Hello everyone,

As everyone knows that laptops or notebooks are getting to be a hot item nowadays not only for businessman, home owners and also students.... you find that most wifi hotspots are full with people. We hear a lot of stories. So I suggest we compile them in this thread. Maybe a story or two will help you to solve a case or hinder from this black day happening to you.

It just so happen that I lost 2 brand new Dell laptops last year in a house break in. Just paid 3 months 0% interest payment

1. Dell Inspiron 9400
2. Dell Inspiron 510m

I had every single important thing inside. My bank accounts number, credit card info, maybank2u username and password save in firefox (without enabling the master password), you just name it. It took me more than two days to go to the banks and cancel everything.

Nowdays I don't keep so much important information inside notebook and do not use yahoo messenger history anymore.

Furthermore one of my friends lost his Dell XPS 1310 laptop last week. The laptop was hidden nicely from prying eyes under the seat. He went for a quick dinner in Jalan Ampang area and when he got back the car window was smashed to pieces and his laptop was gone.

Just recently I started using this software to store every important information in a secured state, and it can also run on my PDA phone. So even if I loose my phone, my info will remain secure. I hope.

KeePass Password Safe http://keepass.info

TrueCrypt http://www.truecrypt.org (Can hide complete directories but not so compatible with Vista since it disable the shadow cache thingy)

Don't forget to also do monthly or even weekly backups by burning to cd or dvd.

So please do share your stories, solutions and anything related.

This post has been edited by gyver: Nov 20 2008, 08:54 PM

Since yrs is Dell, did you report yr service tag number to Dell to inform them yr laptops is stolen?
i don't mean that you can catch the culprit that way, but at least they could 'blacklist' yr set and when the thiefs use the stolen set to get online or something, they can detect it, (location, etc)

if yes, wat happened after that?
if no, why?

well, i am asking coz i hav a dell too, maybe i could get info from ppl with experience like you

This post has been edited by kyoko4eva: Nov 14 2008, 09:46 PM

i also lost 2 laptops last year. 1 eeepc together with acer 6292. Was on the way back from kuala kedah.. and then stop by at one kampung area to eat. I tought kampung area no such thing as laptop detector..so i just leave my laptop inside my car. some more the laptop was inside my huge travel bag..so i dont think ppl will realize got laptop inside. when i came back to my car..everything like normal.. however when i'm arrived home.. i realized that my car window got got 'krak krak' sound when i try to open it. at that time i know already someone has already broke into my car.. and then straight away take out my travel bag... gone...

Moral of the story... dont leave laptop inside your car.. even at kampung area..

Yes I did report. I call to the same sales person in charge of my account. Because she has all my purchase information, she logged the report in their database of reported stolen items. But she clearly states that Dell can only do this. They will hold the item if the culprit or the buyer of stolen goods send in for warranty repair. I find it hard that a person who steals the notebook or buy stolen goods will send in for repairs. They will try to repair outside if possible or just throw away said laptops after strip clean whichever parts can be used as spare parts.

Was wondering if Microsoft can blacklist the product ids from doing windows update.

What really bugs me is that if the culprit does a windows update, surely Microsoft can detect the IP, and if they really can provide this information to Malaysia's inforcement team (PDRM, ISP, etc.) I'm sure our problem will be solved. The FBI manage to catch Kevin Mitnick through harder ways than this. But I finally realize that this doesn't benefit Microsoft at all. They are better off if laptops get stolen since we have to purchase new laptops with OEM operating systems everytime. So if my laptop gets stolen every year, no need for Microsoft to come out with newer versions of Windows. People will keep on buying OEM operating systems until we finally figure out to buy a notebook with FreeDOS and purchase a full license OS or simply migrate to Linux.

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Added on November 15, 2008, 6:30 amDid they just smash the window or used a diamond cutter. My friend in PJ area was lucky enough to be visited by the diamond cutter fairy. His car rear window was cut a really nice clean circle size just enough to take out his Vaio. Really pro but not using laptop detector since can view the laptop in clear site.

This post has been edited by gyver: Nov 15 2008, 06:30 AM

I wonder how the laptop detector work even if it does exist. Since most of the reports i heard is that how the laptop detector works is if you have left your laptop on with either wifi or bluetooth enabled since the laptop detector searchs for the wifi or bluetooth signal of a laptop.

