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MrsLarry · Jan 18, 2006, 01:07 PM

this may be a re-post, but has anyone seen this?

http://orbicule.com/undercover/

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 18, 2006, 01:10 PM

A clean instal is what any smart thief would do and it would get around the software no problem.

Miniryu · Jan 18, 2006, 08:19 PM

I gotta remember to clean install all 582,000 laptops I stole back in '04. That could have been disasterous!!

tooki · Jan 18, 2006, 09:26 PM

How, pray tell, does that software know that the original thief has passed the machine on to a buyer or repair shop? It seems to me that the "plan b" could show up when it's still in the thief's hands, blowing its cover.

tooki

SpaceMonkey · Jan 18, 2006, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by tooki

How, pray tell, does that software know that the original thief has passed the machine on to a buyer or repair shop? It seems to me that the "plan b" could show up when it's still in the thief's hands, blowing its cover.

tooki

It senses the comforting aura of Steve-ness enveloping it, like a baby chick in its egg sensing the warmth of its mother...

macintologist · Jan 18, 2006, 09:59 PM

What's the best anti-theft software for the mac?

macintologist · Jan 18, 2006, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

A clean instal is what any smart thief would do and it would get around the software no problem.

http://orbicule.com/undercover/faq.php
What if someone does a clean install of OS X on my machine?
You can prevent this by installing a firmware password. You can find the firmware password utility on your Mac OS X Tiger DVD (in /Applications/Utilities/ on the disc).

Lei's Left Bun: Owned once again.

Leia's Left Bun · 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

Lei's Left Bun: Owned once again.

Owned? No you're just stupid. All it takes to get around a open firmware password is to zap the PRAM or to uninstall the RAM and put it back in.

Hopefully you aren't a stupid thief. But they found a stupid enough customer to sell this crap to.

wdlove · Jan 19, 2006, 01:14 PM

Looks very useful for the laptop owner.

production_coordinator · Jan 19, 2006, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

A clean instal is what any smart thief would do and it would get around the software no problem.

If I were a thief, I would simply purchase a new HD and destroy the old one.

Unless someone writes the code into firmware... a clean install/new HD makes any such hardware obsolete.

That being said, many "snatch and grab" type people don't know any better.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

If I were a thief, I would simply purchase a new HD and destroy the old one.

Unless someone writes the code into firmware... a clean install/new HD makes any such hardware obsolete.

That being said, many "snatch and grab" type people don't know any better.

Snatch and grab people sell it to someone who does.

macintologist · Jan 19, 2006, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

Owned? No you're just stupid. All it takes to get around a open firmware password is to zap the PRAM or to uninstall the RAM and put it back in.

Hopefully you aren't a stupid thief. But they found a stupid enough customer to sell this crap to.

Nope, WRONG AGAIN.

All it takes is to simply lock the chassis of your computer so thieves can't access the RAM.

Also, you have NO proof WHATSOEVER that resetting the PRAM will erase the OF password. That is the biggest lie.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

Nope, WRONG AGAIN.

All it takes is to simply lock the chassis of your computer so thieves can't access the RAM.

Also, you have NO proof WHATSOEVER that resetting the PRAM will erase the OF password. That is the biggest lie.

Who knew you could lock down a laptop from being opened.

And you're getting dumber by the post:

"[The Apple document on firmware protection notes:]

How to troubleshoot a computer with Open Firmware Password enabled If you cannot access the Open Firmware Password application and need to troubleshoot your computer by:
* resetting the PRAM * starting up in Single-user mode * starting up in Verbose mode * starting from CD-ROM

Then follow these steps:

1. Start up into Open Firmware by pressing and holding the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.
2. At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-nvram
3. Press Return.
4. When prompted for your password, enter it and press the Return key. It responds OK.
5. At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-all
6. Press Return.
The computer restarts and you are now be able to reset the PRAM and startup in Single-user mode, Verbose mode, or from CD-ROM."

http://www.macintouch.com/securityfirmware.html

turtle777 · Jan 19, 2006, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

All it takes is to simply lock the chassis of your computer so thieves can't access the RAM.

How do you prevent a thief from UNLOCKING a stolen laptop chasis ?

Originally Posted by macintologist

Also, you have NO proof WHATSOEVER that resetting the PRAM will erase the OF password. That is the biggest lie.

It's common knowledge that it works, you n00b!

http://www.mactipsandtricks.com/tips...sso?mactip=118

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

How do you prevent a thief from UNLOCKING a stolen laptop chasis ?

It's common knowledge that it works, you n00b!

http://www.mactipsandtricks.com/tips...sso?mactip=118

-t

He is just going to backpeddle as much as he can cuz he tried to make it look like I was "Owned once again" but he is 100% "Owned" as it were

I bet he will recommend a giant bike U-lock around your laptop to keep it sealed shut. We all know those can't be opened, not even with a simple ball point pen.

macintologist · Jan 19, 2006, 02:14 PM

Well Leia you provided your proof AFTER I told you were lying. So it's your fault for not providing it in the first place.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

Well Leia you provided your proof AFTER I told you were lying. So it's your fault for not providing it in the first place.

Ah ha ha ha ha

You are comedy gold.

olePigeon · Jan 19, 2006, 02:55 PM

Are you two married?

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Are you two married?

