to know - what are the options/recommendations for 'Lojack' type anti-theft apps? I have looked at "Hidden" and "Undercover". I'm leaning towards "Hidden".

Ideally would love a free app but willing to pay.
 
i think those kinds of apps are gimmicks and the gotcha "news" items seem a lot like publicity stunts to me. the best protection seems to be keeping the computer with you. in my case, someone would have to steal the backpackoff my back, the computer off the table in front of me,or break into my home for it. i have insurance (your renter's insurance or homeowner policy ought to offer this) and all of my data is regularly backed up on cloud and time machine. i've never had a gadget stolen before, and i think that is in part because i don't wander off leaving it sitting out for opportunistic thieves to take. so many people suddenly get careless in libraries and coffee shops.
 
mark2741 said:
Just bought my first Macbook Pro (the 13" one) yesterday. Been drooling over a Mac laptop for years but was always hesitant due to cost. Picked up the $999 MBP 13" i5 one yesterday. Loving it so far.

Wanted to know - what are the options/recommendations for 'Lojack' type anti-theft apps? I have looked at "Hidden" and "Undercover". I'm leaning towards "Hidden".

Ideally would love a free app but willing to pay.
Click to expand...

I have Hidden... I think that one is the best because if someone steals it, the MacBook will take a picture of the theif and show you the websites that that person has been on. It will also help the process go faster when you are trying to get your macbook back.
 
AppleFanatic10 said:
I have Hidden... I think that one is the best because if someone steals it, the MacBook will take a picture of the theif and show you the websites that that person has been on. It will also help the process go faster when you are trying to get your macbook back.
Click to expand...

it might take a picture of someone, assuming the thief doesn't just put a piece of tape over it, turnoff airport, and / or wipe the drive before selling it. i don't see how it will speed up the process of getting it back unless the policeman somehow recognizes the individual.
 
udontno said:
It says on the webpage that they caught the guy!
Click to expand...


Yes, I know... :rolleyes: My point is that now everyone knows about the software so a crook will be more likely to simply wipe the machine before they use it. No software, no spying on a crook and bye bye laptop.
 
wpotere said:
Yes, I know... :rolleyes: My point is that now everyone knows about the software so a crook will be more likely to simply wipe the machine before they use it. No software, no spying on a crook and bye bye laptop.
Click to expand...

I don't know... there are some idiot thieves out there!
 
apparently i was wrong. neither of the two recent stories was a hoax.

although, they both required social media, and in one case national media intervention to regain the laptop. as i said above, it also requires a stupid thief.

it could happen, but what are the odds i wonder. your money would be far better spent on insurance (probably will cost less) for a guaranteed replacement.

and, an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure. just don't leave it out for thieves to take.
 
I was deciding between Undercover & Hidden - ended up getting Undercover. Both seem to be pretty good apps though. For a Mac that's probably worth $1000+ (along with time & effort you put into it with installed programs, files, etc.) I think it's a worthy investment.

Unfortunately none of them would be as secure as my old HP laptop where I got the option with an installed LoJack hardware chip which would prevent OS installs/BIOS flashes from getting rid of the anti-theft software. But, satisfaction from using Mac is greater, heh.
 
jpl6 said:
I was deciding between Undercover & Hidden - ended up getting Undercover. Both seem to be pretty good apps though. For a Mac that's probably worth $1000+ (along with time & effort you put into it with installed programs, files, etc.) I think it's a worthy investment.

Unfortunately none of them would be as secure as my old HP laptop where I got the option with an installed LoJack hardware chip which would prevent OS installs/BIOS flashes from getting rid of the anti-theft software. But, satisfaction from using Mac is greater, heh.
Click to expand...

CompuTrace? Stay away from that **** it overwrites system files at boot time and after the OS is loaded. It can also serve as a back door to hackers.
 
Thanks everyone. I will give Prey a try but am considering going with Hidden.

BUT...as one of the replyers astutely said - if I were to steal a laptop I would be smart enough to wipe the drive right away before using it. But I'm guessing at least 75% of thieves aren't that knowledgeable, particularly on Macs. A look at craigslist reveals a number of likely stolen laptops for sale, so there's probably a decent chance I'd wind up, at best, nabbing the unknowing buyer of the macbook instead of the actual culprit.

I work often long stretches at coffee shops/cafes like Starbucks. A man's gotta pee sometimes : ) With my typical work laptop (an HP Elitebook that is very nice as far as Windows laptops go) I just leave it on my table/seat for a minute while I do my business. Been doing that for a couple of years now. But with the cost of this MBP (out of my own pocket), I'm a little more leery. I am going to look into a physical antitheft device of some sort instead.

AHHHH....just thought of something - is there an app that will leverage the movement sensors in the laptop so that, when I gotta leave it for a few minutes, I can just press a button and then if the laptop gets moved you have 10 seconds to hit a certain key combo or the alarm goes off? Hmmmm...if that doesn't exist it might be my first crack at developing a Mac app : )
 
mark2741 said:
Thanks everyone. I will give Prey a try but am considering going with Hidden.

BUT...as one of the replyers astutely said - if I were to steal a laptop I would be smart enough to wipe the drive right away before using it. But I'm guessing at least 75% of thieves aren't that knowledgeable, particularly on Macs. A look at craigslist reveals a number of likely stolen laptops for sale, so there's probably a decent chance I'd wind up, at best, nabbing the unknowing buyer of the macbook instead of the actual culprit.

I work often long stretches at coffee shops/cafes like Starbucks. A man's gotta pee sometimes : ) With my typical work laptop (an HP Elitebook that is very nice as far as Windows laptops go) I just leave it on my table/seat for a minute while I do my business. Been doing that for a couple of years now. But with the cost of this MBP (out of my own pocket), I'm a little more leery. I am going to look into a physical antitheft device of some sort instead.

AHHHH....just thought of something - is there an app that will leverage the movement sensors in the laptop so that, when I gotta leave it for a few minutes, I can just press a button and then if the laptop gets moved you have 10 seconds to hit a certain key combo or the alarm goes off? Hmmmm...if that doesn't exist it might be my first crack at developing a Mac app : )
Click to expand...


Bingo. Looks like something like this is much better for protecting my MBP for me, based on the only time it being 'exposed' to a possible thief is when I leave it for a minute to go to the bathroom:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ialertu/
 
mark2741 said:
I am going to look into a physical antitheft device of some sort instead.
Click to expand...

Prey seems good for me. I'll look at Hidden but not sure if I really need to change.

Honestly the physical lock is probably the best way to keep your Mac from being taken.
 
You can set an EFI firmware password to prevent a thief from wiping the drive - requires a password to be entered when reinstalling the OS.

That, when combined with Prey, should offer a decent chance of getting some information back from your machine in case it is lost or stolen.

More info on setting a firmware password:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1352
 
Prey,undercover or hidden you can't go wrong with either however I would recommend just buying a physical lock e.g. from Kensington as they are safer. Or just get both a physical lock and The app
 
Anyone have a solid recommendation for Windows users? Just bought a new laptop and finished upgrading it with SSD and all. Would totally suck to get it stolen. Again - I'd be willing to pay. Just would like some reassurance that It could possibly be recovered if stolen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back