There are those who say it can detect the bios battery but thats hard to believe since it doesnt broadcast a signal and its output is similar to a battery watch.

Most of the time, ppl target those who carry the tall tell signs of a laptop by the oem sling bags which they are using. Thats why i throw away those bags for more discrete ones.

Perhaps they detect the heat generated by the notebook battery after normal use. That could be a plausible answer.

i think they only use steel ruler. i wonder how they deactivate the car alarm.

This post has been edited by ilham87: Nov 15 2008, 03:35 PM

my laptop was inside my travel bag. i wonder how they know got laptop inside. some more the laptop was turned off. must be some kind of special notebook detector then. because my dlsr camera also inside but in another bag and they didnt took it.

woah...

lucky u didn't lost ur DLSR camera together with ur laptop....

oh well... i only know that laptop can't be left alone... have to bring it where ever we go... that's y netbook are popular now ( it's small n light )

wow, now only i know that what Dell can do is so limited when a event of theft happens
less than i expected with my previous post above.

is it possible to insert a GPS detector, some kind of location tracking device into a laptop for some backup incase of theft,
so there is a possibility of recovering it and find the crooks?

My first ever lappy was stolen way back in 2003. It was an acer aspire but forgot the model name. I parked my car at the parking lot next to Times Square (now already became Smart Tunnel bukit bintang exit). I hid it under the seat of my car, and it was at night. I went for a dinner with my girlfriend (now already my wife) for about an hour and when i returned my car window was smashed and the laptop gone. I guess the @$$hole used that detector thingy since it was at night and it's not like i parked my car under the lamppost. Furthermore, the tint of my car was quite dark (even received summons in one police roadblock).

Is there any insurance that we can buy on laptop's???

Especially got stolen or...

yes. there is.

http://www.ucare.com.my/

huh... seriously they do use the 'detector' to detect the existence of laptop?

Last time i still put my laptop in the car boot when going out with friends...

Most probably they targeted you or your an unfortunate victim since there are many technical questions like if they do have a device which can detect the power from a bios battery, wouldnt the car internal clock battery also produce the same signal and wouldnt it interfere as well as any dozen of electronic devices, not 2 mention HP signal everywhere.

i always put my nb in my car overnight tim.. now i scared d.. ekekekek

Lol....i just past by this thread....Very very very true about the detector i guess....i have beenn hearing over and over again from all my friends.....theese fag laptop nabs are really irritating....sometimes i feel so lazy to take it out from the backseat...

Thanks for the link. Checking it now...

i already checked ths linked..

it stated in the T&C that

snatch thief is under their exclusion lar...

so is stolen from vehicle...

theft without forcible entry...

apart from the detector, now i heard some rumors saying there's a new device (some sort of universal remote that u use to alarm/disalarm) your car.. which enables the thief to open your car without doing any harm to your car.

so basically this thief will wait at any corner and wait for victim.

Example,

Let say you parked your car and *alarm* your car without noticing or suspecting anything (the new device : will detect your alarm during you trigger to lock your car). Therefore , this thief will just come, *dis-alarm* your car, open.. take anything inside ; laptop,TnG,valuebles.. and went off. If the thief is kind enough , he/she will lock back the car for you.

AND YOU WILL NOT NOTICE ANYTHING... imagine that.

its the same as your car remote alarm, just that this device can be used on any OEM alarm?? im not sure myself, just heard thru frens. can anyone clarify this? or have any experience with this new device?

yes i heard it also. i think what it does is when you press your car key to lock your car, then this device will capture the signal. And then the device resend the signal to unlock your car.

get a netbook weighing less than 1.5k and lug it anywhere! i dunt bring my 17 inch , 2 kilo + laptop outside

sure lar.. if they allow this, people will cheat to get new laptop. just make a false police report.. and then claim.

yeah the function is like "universal TV remote control" where u can use on any TVs.

sigh* technologies nowadays.. therefore i always carry my lappy and never ever leave in the car altho for a short while.

later regret... no use already. even report to police, definitely u wont get the lappy back.

Notebook Stolen in the house.. (Suspect stolen by housemate coz no break in from the door)

Model: HP Tablet tx1316AU
S/N: scnf7444g86
P/N: DF832A

I'm here to share some story about stolen laptop. I am
the user of Acer Aspire 4520-500512L and has been stolen
without being detected since 18 April 2008.

