Posts Tagged ‘computer theft’

Earlier this month, PC World posted a true story about a man who was able to recover his stolen laptops using a free remote-access service, LogMeIn.

The story was this: David Krop left 2 laptops in his SUV in a parking garage while he attended a meeting. The computers were stolen and they weren’t even password protected. However, David had a trial access of LogMeIn installed, which allowed him to remotely access his laptop. He was able to use this service to see that his stolen laptop was being used by its alleged thief. By spying on this person, and collecting all his personal information as he browsed the internet (including his face via a video chat), Krop was able to supply information to the police. The police were then able to recover the laptop.

Now, this sounds like a good deal, right? However, it’s a pretty a-typical situation to be in, and does not guarantee laptop recovery. The scenario depended on many factors, including:

• That the unauthorized user did not dismiss the tracking icon that appeared when his laptop activity was being watched
• That the unauthorized user would reveal a wide variety of detailed personal information while using the laptop (phone number, email address, face)
• That the unauthorized user wouldn’t wipe all the existing software off the computer

As you can see, using LogMeIn or other free laptop tracking or remote access services is not the same thing as using a dedicated laptop tracking & recovery program and service such as Computrace or LoJack for Laptops from Absolute Software. Only Absolute has a dedicated Theft Recovery Team to work with police to recover your computer. Our software does not require your to sit around waiting for the alleged thief to supply detailed information about him/herself – all investigations and tracking are done on your behalf.  And you don’t have to hope to talk a police officer into taking on your case – we have existing relationships with local police around the world. Also, most PCs also now have our software at the BIOS level, protecting it from being wiped if software is deleted. So even if a crafty thief that tries to remove the software, the BIOS firmware will make sure its installed.

David Krop has learned his lesson about leaving his laptop in his car. And he now uses remote tracking software. If you aren’t yet set up to track your laptop, check out our theft recovery products here.

Absolute recently received a theft report from a salesman, who claimed that his Computrace-equipped company laptop had been stolen from his vehicle. The laptop logged onto the Internet soon after, allowing the Absolute Team to extract information on the computer’s unauthorized user and location. As Absolute continued to piece together details, the user’s profile became increasingly familiar.

Once Absolute had recovered enough information to identify a key suspect and the laptop’s believed locale, they handed information over to police to perform the physical recovery of the machine. Police visited the provided address, where the salesman answered the door, company laptop in hand.

After stealing the laptop himself, the salesman reported the theft to Absolute and authorities in a feeble attempt to mislead police and direct attention elsewhere. Unfortunately, neither Computrace nor the local PD was fooled by the ‘clever’ ploy. When confronted by authorities, the salesman claimed that he assumed that the laptop had been stolen upon the time of reporting, but found it soon after. Police were not convinced by his story, particularly as the man failed to inform his company, Absolute, or authorities of this find, and continued to use the laptop for several days after he had supposedly discovered it. The salesman was arrested at the scene and has since been charged, and was terminated from his company. With Absolute’s help, the laptop has been returned to its rightful owner.

Click here to learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery Process.

Please note that the indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations, and the accused, in all cases, are innocent until proven guilty.

When a LoJack for Laptops customer used an online auction site to sell her laptop, she assumed that the transaction was complete. The laptop was shipped to its new user and was said to arrive three days later. When it was soon discovered, however, that the buyer had used a false online payment account and that the supposed payment was never processed, the customer turned to LoJack for Laptops for help.

The Absolute Team worked with investigators to trace the original shipment of the owing laptop, only to determine that the shipment recipient had promptly resold it upon arrival. Luckily, the laptop began to call into the Absolute Monitoring Center soon after the resell, allowing the Absolute Team to determine its current user and location. This information was handed over police, who visited the provided address.

The current user was cooperative with authorities, returning the laptop and helping to identify the shipment recipient. Although the user faced no indictments, police have since charged the fraudulent buyer. The laptop has been returned to its original owner, who is reconsidering the prospects of a sell.

Click here to learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery Process.

Please note that the indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations, and the accused, in all cases, are innocent until proven guilty.

After a laptop equipped with LoJack for Laptops was stolen from a California university dorm room, its owner was confident that the Absolute Recovery Team would be able to track the thief and recover his computer. Indeed, within weeks, LoJack for Laptops had recovered the laptop and uncovered the thief – among other things.

Absolute recovery tools revealed the name and location of the laptop’s unauthorized user, providing police with the details necessary to launch a further investigation. This additional inquiry revealed that, beyond a computer thief, the user was also a known fugitive with an active warrant in the United States. An illegal immigrant with a criminal record, he was subject to deportation.

Using the address that the Absolute Recovery Team provided, police were quick to obtain a search warrant and visit the user’s residence. The user claimed to have purchased the laptop online, and as was later revealed, used it to help gain employment under false identities. The laptop was recovered, and the user arrested and charged.

The original owner has been reunited with his laptop, and the unauthorized user has since left the country. The detective who worked alongside Absolute for the duration of this case has recently begun work on a new LoJack for Laptops recovery file.

Click here to learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery Process.

Please note that the indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty

Teachers at a California high school arrived at work one morning to find that thieves had made off with a number of the school’s laptops. Although all of the laptops had been locked to a classroom cart, intruders managed to break through the locks at take with them over 20 computers. Luckily, the computers were equipped with Computrace®, and in coalition with the County Sherriff’s Department, the Absolute Team began work on recovery.

The first computer called into the Absolute Monitoring Center just days after the theft, and in the weeks that followed, 12 more of the missing computers checked in. Each time a laptop connected to the Internet, Absolute was able to extract useful information and provide police with the details necessary to identify suspects and locales.

With every laptop Absolute directed police to, an interesting story surfaced. One of the computers had been purchased off the streets from a stranger, while another man acquired three of the laptops in a trade for his motorcycle. Absolute tracked two of the laptops to an area pawn shop, while two more were found when individuals attempted to resell them on the high school’s own campus.

Just months after the theft, Absolute has been successful in recovering over half of the stolen laptops, and is busily tracking those that remain missing. Armed with information provided by the Absolute Team, local authorities have been able to make several arrests in connection to the case.

Click here to learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery Process..

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty

Absolute Software, as computer recovery specialist, can often spot trends in computer thefts from the number of reported threats to its Theft Recover Team. In a press release last week, Absolute notes that the number of computer thefts has increased during (or perhaps the result of) the recent economic downturn.

“We are seeing a rapid increase in the number of computer thefts reported to our Theft Recovery Team.” – John Livingston, Chairman and CEO of Absolute.

Although some of the growth in the figures can be attributed to more Absolute customers, the team believes some of this is due to the current economic situation. With theft on the rise, there is undoubtedly going to be an increase in identity theft and data breaches.

Of course, with more laptop losses being reported to Absolute, there are more great success stories to share about Absolute’s recovery efforts. As part of the press release, several mini case studies of recent stolen computers were featured.

Absolute Software helps protect thousands of computers for consumers and businesses alike. Computrace helps businesses track computers, manage software, and recover lost computers. It adds a much needed layer of data protection that should be considered in these risky times.

*For complete details on $1000 Service Guarantee, see http://www.absolute.com/Service_Agreement.pdf