Laptop Stolen- trying to Track

[MattP 343]

Got my laptop stolen, made a police report. Someone just logged onto my FB and started posting a bunch of porn and stuff- I then deactivated my account and changed all passwords. In total I had about $1300 work of stuff taken, got my geek of a room mate to attempt to track the IP (Was using Comcast wireless) and he said it shows Private, which he thinks is cause they used aproxy. To be honest this is all gibberish to me.

Any ideas?

 

[SonicDTR]

[youtube_browser]U4oB28ksiIo[/youtube_browser]

 

[MattP 343]

Seen it before.

 

[txyaloo]

If you don't have some type of remote access software on the PC, you're probably out of luck.

If you know the thief is accessing your web accounts let the police know. If they're so inclined, they can get the IP address and find the owner through the ISP.

 

[AznStanger3v]

dude is still on facebook. lol

Melvin Guzman | Facebook

 

[svtcop]

If you don't have some type of remote access software on the PC, you're probably out of luck.

If you know the thief is accessing your web accounts let the police know. If they're so inclined, they can get the IP address and find the owner through the ISP.

This.

Lo-jack for laptops is pretty helpful in these circumstances. We have recovered several with their help. Not familiar with any other "brand" that offers similar services.

Gotta protect your property guys. Ton of info to get from your laptop. I can't remember how much it costs but it's pretty cheap compared to new replacement.

 

[Njc0las]

LOL you're never going to see that laptop again and your roommate needs to stop watching so much CSI.

 

[StangJason]

if you don't have some type of remote access software on the pc, you're probably out of luck.

If you know the thief is accessing your web accounts let the police know. If they're so inclined, they can get the ip address and find the owner through the isp.

+10000

 

[Planter]

Got my laptop stolen, made a police report. Someone just logged onto my FB and started posting a bunch of porn and stuff- I then deactivated my account and changed all passwords. In total I had about $1300 work of stuff taken, got my geek of a room mate to attempt to track the IP (Was using Comcast wireless) and he said it shows Private, which he thinks is cause they used aproxy. To be honest this is all gibberish to me.

Any ideas?

did you not have a password on Windows when it got stolen? i never leave my computer unlocked when unattended. if I'm not on it, it's locked, hard drive is encrypted, so if it gets stolen, the data is useless to them. a fingerprint reader is also a good safeguard, so is a bios/startup password.

 

[MattP 343]

There was a password.


Thanks for the help, figured There was not much hope.

 

[ViciousJay]

did you not have a password on Windows when it got stolen? i never leave my computer unlocked when unattended. if I'm not on it, it's locked, hard drive is encrypted, so if it gets stolen, the data is useless to them. a fingerprint reader is also a good safeguard, so is a bios/startup password.

you realize it can all be cracked for under 100 bucks right? There is no real safeguard, its an illusion to make you feel cozy at home

1. encryption can be done quite easy unless its a thirrd party software, if your using OS encryption i :lol1: at you
2. Fingerprint user can be cracked by using a can of compressed air and a glove, the oils on your finger are left when swiping which can easily be retained
3. bios password can be cracked for under 29.99

 

[kevinatfms]

fingerprint reader? i didnt think they actually worked...

 

[black 10th vert]

you realize it can all be cracked for under 100 bucks right? There is no real safeguard, its an illusion to make you feel cozy at home

1. encryption can be done quite easy unless its a thirrd party software, if your using OS encryption i :lol1: at you
2. Fingerprint user can be cracked by using a can of compressed air and a glove, the oils on your finger are left when swiping which can easily be retained
3. bios password can be cracked for under 29.99

All of this may be true, but I still believe it is better than no safeguards at all! Unless it is an experienced hacker type thief, they will likely not get around those safeguards. Going by your logic, there is no point to locking your car, or house either, since for very little money a thief could bypass those as well - right?

 

[TBCobra]

RAT him.

 

[txyaloo]

you realize it can all be cracked for under 100 bucks right? There is no real safeguard, its an illusion to make you feel cozy at home

1. encryption can be done quite easy unless its a thirrd party software, if your using OS encryption i :lol1: at you
2. Fingerprint user can be cracked by using a can of compressed air and a glove, the oils on your finger are left when swiping which can easily be retained
3. bios password can be cracked for under 29.99

This. The Windows password can be bypassed with a simple live Linux CD. I had a fingerprint reader on my test PC at Dell. It was defeated with a simple red LED light one of our vendors gave out for free.

Encryption + two factor authentication is the only way to go.

 

[Planter]

you realize it can all be cracked for under 100 bucks right? There is no real safeguard, its an illusion to make you feel cozy at home

1. encryption can be done quite easy unless its a thirrd party software, if your using OS encryption i :lol1: at you
2. Fingerprint user can be cracked by using a can of compressed air and a glove, the oils on your finger are left when swiping which can easily be retained
3. bios password can be cracked for under 29.99

you can bypass the bios password by simply removing the battery on the motherboard for free.

nope there isn't a real safeguard, but some security is better than none.

I dont ever trust any OS's encryption. I have used TrueCrypt for the past several years.

All of this may be true, but I still believe it is better than no safeguards at all! Unless it is an experienced hacker type thief, they will likely not get around those safeguards. Going by your logic, there is no point to locking your car, or house either, since for very little money a thief could bypass those as well - right?

this.

This. The Windows password can be bypassed with a simple live Linux CD. I had a fingerprint reader on my test PC at Dell. It was defeated with a simple red LED light one of our vendors gave out for free.

Encryption + two factor authentication is the only way to go.

whats the 2 factor authorization?

my point with the fingerprint reader, bios password, and windows password, was its better to have some safeguards as opposed to none, but the average thief wouldn't know how to bypass any of that unless they were experienced at stuff like this.

 

[ViciousJay]

This. The Windows password can be bypassed with a simple live Linux CD. I had a fingerprint reader on my test PC at Dell. It was defeated with a simple red LED light one of our vendors gave out for free.

Encryption + two factor authentication is the only way to go.

i was trying to say that but didnt want to give Planter (mr windows and IT and help)

 

[ViciousJay]

you can bypass the bios password by simply removing the battery on the motherboard for free.

nope there isn't a real safeguard, but some security is better than none.

I dont ever trust any OS's encryption. I have used TrueCrypt for the past several years.



this.



whats the 2 factor authorization?

my point with the fingerprint reader, bios password, and windows password, was its better to have some safeguards as opposed to none, but the average thief wouldn't know how to bypass any of that unless they were experienced at stuff like this.

i about wet myself! :lol1:

 

[Njc0las]

you can bypass the bios password by simply removing the battery on the motherboard for free.

Not on almost all of them.

 

[txyaloo]

Not on almost all of them.

Not on most of them. It depends on whether the system records the password in the BIOS rom. Also, since this is a laptop, it definitely doesn't work. We had an app only available to escalations analysts at Dell to use to bypass bios and hard drive passwords, and even it didn't work all the time.

It's a bit easier on a desktop since many have jumpers to clear the CMOS.