Here are my tragic true story to share for you all in this forum.

This tragic day happen when I have a study break last April.
That time I was in 1st semester. Diploma in Arts and Design @
Universiti Teknologi MARA Alor Gajah, Melaka.

The bad dream begins when I'm packing my stuff for home, that
time I was to sleepy because busy to completing my assignments.
So I pack my laptop right to my laptop bag and because I'm to
sleepy, I put my laptop on my right and get some sleep. If I remember,
the time it was happen was 9:30 am in the morning.

When I woke up at 11:20 am later, I open my eyes and I realize that
my laptop was gone.

I've tried to tell to my friends who's enter the dorm that morning but
my friend said he doesn't seen someone enter the dorm stealing my
laptop. I'm so frustrated + worried + angry with myself how my laptop
was gone.

So my friend advise me to report stolen laptop immediately to the security
and said they'll investigate this missing laptop.

But...............................................................

I've realized that my efforts were failed and even I report to the security doesn't
help me to retrieve back my laptop and was considered GONE!

With my beloved laptop was gone, I've learned my lesson that:

1. I shouldn't sleep late even when I've struggling to complete my assignment that
causes I'm tired.
2. I shouldn't put my laptop bag to the place where the thief easily spot my laptop
( I should keep it in my locker )

So the missing of my beloved laptop is still mystery, Walahuallam........
I don't know who thief he is, I don't know where my laptop was gone and I don't know
how they were gone.

Hope this story could be a useful lesson for u guys. For me, the missing
of my beloved laptop is such a tragic.

My Aspire 4520-500512, where r u gone!!!!!!

P/S: Anyone who can share tips on how to avoid stolen laptop, please tell me......

This post has been edited by deentk_1987: Nov 17 2008, 01:56 PM

avoiding it could be hard. it happens anytime, anywhere.

but one thing you can do is try to set up user/supervisor password to login to your computer (through bios.. not windows password). By doing this, it is hard for the thief to reformat and resell the notebook ( there is a way to clear bios password but it is very hard and you need skills to dissect the notebook and assemble it back)

for some notebook with integrated TPM chip, there is no way to reset the password unless they send it back to the manufacturer. Thats the good thing about TPM.

how does theif detect there is a laptop in the car? some said becuz of the wiif signal when the battery is connected.true?

i keep passwords and important files at google docs & email

My laptops were stolen in a house break last month.
1 is Compaq presario v3000 and another one is a Dell Vostro. So sad...
I am living in a condo with security guards. Guess those guards are not reliable. Sigh...
I suspect it could be an inside job. But nothing I can do about it.

DaRust, which condo, could u tell? like a warning to us

my laptop brand GATEWAY model MT3705 been stolen when my whole family was away for a dinner function...my dad bought it all the way from the states...it was like very limited in m'sia as there were a few of it only...now gone ad...if any1 saw any GATEWAY laptop pls do notice me...thx...

This post has been edited by kousou: Nov 18 2008, 10:18 AM

My friend witness a snatch theft of this type of laptop at Damansara Perdana mamak restaurant early this month in broad daylight during lunch hour. People give chase but cannot catch the culprit because his accomplice was waiting right beside the road on a motorbike.

So unless you strap the laptop on your body, you are still in danger of theft. It all depends on luck I guess.

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Added on November 18, 2008, 11:12 amYes I have done this before in collage. My friends Compaq was locked good because he forgot the BIOS password. So I remember my PCs BIOS setting missing because the CMOS battery already gone, I just pop open the notebook and unplug the CMOS battery.

Good to know that there is this new technology to hinder this method o forceable entry.

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Added on November 18, 2008, 11:16 amDo you have a photo. My Dell 510m has a Ubuntu sticker on top. But sadly all photo is in the stolen notebook itself.

Yes, all family photo including my brothers and brother in law wedding inside laptop also. So now all gone. Now I learned my lesson and I upload all photo to a premium Flickr account. At least pics are safe now. Have online backup copy.

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Added on November 18, 2008, 11:21 amI have google it a bit. On some foreign forum there were discussing about modifying a laptop and using it's internal soundcard as a metal detector. They even post diagrams of the detector rod. This metal detector is like the one used for treasure hunting but the technology lies not in the hardware part but the software that they use. Using the difference in electromagnetic frequency or radio frequency of said devices they can determine what type of laptop is in the car, digicam and other electronic devices. Quite scary.

