if brand new laptop, the bios password definitely won't be activated. since you bought from your friend and if he is the first owner of the laptop, ask from him for the password. if he can't provide you with the password, high chance that your friend is a thief.

last time i used to put boot up password. meaning everytime i turn on the computer, before loading windows, will have to key in password. after 1 year, i felt that it's quite troublesome so i cancelled it. damn, after that some idiots broke into my house and stole my laptop.
if the password still activated, they couldn't do anything but have to change the motherboard. and as you know, the motherboard is the most expensive part of the laptop and can only be obtained from original manufacturer. before they could change the motherboard, hopefully you informed the company first and chance of retrieval is higher.

although this does not prevent your laptop from being stolen, it make sure that other than you, no one else can use the laptop.

Yes, same thing happen to me also. BIOS password should be left on.

But here is a nice question. Which is puzzling me... Would you prefer

1. The thief have no access to your laptop... have to hack BIOS battery or replace motherboard and boot up to new OS on an external hdd

2. You setup windows with no password and allow full access since you install a spyware to detect IP and capture photo of thief

Which one would be better you think guys? All response welcomed.

I would rather choose 1 over 2.
First, IP detection and photo will require internet access. If they don't connect to internet, no photo will be sent and no IP will be detected.
Second, if I were a thief, I wouldn't want to know what are there in the stolen laptop, I will just format it and I can sell it or use it myself. Once formatted, everything is gone.

Just the 2 reasons above are enough. The laptop bios cannot be reset like how you reset the desktop. You have to send to laptop company for them to exchange the motherboard for you. ONLY laptop company can got the motherboard. So, pray that the thief would be caught if they do so.
If they choose not to change the motherboard, they can only take the parts.

Good feedback, thanks. Any other recommendations from other people.

I hope one day someone will create a device that can detect where is your laptop or PC
something like a GPS thing

Has anyone check this item yet? I found out about them from Computimes.

http://tramigo.com.my/

If the bug is small enough, then can install inside laptop. We can put in PCMCIA / Expresscard slot.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/9...r-against-theft

Undercover 2.5

About Undercover
If your credit card gets stolen, police can track it down by finding out where the thieves use it. Undercover does the same thing for Macs. When you install the app, it registers a unique ID for your Mac. If your machine is stolen, the system transmits its Internet location; Orbicule will then cooperate with law enforcement officials to locate the system physically and recover it. The latest version even adds support for iSight cameras, so your Mac can snap a mug shot of the miscreants. In case recovery fails, Undercover has an ingenious plan B. Undercover will simulate a hardware failure, urging the thief or someone who purchased the stolen Mac to send it in for repair, making recovery easier.

What’s New in this Version
- Undercover now only connects to the Internet when a network change occurs, reducing network traffic while making the system even more aggressive.
- Memory footprint and CPU usage have been dramatically reduced. In most cases, memory footprint is down 75%.
- In addition, Undercover sports dozens of under-the-hood improvements and fixes.
- Undercover is compatible with Tiger and Leopard.

System Requirements
Mac OS X 10.4 or later

*there was another 2 more software..but, i forgot... i'll tell later about that

My tips to prevent your laptop theft is, always take out the battery when u dun use your laptop
AND bring it everywhere wherever you go, even in the toilet

IF you have to leave your laptop, please hide it somewhere people don't expect it

I usually carry my laptop everywhere with me, especially if there's no one to look after it for me. The thing I'm worried now is the house break-ins >.< Isn't it a bit extreme to hide in a pot or a kitchen cabinet every day? xD

If thats the case, i just target you. Now got snatch thief and robbery by knife point, i just scout a person who carry laptop and rob them the old fasion way. No need break-in also. Plus guarantee get the goods.

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Added on December 15, 2008, 3:48 pmFlash your mobo good enough, no need waste money change mobo even if its protected by password.

