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LoJack or UnderCover Anti-Thief for your MBP?

armoredsaint

armoredsaint

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 7, 2010
233
9
USA
Wanted to get your thoughts and opinions on this? Worth it, maybe good cheap insurance? I know there's drawbacks also.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TS294LL/A

TS294
 
My cousin just had his Windows laptop stolen out of his vehicle. The police were able to get it back for him because of his Lojack. I'm actually considering it now too. Looks like you can get premium coverage for 3 years for 100 bucks. Seems reasonable to me. I may check out the other one mentioned though.
 
It is software. Any theif worth his salt is going to wipe the drive first thing they do... thus erasing the software.

It will work great if your theif doesn't know anything and just turns your device on and uses it...

I guess what I am saying is this is easily surpassed.

Before anyone "Corrects" me... Technically this software utilizes a function in the BIOS... and yes the "BIOS" and be reflashed to stop this too.
 
MartyF81 said:
It is software. Any theif worth his salt is going to wipe the drive first thing they do... thus erasing the software.

It will work great if your theif doesn't know anything and just turns your device on and uses it...

I guess what I am saying is this is easily surpassed.

Before anyone "Corrects" me... Technically this software utilizes a function in the BIOS... and yes the "BIOS" and be reflashed to stop this too.
Click to expand...

That is a good point, but for the idiot thief out there it might help?

BTW, you need to install a spell check software yourself ;)
 
miles01110 said:
No, a thief will steal it and try and either use it themself or sell it. If they were that smart they wouldn't steal it in the first place.
Click to expand...

I read further and our Macs come with a Firmware password in the utilities disc and it can block HD wiping or re-installing, unless they swap out the hard drive I believe?
 
armoredsaint said:
I read further and our Macs come with a Firmware password in the utilities disc and it can block HD wiping or re-installing, unless they swap out the hard drive I believe?
Click to expand...

It only provides a minor level of protection. Apple has a page on their site explaining how to bypass the firmware password. It doesn't require changing out the hard drive. So essentially, don't rely on the firmware password for security.
 
MartyF81 said:
It is software. Any theif worth his salt is going to wipe the drive first thing they do... thus erasing the software.

It will work great if your theif doesn't know anything and just turns your device on and uses it...

I guess what I am saying is this is easily surpassed.

Before anyone "Corrects" me... Technically this software utilizes a function in the BIOS... and yes the "BIOS" and be reflashed to stop this too.
Click to expand...

True, but the typical thief isn't a computer genius. And neither are the fools who buy them for dirt cheap prices. The BIOS/EFI hooks are enough to prevent most criminals from wiping it clean, even if they know how to reinstall an OS.
 
stuff like this is retarted and pointless, if your going to steal anything you wipe the thing first, thats like ruile 1 of stealing, if applicable you also crack the sim card in half.

so unless you find a method that can withstand deletion or being cracked in half then dont waste your money.

and buy a kensington lock and tie it to something.


oh and for the record most theifs no how to wipe the system thanks to youtube ;)
 
AdamRock said:
stuff like this is retarted and pointless, if your going to steal anything you wipe the thing first, thats like ruile 1 of stealing, if applicable you also crack the sim card in half.

so unless you find a method that can withstand deletion or being cracked in half then dont waste your money.

and buy a kensington lock and tie it to something.


oh and for the record most theifs no how to wipe the system thanks to youtube ;)
Click to expand...

I'm sure it can be debated back and forth all day long, but I'd have to say it depends on what kind of theft you are afraid of. If you are afraid someone is going to bust into your house and take it, then you might be right. But if you leave it in the car all the time, your average car thief is just some jackass who doesn't know anything but how to smash a window.

I honestly rarely take my machine out of my house. And I have home owners insurance if someone were to rob me, so I think I'll pass on it.
 
AdamRock said:
stuff like this is retarted and pointless, if your going to steal anything you wipe the thing first, thats like ruile 1 of stealing, if applicable you also crack the sim card in half.

so unless you find a method that can withstand deletion or being cracked in half then dont waste your money.

and buy a kensington lock and tie it to something.


oh and for the record most theifs no how to wipe the system thanks to youtube ;)
Click to expand...

LOL!!!:cool:
 
AdamRock said:
stuff like this is retarted and pointless, if your going to steal anything you wipe the thing first, thats like ruile 1 of stealing, if applicable you also crack the sim card in half.

so unless you find a method that can withstand deletion or being cracked in half then dont waste your money.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately you have zero evidence that supports the claim that "most drives get swapped out immediately." It just doesn't happen. LoJack programs work all the time.

and buy a kensington lock and tie it to something.
Click to expand...

Yeah, because no thief knows how to cut a kensington lock! :rolleyes:
 
the bigger question is, where will you bring the mbp too and have you ever had it stollen. if you just leave it in the car then you deserve to get it stollen, if it gets stolen at work then people will know what to do to it.

if you bring it to school and it gets stolen then your 95% wont find it. (5% is for possibility of secuirty cams)

if you leave it in your house and u get jacked then you might find it soon but they probably will sell it before they turn it on.
 
Most petty thieves are morons, that's why they're thieves. if they were Lex Luther they'd be working on Wall Street stealing a lot more than a two thousand dollar laptop.
 
MartyF81 said:
Before anyone "Corrects" me... Technically this software utilizes a function in the BIOS... and yes the "BIOS" and be reflashed to stop this too.
Click to expand...

well i'm going to correct you anyway.
Mac's don't have BIOS, they use EFI boot which is something completely different.
 
Or you could install Prey, which is open source and free - it can take a picture of the 'new owner' via the webcam, get geo location, IP tracroute etc, delete all your keychain/mail settings/browser passwords or lock the machine, flash up a 'reward for safe return' message and plenty more.
 
Modernape said:
Or you could install Prey, which is open source and free - it can take a picture of the 'new owner' via the webcam, get geo location, IP tracroute etc, delete all your keychain/mail settings/browser passwords or lock the machine, flash up a 'reward for safe return' message and plenty more.
Click to expand...

Thank you for mentioning Prey, I just installed it and tested it and it works great!
 
I decided to go with Undercover on both of my MBP's. The features and reviews made it definitely seem worthwhile. It might not be a bad idea to also get an insurance, though I didn't get one specifically for the MBP's.
 
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