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Added on November 18, 2008, 11:30 amYes the T&C is easily understand because it is not in some technical jargon but a diagram.

http://www.ucare.com.my/coverage/index.html

So confirm not covered

But if you worry about theft in house. You can get the Kurnia Householder Plus insurance for up to RM50,000 a year at RM178.00 only! It covers theft without forcible entry.

UPDATE: I just met up with Kurnia claims officer. Laptop theft is not covered for any of their insurance package, be it auto vehicle or householder/homeowner. Not only that, all claims will be rejected for small items such as digital camera, camcoder, mp4 player, tablet PC (whatever small items that can be carry by small children). Her exact words.

This post has been edited by gyver: Dec 4 2008, 06:04 PM

Puncak Banyan Condo. After i attended a community meeting earlier this month only i had realized that there were lotsa break in cases earlier this year. After numerous complaints. They tighten up the security. No cases reported until last October which is me >.<

Mine also..............
Model Aspire 4520-500512L.
Stolen last April 18 '08 at UITM Alor Gajah
Already report to security guard but sigh........ nothing else I can do to retrieve back
my laptop

i lost a clone laptop. very light and still the best. the thief broke my car window. i not only lost laptop but car repair for window

lesson: never leave laptop in car
: buy insurance for new laptop if necesary

yeap, making the thief cannot sell and format the laptop, but then what? its not like the thief gonna give the laptop back

which one better? let the thief enjoy the money selling your notebook or both party also loss?

i have this idea

why don't i write somekind of software to do this

1) on windows start, the program will load invisibly and capture user image with webcam and save on disk

2) then the program will try to email the image file periodically to a specified email , also invisibly


Criteria -
1) Your windows login is not password protected
2) I will only do testing with windows XP


any thoughts & suggestions guys?

This post has been edited by zzzxtreme: Nov 19 2008, 10:29 AM

Great idea actually. But 2 things you have to keep in mind.

- The thief must be connected to the internet
- Normally thief dun bother to login your computer. straight away format

so the chances that you will be getting the image is very very low.

However, you can have a try. good idea anyway.

Is any ideas you can share on how to avoid laptop thief? I know to prevent it so hard, but at least we can protect our laptop from being stolen.

The tragic loss of my beloved laptop has leave a huge huge huge trauma to me.

It's like a nightmare u know.

I swear the next semester it won't happen again for the second time.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I SWEAR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This post has been edited by deentk_1987: Nov 19 2008, 01:00 PM

my friend now keeps his laptop and camera in kitchen cabinet after he lost one in his apartment.

i guess it COULD help prevent it from being found

Just for people who are interested to beta test this software please refer to this thread

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/850174

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Added on November 19, 2008, 2:20 pmMy neighbor keeps it in a large "periuk" in his kitchen. It must be the thick one. It really works according to him.

If this REALLY works then business and techie people will have a "periuk" at the back of their car.

This post has been edited by gyver: Nov 19 2008, 02:20 PM

Since u guys mention it, next the thief will look at the kitchen and the periuk as well.

This is to hinder the scanning by the laptop detector. The thickness of the metal can block the RF scanner somehow. The burglars do not hit houses or cars at random, but use this new technology that people are talking about. But when I go to pasar road and ask around, no where to be found. So you must be the in crowd to purchase one me thinks.

This thread should be a good warning to everyone with laptops..

Taken from http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/thinking-ahead-to...op-theft/153204

Prevent Laptop Theft

1. Mark your laptop

Marking your laptop helps with the recovery of a stolen (or lost) laptop. Either engrave your information onto your laptop or use a tamper-resistant asset tag. After all, the best proof that something is yours is your name right there on the stolen item.

You can use an engraving tool to literally carve your name and contact information on your laptop.

Some clever folks merely write their names inside the laptop, either on the back of some removable door, inside the battery compartment, or other places a thief probably wouldn't think to check. Use a Sharpie or other indelible marker.

You can get asset tags from most print shops. The tags peel and stick like any sticker, but you can't easily remove or damage them.

2. Don't use an obvious laptop carrying case

That carrying case with the emblazoned Dell logo (or IBM logo, or what have you) isn't just a proud buyer appreciation/marketing gimmick. The custom laptop case tells the casual thief that something valuable lurks inside.