I think he is in Virtual internet competition with me for some reason. Quite a compliment if he is trying that hard to make me look bad.

Mister Elf · Jan 19, 2006, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

4. When prompted for your password, enter it and press the Return key. It responds OK.

You apparently missed something, because your "workaround" for the OF password requires that you know the password. Crazy, huh?

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mister Elf

You apparently missed something, because your "workaround" for the OF password requires that you know the password. Crazy, huh?

Ya you are crazy

"Password-protecting Open Firmware does not ensure the host cannot be booted in a manner counter to what you intend. An attacker who can open the case of the computer can force a password reset. By adding or removing memory, the host is put into a mode where it is possible to reset the PRAM by pressing Command-Option-P-R at boot time. Once the PRAM is reset three times, the password protection is removed. This quirk in the Open Firmware architecture underscores the reason for physical locks on your hosts."

turtle777 · Jan 19, 2006, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

Well Leia you provided your proof AFTER I told you were lying. So it's your fault for not providing it in the first place.

turtle777 · Jan 19, 2006, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

Well Leia you provided your proof AFTER I told you were lying. So it's your fault for not providing it in the first place.

Mister Elf · Jan 19, 2006, 07:33 PM

And the average thief is going to know everything about Open Firmware, AND have an OS X boot disc handy?

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Mister Elf

And the average thief is going to know everything about Open Firmware, AND have an OS X boot disc handy?

Nope, but the person they sell it to sure as hell will.

forkies · 08:16 PM

wow, macintologist's attempts to embarrass internet ppl are as lame as this "security" software

Originally Posted by Mister Elf

And the average thief is going to know everything about Open Firmware, AND have an OS X boot disc handy?

"smart" & "thief" aren't mutually exclusive... you only hear about the ones who got caught.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by forkies

wow, macintologist's attempts to embarrass internet ppl are as lame as this "security" software

"smart" & "thief" aren't mutually exclusive... you only hear about the ones who got caught.

festeringwounds · Jan 19, 2006, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

Ah ha ha ha ha

You are comedy gold.

hahahhaha you totally own3d him.

krillbee · Jan 19, 2006, 11:15 PM

Wow, that anti theft software is a joke!

Anyone who leaves the original OS on the machine after they stole it is a moron.

What I'm wondering about though is why we arent seeing any more Mac Address identification. If you steal a machine the mac address still remains the same even if you reinstall the OS. Couldnt internet providers who use ethernet/broadband connections keep track of computers on the internet by mac address? Then providers could just get a list of stolen computer mac addresses that they could compare with their current internet customers.

Also, why dont they just redesign OSX and Windows so that information about the computer mac address is sent out to either Microsoft, Apple, or the Government, and then they can compare that with the list of stolen computers?

And used computer resellers (correct me if I'm wrong) check the serial numbers on machines before they buy them from customers, right?

festeringwounds · Jan 19, 2006, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by krillbee

Wow, that anti theft software is a joke!

Anyone who leaves the original OS on the machine after they stole it is a moron.

What I'm wondering about though is why we arent seeing any more Mac Address identification. If you steal a machine the mac address still remains the same even if you reinstall the OS. Couldnt internet providers who use ethernet/broadband connections keep track of computers on the internet by mac address? Then providers could just get a list of stolen computer mac addresses that they could compare with their current internet customers.

Also, why dont they just redesign OSX and Windows so that information about the computer mac address is sent out to either Microsoft, Apple, or the Government, and then they can compare that with the list of stolen computers?

And used computer resellers (correct me if I'm wrong) check the serial numbers on machines before they buy them from customers, right?

Good question. That said, I don't want that either. Big brother doesn't need to keep track of everything for us. Here's an idea: Just keep an eye on your ****ing laptop. If you're some spoiled retard who's parents pay for everything and you lose it, oh well, but I am careful with my things.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by krillbee

What I'm wondering about though is why we arent seeing any more Mac Address identification.

If you are behind a router I don't THINK it shows.

goMac · Jan 19, 2006, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by krillbee

Anyone who leaves the original OS on the machine after they stole it is a moron.

I worked for a long time for a school district. I have first hand experience with stolen equipment.

Most thieves don't have reinstall CD's for Macs. They aren't smart. They just go "Oh! Mac! Looks cool! They're expensive too! I'll steal it!" and then they steal it. For all they know, to wipe it they use a Windows XP cd. We had people steal TiBooks that were missing the whole lcd. They're not smart people. And more likely than not they'll take it back to the Apple dealer.

We were starting up 1 to 1 iBook deployment and we had issues with people who moved and took the iBooks with them. This software would be very useful for that. A lot of people who are here in this country questionably just walking off with iBooks after being in Seattle for 6 months and moving on to the next thing.

goMac · Jan 19, 2006, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

If you are behind a router I don't THINK it shows.

It doesn't.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 20, 2006, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by tooki

How, pray tell, does that software know that the original thief has passed the machine on to a buyer or repair shop? It seems to me that the "plan b" could show up when it's still in the thief's hands, blowing its cover.

tooki

I was wondering the same thing. It must come with a built in scanner that detects honest people.

goMac · Jan 20, 2006, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

I was wondering the same thing. It must come with a built in scanner that detects honest people.

It's a last ditch thing activated remotely. The first message should get the thief to take it into the Apple Store, where they have a stolen laptop database.