This post has been edited by crapp0: Dec 15 2008, 03:48 PM

If that the case
need to learn martial arts like tae kwon do or karate-do to fight the thief in the future
OR buy replica gun to shoot them
FYI, there's a lot of replica gun that can shoot
they look like a same, a bit lighter from the original gun/pistol & come with bullets
they even have shortgun somemore with bullets

just shoot them!

how about tie your laptop with dog?
sure thief didnt dare to come near it.. ^^
if possible, put in tiger's cage

Gun illegal in malaysia, so to goes for replica gun which can shoot projectile. In the end you end up with robber also for having illegal firearm or serve longer sentence. Sure the robber laughing eventhough kena for robbery, you kena for possession of firearm worse.

Or easy, rather then ask for the item. The robber just whack one time over the head and then run off with item, the element of surprise always wins.

hehe
then, we change the policy..
nothing impossible in malaysia right?
^^
even house can build in dangerous place, even landslide many times..


why must me got break in house.. why we cant live in peace?

Thanks. I have been using your tip #1 Take out battery when not in use

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Added on December 17, 2008, 12:43 pmWhere to buy? I want one!

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Added on December 17, 2008, 12:47 pmWhat I would do is shoot the robber, take out all remaining bullets, wipe off fingerprints and put at robber side. Worst come to wort just say that your struggle with robber and manage to get the upperhand and use his own firearm to shoot him. Read in a newspaper last month a granny over power a robber's machete and chase the robber away. So damn funny.

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Added on December 17, 2008, 12:57 pmI cannot stress and agree about taking your laptop with you everywhere. I still remember one time when I was at Starbucks surfing and enjoying a damn expensive coffee, a girl ask me to look after her laptop while she goes to the toilet for a while.

She wasn't even sitting next to me but quite close. There were only a few patrons that day. I constantly watch over her laptop worried something might happen, then one of my friend buzz me and continue to chat. Forgot about the girl's laptop completely.

Thank god nothing happen. She should have brought her laptop to the toilet, ask the starbucks employees to look after the laptop by handing it at the counter or anything else. The worst she could do is ask a stranger to look after he stuff. If I were a bad guy, I would simply pack up, take her things and just walk out in no hurry never to revisit the same starbucks.

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Added on December 17, 2008, 1:09 pmSomewhat off topic, but concerning break ins. The local government should make it a must for housing developers to make only gated housing communities.

1) Then communities can just get 24/7 guards to watch over the gate. I find it hard for guards to patrol housing areas. They can only do so much.

2) Communities can add cctv at the entrances.

3) The latest I've seen and complete agree is adding the auto-gate system like the one at metro parking for the entrances. So tenants can just swipe or touch their security card to go in and out.

But the sad thing is I live in a very cheap neighborhood. People are driving expensive import cars, doing extravagant house renovations and having more than 1 astro dish but don't want to contribute to the community. So sad... thinking of moving out but since I bought the house, a bit difficult.

This post has been edited by gyver: Dec 17 2008, 01:09 PM

One more important to prevent your laptop from theft

Always be ready of any consequences

taking one oF this case looks like those secret agents carrying some nuclear detonator inside the case and surrounded by groups of army.
I would say everyone will pay attention on you and even attract the snatch thief or robber to come over to u

this is also one of the reason i go for super powered netbooks. like the hp thousand and the asus n10j.

they are good enough for games, light, portable. they weight 1.4kg at most, compared to most gaming laptops which weight 3.5kg+++

i dont understand why some people still prefer to buy those crazy heavy laptops. they are HELL to move around. immagine having a 4kg laptop, and say, 3 books for lectures. its like lugging cement in ur bag.


my suggestion is, use laptop traps.
laptop traps are laptop filled with petrol which will explode when turned on. If everyone brings this around, im sure most laptop thieves will be dead by the end of the month. Im sure those pro's are on repeat offences. of course, YOU dont turn it on aaaa ha ha ha (satoko laugh)

This post has been edited by satuross: Dec 18 2008, 02:03 AM

bro? can i know wat laptop trap u mentioning?
or it juz your joke? =p