In contrast to a loud-and-proud custom laptop case, a non-descript, soft laptop case doesn't draw undo attention to your computer. Backpacks also make good places to store laptops.

3. Register the laptop and its software

Be sure to send in your laptop's registration card, as well as the registration for any software that you use. If someone steals the laptop, alert the manufacturer and software vendors. Hopefully, they care enough so that if someone using your stolen laptop ever tries to get the system fixed or upgraded, your registration information helps you locate the purloined laptop.

This trick assumes that the person fencing the laptop doesn't fully erase the hard drive.

Be sure to keep a copy of the laptop's serial number and other vital statistics with you, specifically in a place other than the laptop's carrying case. That way, you know which number to report to the police, as well as the manufacturer.

4. Be mindful of your environment

When you're out and about with your laptop, stay aware of where your computer is and who may have access to it. Watch your laptop!

For example, when dining out, put the laptop in its case beneath the table. If you need to leave the table, either take the laptop with you or ask your friends to keep an eye on it for you.

Be especially mindful of distractions! A commotion in front of you means that the thief about to take your laptop is behind you. A commotion behind you means the thief is in front of you. Thieves work in pairs or groups that way, using the commotion to distract you while they steal your stuff.

5. The old ball and chain

Your laptop probably comes with a hole or slot into which you can connect a security cable. That hole has an official name - the Universal Security Slot (or USS).

The USS is designed to be part of the laptop's case. A thief can't remove from the laptop any cable or security device that you thread through the USS; he or she can only cut (or unlock) the cable itself to free the laptop.

Obviously, the USS works best when you have the laptop in a stationery place. Like a bicycle lock, you have to park the laptop by something big and stable, then thread the cable through that big thing and the USS for the lock to work.

The best place to find a security cable for your laptop is in a computer or office supply store.

Some cables come with alarms. You can find alarms that sound when someone cuts the cable, plus alarms that sound when anyone moves the laptop.

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Added on November 20, 2008, 9:36 pmBig companies really know how to sell us consumers a false sense of security. These are a few example videos of how to defeat bullshit and expensive devices...

Open a Targus Defcon in 15 seconds



Open Kensington Lock with cardboard



Open Kensington Lock with screwdriver



So you still want to buy these devices?

Yes, I know that the cables can be easily cut by a wire cutter too



But this is too much



This post has been edited by gyver: Nov 20 2008, 09:43 PM

i think the best is not to leave a laptop unattended...

i carry mine with me anywhere i go... even for a short while

yup. always carry it with you. now so many cases of stolen laptops. scare le.

is there a keningston lock for use in car?

it's all my mistake........
if i can bring my laptop everywhere, this shouldn't be happen.......

OUCH!!![/COLOR]

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Added on November 27, 2008, 5:49 pmspeaking about to prevent laptop thief........

between backpack with laptop bag which one is safer?

This post has been edited by deentk_1987: Nov 27 2008, 05:49 PM

I am also searching for good Kensington lock. They say the new ones are not easily breakable. Then if put laptop in car also can lock to the seats or if at the boot can lock to the spare tires iron bars or something like that.

BTW I stumbled on this item - solid aluminium case.

http://www.lps2u.com/shop/index.php?main_p...products_id=947

Do you think it will block the laptop scanning device. I don't know about the built in lock but this item looks like it can easily be fastened to a fixture at the handle point with a chain lock.

BEWARE! Nowadays there are sleek car lock hackers. They jammed the driver's side car lock first - to bypass the alarm. Then they pick the back door lock. No sound. No smashing windows.

Done when I was having dinner at KFC Wangsa Maju.

Report to the police station reveals there were more than 10 cases that same night around KL area w same modus.

OMG!

damn not save anymore to live in this world
huhuuh

Now is school holidays, so beware of house break in also. Modus operandi to break in during the day since no one at home.

They will first come and scan in the 1st week to find which house have Wifi AP so definitely have more than 1 computer or laptop. Lookout for suspicious cars with 100% tint going around your area and stopping by next to your house or your neighbor. If you go out to them, they will move on quickly.

Yes I do not feel safe anymore living in my area. If get more money have to move to gated community. Safer I think.

