MacPhoneHome did respond a few days later and sent the new version of their software which corrected the problem. MacPhoneHome doesn't have the bells and whistles of Undercover ... hopefully I've never have to use their service to find out how it is!!!
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Orbicule's Undercover Vs. Absolute's LoJack
- Thread starter Egosphere
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so whats better mactrak, lojack, undercover? just bought the new unibody 17 and want to get whatever is best one. although i wont ever let the damn thing out of my site outside of my house. even if i have to take a piss that thing is coming with me when im at school or anywhere in public. but just incase id like to get one of these asap.
firmware password
If you are worried about your laptop being stolen, or security on it in general, then I would suggest this starting action: use a firmware password. You can find more info on how to set this up on Apple's website with this article: Setting up firmware password protection in Mac OS X. What this does is prevent the computer from being booted from an external source (install DVD, another computer via firewire), making it difficult for a thief to wipe your data (and thereby avoid something like Undercover from working). If they're savvy enough, they can physically replace the hard drive though.
The caveat of using the firmware password is: if you forget the password, you're screwed.
There are numerous things you can do to protect your data. One simple thing is to avoid using your account as Admin. Leave the Admin account as a separate one and make your day-to-day account a 'Standard User' one. There are more tips available on the Macword webpage: I will keep my Mac safe from other users
On top of the firmware password, and some common sense prevention measures, installing something like Undercover or MacTrak seems wise to me. If your computer is stolen, that will suck but doing all you can to safeguard your data and hopefully get your computer back is worth the effort, especially if it results in you getting the machine back, or at least your data, in tact.
Lastly, KEEP A REGULAR BACKUP of your work. Once a week should be sufficient, or everyday if you're doing something reeeeeally important (like writing a thesis or something). I help people with their Macs as a side job, and I can't say how many times they've done something to ruin their files. My first question is to ask if they have a backup and the usual response is, "I'd meant to do that [but never got around to it]". It especially sucks for them if they kept all their photos on their now-defunct drive and nowhere else. Consider keeping your backup, or another copy, somewhere different than where your computer usually is in case of a fire, flood, etc.
If you are worried about your laptop being stolen, or security on it in general, then I would suggest this starting action: use a firmware password. You can find more info on how to set this up on Apple's website with this article: Setting up firmware password protection in Mac OS X. What this does is prevent the computer from being booted from an external source (install DVD, another computer via firewire), making it difficult for a thief to wipe your data (and thereby avoid something like Undercover from working). If they're savvy enough, they can physically replace the hard drive though.
The caveat of using the firmware password is: if you forget the password, you're screwed.
There are numerous things you can do to protect your data. One simple thing is to avoid using your account as Admin. Leave the Admin account as a separate one and make your day-to-day account a 'Standard User' one. There are more tips available on the Macword webpage: I will keep my Mac safe from other users
On top of the firmware password, and some common sense prevention measures, installing something like Undercover or MacTrak seems wise to me. If your computer is stolen, that will suck but doing all you can to safeguard your data and hopefully get your computer back is worth the effort, especially if it results in you getting the machine back, or at least your data, in tact.
Lastly, KEEP A REGULAR BACKUP of your work. Once a week should be sufficient, or everyday if you're doing something reeeeeally important (like writing a thesis or something). I help people with their Macs as a side job, and I can't say how many times they've done something to ruin their files. My first question is to ask if they have a backup and the usual response is, "I'd meant to do that [but never got around to it]". It especially sucks for them if they kept all their photos on their now-defunct drive and nowhere else. Consider keeping your backup, or another copy, somewhere different than where your computer usually is in case of a fire, flood, etc.
It barely takes any resources at all. Doesn't even show up in my top 20 processes in top.
I think a thief would notice...
I recently bought a unibody and I am also leaning towards Undercover. Undercover seems to have pretty fancy features and I only know the Lojack brand by reputation. Both of them seem appealing from a marketing/feature set viewpoint.
Can one actually install two such security applications at the same time on the same macbook laptop without interference (e.g., Undercover and Lojack)?
Any insights would be appreciated.
