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Protecting MBP From Theft: UnderCover or LowJack?

HappyDude20

HappyDude20

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
3,688
1,479
Los Angeles, Ca
Hi guys,

So i'm beginning to ponder how dorm life will be like at UCLA this fall. With this in mind i'm taking my Apple devices and their security seriously. I'll gladly walk into the UCLA dorm-life thinking no one would want to steal any of my devices, but I realistically can't walk in there with only my good intentions.

I'll most likely have an iPhone by the time fall hits, with either taking my 1st Gen iPad or springing for the iPad 2...alongside my current MBP.

I've done some researching through Google & MacRumors (Mroogle isn't working for me, here in China) and am constantly directed to either Undercover or LowJack.

It seems to me UnderCover is more of a (personal) hands-on app, allowing me to consistently track the status of my stolen Mac (or any iOS device)...but offers to promise or guarantee should my Mac be lost forever; aside from refunding the price of the App itself. I do like that UnderCover consists of only purchasing the app, with no reoccurring yearly fees.

Moving on to LowJack, I'll say right off the bat that they offer a $1000 guarantee should my MBP can't be returned. Of course, i'm sure there's some fine print. I like that they offer this, but hate that it's double the price of UnderCover and is based on a yearly subscription.

Assuming i'll be in standard 3-person dorm room, I don't want to live a daily life of subjecting my MBP & iOS devices to be hidden and having to lock my door. I'm considering one of these 2 options as a(n almost) failsafe, in case someone decides to want to take one of my devices.

--------------

Before I end this thread, i'll add one more concern:

I have my MBP, iPad & iPod set up so that after locking any of these devices, a password is required to enter the device once again. This makes me wonder if programs such as UnderCover are deemed useless once my Apple device is stolen, considering if the thief can't enter my Apple device, UnderCover can't do is thang in helping me retrieve my Macs whereabouts.

..Thanks for listening.
 
Prey Project.
http://preyproject.com/

We use The Lojack product here at work, in it's enterprise level Computrace iteration. Have never recovered a stolen Mac because whoever's getting them is smart enough to know to nuke them as it's a software solution. Our Windows Dell laptops however have it in Bios and it's solid as a rock.

The iPhone/iPad use MobileMe's "Find my iPhone" which is now free.
 
The only way to truly avoid or at least minimize theft is to make sure the MBP never leaves your side.
 
miles01110 said:
Err... I think you're a little confused. Neither Undercover, LoJack, or Prey Project "protect" anything against theft. They are examples of recovery assistance software. No software can prevent theft.
Click to expand...

I think you're nitpicking on nomenclature. It's pretty clear what product group the OP is looking at by his post.

Recovery assistance software can in and of itself be a theft deterrent if the installed user base knows or believes that you can control and track a remote machine.
 
I don't think i've ever seen a standard 3 person dorm room... standard at every college i've ever been to was 2?

anyways the software isn't going to stop it from getting stolen, it just might help you get it back if the thief is dumb enough to not wipe the software before using the computer.

That said, really the only thing that will help to keep it from getting stolen is a kensington lock bolted to your desk....

Keep your doors locked if it's in the room, or keep the mbp on you at all times.
 
I keep thinking about that Kensington lock, which I'm still thinking about getting it or not. Truth be told, I never thought i'd actually be locking up my MBP.

If OSX Lion brings up a "Find my Mac" feature then i'd imagine I wouldn't have a need for any of these UnderCover apps...but if Apple activates and brings to the masses such a feature, then I'd presume people would wise up to erasing hard drives the first thing after stealing my laptop.
 
HappyDude20 said:
I keep thinking about that Kensington lock, which I'm still thinking about getting it or not. Truth be told, I never thought i'd actually be locking up my MBP.

If OSX Lion brings up a "Find my Mac" feature then i'd imagine I wouldn't have a need for any of these UnderCover apps...but if Apple activates and brings to the masses such a feature, then I'd presume people would wise up to erasing hard drives the first thing after stealing my laptop.
Click to expand...

The software is next to useless, pull out the HD, put a new one in, buy the 29$ snow leopard DVD and you're set.
 
HappyDude20 said:
I keep thinking about that Kensington lock, which I'm still thinking about getting it or not. Truth be told, I never thought i'd actually be locking up my MBP.

If OSX Lion brings up a "Find my Mac" feature then i'd imagine I wouldn't have a need for any of these UnderCover apps...but if Apple activates and brings to the masses such a feature, then I'd presume people would wise up to erasing hard drives the first thing after stealing my laptop.
Click to expand...

well a kensington lock is the only thing that may prevent it from being stolen, all other solutions you've mentioned only help in the recovery process..

also it's assumed that if apple implements "find my mac" it would be at some system level that wouldn't be wiped with a reformat. Anything less is utterly useless (lojack, etc). I don't think anyone who stole a computer would keep all of your junk on it, of course they are going to wipe it and do a fresh install, making your locate software useless.
 
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