One thing better to prevent laptop theft is:-
Put the laptop under something that theif less expected it

for example, put it under your clean clothes
put all the clothes on the bed & slid your laptop under it

OR, may be can put your laptop under your sofa

OR, try put it behind your books in the book rack

Some good suggestion my friend but in my experience the burglars ransack the whole house. Every inch of the house in 1 hour only. All the clothes they throw to ground, books, whatever.

My honeypot also didn't work. Honeypot meaning, I made a small hiding place that can easily find stuff and put some money, fake jewellry and old broken laptop. People usually say when break house when they find stuff, they will stop and run away because afraid to get caught. These burglars nowadays are too greedy to stop. They will ransack everything. Break down cupboards even. They bring an axe or something like that.

So beware!

We can try this and that. We must try I think or else it's just plain stupid not to. At the end of the day, it all boils down to luck.

Nows day, what items u put inside huse, if the thief come they will find all stuff out to glory

I wanna ask if a brand new laptop from any shop we buy, do they activate the bios password? As it means that when I want to access the bios setting, it blocked me. I bought this laptop from a friend, and just wanted to make sure it's not a stolen item. Initially I thought of setting password in bios so that when ppl access my lappy, they can't get the access but now that I can't even access the settings. What do you all think?

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

theres some on e-bay ^.^''

i mean, if the laptop is sold at $50, its probably a "laptop trap"

u send em money, they send u laptop, u turn it on, BOOOOM. dead men cant talk.

As i read through the thread and realising how many ppl had their lappy stolen, i'm guessing most did not make police report coz they think no point, cannot get back one. So the police doesn't know how widespread this thing is. Otherwise they will have a accurate statistic on the thing and can setup a task force to do surveillence on the "hotspot" area. So this problem remains..

i know some said better carry it everywhere rather than leave it in car even for a short time but then u are exposed to snatch thief and this time u might be facing bodily injury or worst not just your car.

About the "laptop trap" thingy, there's a chance u might get blownup together with your lappy if something goes wrong somewhere,

Bro,
Did you ever make police report before?

From my experience making police report of my lost IC
police always want to make it my fault of losing my IC as i was pickpocket while entering a bus
it's not my fault coz i kept my IC in my wallet & deep in my back pocket that no one could see it
but the police scolded me & said i'm careless
WTF right? If you know you gonna loose something, you will prevent it right?
how on earth i will know that someone will pickpocket me?

so, from that, from what i heard & read, when someone's making police report, police will scold them
& the bad news is, they will not do something about the report, just, keep it as a record of their job
many reports meant they are hardworking person

Then u must have met a "kwailan" officer and he's being an idiot. but based on statistic, police know which area is the crook targeting and where they need to improve..

Is like that one.My fren also kena.He said if say lost it and it is easier for them to write report .

yeah2...
i totally agree with you..
nowadays, its very difficult to deal with police..

they always want to make their job easier...

Yes agreed. But thank god the police that handle my case was ok. I did report my lost.

off topic: But agree with you guys about these lazy police officers. A few friends and my brother in law also experience bad service from them. The accuse you of stuff, ask you to wait more than 3 hours at a time and most of them just don't want to accept the report. They say "no need to report lah". That is why a lot of people nowadays don't want to go to police station. You just had a bad experience, a tragedy happen to you and got treated like that even more. Can you imagine going to hospital because you got a heart attack and the doctor scold you because you eat a lot at mamak restaurants!

This post has been edited by gyver: Dec 20 2008, 09:29 PM

My wife's cousin lost her laptop early last month

the thief climbed into her apartment & ransacked the house
got her laptop & handphone as well
too bad coz she bought the stuff from her hard earned money

ah. my house got broken into 2 months ago too. when I went out for lunch at 1pm.

I lost macbook pro, ipod nano, acer 3200 laptop, sony ericsson p990i, samsung hp, rm1000 and other stuffs..........

Stupid thief. And pretty smart. took the entire set. macbook sleeve and stuffs. EXCEPT THE BATTERY! SO i still have my macbook pro's battery with me. Now lying there doing nothing.

Thank God i brought my camera out. because they already took out the camera box, finding the cam.

In singapore got case of stolen laptops where the thief who steals laptop right under the persons nose is usually at the the library and the thief will usually target the fella quite some time by actually buying the same exact laptop bag. When the thief past the fella, he will switch his bag for the other persons laptop bag.