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MBP Unibody (2009) CTO 17 Antiglare 2.93GHz 4GB RAM 320GB HD (7200rpm) / iPod Touch 8GB 2nd Gen / iPhone Developer / ADC Select
Can one actually install two such security applications at the same time on the same macbook laptop without interference (e.g., Undercover and Lojack)?
Any insights would be appreciated.
---
MBP Unibody (2009) CTO 17 Antiglare 2.93GHz 4GB RAM 320GB HD (7200rpm) / iPod Touch 8GB 2nd Gen / iPhone Developer / ADC Select
...does anyone carry a kensington lock?
I like the undercover but wouldn't mind having both on a laptop either if they wouldn't conflict...
I like the undercover but wouldn't mind having both on a laptop either if they wouldn't conflict...
Question 1:
Question 2: is Orbicule actively working on Undercover for Mac? I have conflicting information.
on one hand, the website refers to a deadline of December 2007 for student discount (http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/mac/students.html), the "About Undercover" shows copyright 2007 (shouldn't this say 2007-2009?) and the "Chat with us" link is constantly offline.
On the other hand there's plenty of updated information. Reference to MacOS X Leopard, 2009 blogs, and iPhone information.
Has anyone had recent contact/dealings with the company?
MBP Unibody (2009) CTO 17 Antiglare 2.93GHz 4GB RAM 320GB HD (7200rpm), iPod Touch 8GB 2nd Gen, iPhone Developer / ADC Select // Archos 7, Canon Vixia HF S10
Question 2: is Orbicule actively working on Undercover for Mac? I have conflicting information.
on one hand, the website refers to a deadline of December 2007 for student discount (http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/mac/students.html), the "About Undercover" shows copyright 2007 (shouldn't this say 2007-2009?) and the "Chat with us" link is constantly offline.
On the other hand there's plenty of updated information. Reference to MacOS X Leopard, 2009 blogs, and iPhone information.
Has anyone had recent contact/dealings with the company?
MBP Unibody (2009) CTO 17 Antiglare 2.93GHz 4GB RAM 320GB HD (7200rpm), iPod Touch 8GB 2nd Gen, iPhone Developer / ADC Select // Archos 7, Canon Vixia HF S10
Quick question-
What if the thief were to boot into bootcamp (and format from there)? Is only the bootcamp partition affected? I'm just worried that the thief can, in one way or another, find a workaround to wipe what's on OSX from XP and reload it with his/her own copy (or, not use OSX altogether and boot into winxp the whole time).
Thanks for the insights.. you have been very helpful.
What if the thief were to boot into bootcamp (and format from there)? Is only the bootcamp partition affected? I'm just worried that the thief can, in one way or another, find a workaround to wipe what's on OSX from XP and reload it with his/her own copy (or, not use OSX altogether and boot into winxp the whole time).
Thanks for the insights.. you have been very helpful.
undercover
Undercover also uses Skyhook technology. I have Undercover installed on my MacBook. It is not taxing at all on the machine, and is mostly invisible to the user.
Undercover also uses Skyhook technology. I have Undercover installed on my MacBook. It is not taxing at all on the machine, and is mostly invisible to the user.
Because people are generally paranoid about being watched constantly by "the man". Apple is rad and doesn't want people thinking that they are being watched.
I use Orbicule Undercover, well, I have it installed at least - hopefully I'll never have to use their services.
My decision on which to use was primarily based on price. I work for Apple phone support, and I get a ridiculous amount of "my computer was stolen" calls. Unfortunately, that's out of Apple's hands.
Step 1 is to file a police report. Step 2 is to enable your third-party tracking software (Undercover/LoJack). Step 3 is let the software do it's thing and hope you can find your computer.
I highly recommend enabling a firmware password so the thief can't change your admin password by booting to an install DVD. Also, enable your guest account so that they can log in and actually connect to the internet.
Cheers,
Tonzee
The $1000 is contingent on a number of things, most importantly buying the "Premium" version ($60/year), LoJack not being able to remote wipe the machine, and the value of the machine ($1000 is the maximum you can get back if the machine cannot be remote-wiped- you get 90% of the machine's depreciated value or $1k, whichever is less).
