[typoon]

for those who don't know that this is/does
MacPhoneHome™ is the pre-eminent computer tracking and theft recovery software in the world for Macintosh computers. With MacPhoneHome™ there is no yearly monitoring fees, no additional charges, and no hidden costs! How does MacPhoneHome™ work? Every time you boot your computer and have an Internet connection, MacPhoneHome™ sends a stealth e-mail message containing its exact location to a pre-determined e-mail address set by the user. In the event the computer is stolen, you file a report with the local police and then notify Brigadoon Software’s Command and Tracking Center, which will provide full tracking and recovery support. When the stolen computer goes online it will send a stealth message to the pre-determined e-mail address containing its exact location. Once this information is received, our recovery agents work with you and the investigating law enforcement agency to recover the stolen property. Worldwide tracking and recovery. Highly tamper-proof. We supply both Classic and OS X versions at no additional cost.
Price: $29.95 USD

Has anyone ever used this?

[Moonray]

You'll get about the same functionality if you simply add and hide a startup item that sends an e-mail with the current IP of that machine to you or someone else.
Both won't work anymore if the thief is not stupid and erases the hd before using it. It's not worth that price.

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[typoon]

Originally posted by Moonray:
You'll get about the same functionality if you simply add and hide a startup item that sends an e-mail with the current IP of that machine to you or someone else.
Both won't work anymore if the thief is not stupid and erases the hd before using it. It's not worth that price.

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The thing is that this can't be removed from the HD. It doesn't allow him to format the drive or remove it from the computer.

[darrick]

i don't know how it would work, but i heard via a users group i belong to that having seti at home will, as an unintentional byproduct, work to identify the location of the stolen computer.

[Moonray]

Originally posted by typoon:
The thing is that this can't be removed from the HD. It doesn't allow him to format the drive or remove it from the computer.

Some dumbsmart Windows tools claimed that long ago that and simply removed fdisk.exe and format.exe. What a laugh.
Of course you can format or erase your HD anytime.

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[voyageur]

I'm no expert at this, but I think the Phone Home software requires that you first install Apple's Open Firmware Password, which prevents your computer from booting from a CD without a password that you set; therefore the hard drive can't be reformatted.

[nica]

Will the Open Firmware Password protect against FireWire Target Disk Mode?

[VEGAN]

Originally posted by voyageur:
I'm no expert at this, but I think the Phone Home software requires that you first install Apple's Open Firmware Password, which prevents your computer from booting from a CD without a password that you set; therefore the hard drive can't be reformatted.

You know that this is not really a problem for the thieves? Do a google search to find how to remove Open FirmWare passwords

[voyageur]

I guess there's no good solution, is there?

[Dyeus]

How about replacing the HD? no need for any passwords

[ambush]

Originally posted by voyageur:
I guess there's no good solution, is there?

yes, lock your comp with a cable.

that's what they do in stores, etc.

[VEGAN]

Originally posted by Dyeus:
How about replacing the HD? no need for any passwords

It's much easier than that
If you were to agree that you will not sue me, I'll demonstrate it to you by "taking" your computer

Seriously now.

If you have PHYSICAL access to the computer you are `root'!
[In English, passwords for computer access are only good if you can't get physical access... if I can access the RAM, CDROM, etc. "j00 have been 0wned..."

[Dyeus]

well I am not a technician I was just using logic