Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Anyone have Anti-Theft software on their MBA?

M

McGilli

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 11, 2008
380
0
Wondering what kind of anti-theft software people are using since there is no way to use a physical cable lock on the MBA.

Also - anyone with software installed - can you post any experience with having to actually use it to get your mac back or the software companies support.
 
R

rhyx

macrumors 6502
Jan 15, 2008
363
9
Software is not the way to go. The Air isn't meant to be locked to a desk. If you aren't using it you should have it in a bag.
 
F

flipside217

macrumors newbie
Jan 14, 2009
19
0
rhyx said:
Software is not the way to go. The Air isn't meant to be locked to a desk. If you aren't using it you should have it in a bag.
Click to expand...

the bag can also be stolen too, mid as well have some type of other protection too like lojack for laptop. mcgilli, search ebay for lajack for laptops. You can find them cheap on there.
 
L

lucidmedia

macrumors 6502a
Oct 13, 2008
702
37
Wellington, New Zealand
Not on my MBA, but my MacBook Pro is provided to me by my employer and all of the school's laptops have computrace.

Interestingly enough, the admins are also alerted when the laptop has not been on a network for a while...
 
G

glitch44

macrumors 65816
Feb 28, 2006
1,121
157
Anti-Theft software is always a choice between what's more important to you: the security of the hardware vs the security of your data. for the anti-theft software to work, the thief has to be able to log in and use the laptop, unaware that he's being tracked. but data security is all about keeping the thief out-- screensaver password, locking down open firmware, using file vault-- to keep the thief from even logging in.

i'm more of a data security guy.
 
Scottsdale

Scottsdale

Suspended
Sep 19, 2008
4,473
283
U.S.A.
I have Lojack for Laptops. I also use iAlertU for an alarm if moved in public place while I step away.

I haven't had my Mac stolen, but I have switched Mac notebooks a few times. Original $69 I paid for Lojack for Laptops lasts three years and can switch machines as the service is for person and not any specific notebook. Since never have loss I just don't know if it works - knock on wood.

The iAlertU is a free simple app that sounds alarm if motion is detected. It's instant and you can set to take photo and email to you. Also you can set remote to work like a car alarm. Sorta cool. Seems like a good thing if walk away from laptop but still close enough to hear an alarm on max volume.

I bought a new revB MBA two weeks ago and I would really hate to lose it. With tax and software, nearly a $3300 expense. The money is worth it if ever recovers that, or makes me feel a little safer until then.
 
L

LinMac

macrumors 65816
Oct 28, 2007
1,269
43
I just bought insurance for mine recently. I have the data locked down so tight you aren't even going to get close to it so I'll just buy a new one with the insurance money if it gets stolen. :D
 
S

skrutzen

macrumors regular
Feb 3, 2007
108
2
I agree with LinMac. I have mine covered under my homeowner's insurance. I have needed it before and it worked well.
 
M

Macjames

macrumors 6502a
Dec 12, 2007
728
0
Yorkshire, England
I want an iPhone app so that if my air gets stolen i can remotely detonate an explosive charge within it. That should cover both software and hardware nicely. :D
 
tubbymac

tubbymac

macrumors 65816
Nov 6, 2008
1,074
1
Maybe a different tack is required. See this example of an anti-theft lunchbox for ideas :)

28qrk15.jpg
 
Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa

macrumors 65816
Aug 22, 2007
1,051
0
Indiana
Another one with Orbicule. Thankfully haven't had to put it into use so far and hopefully will never have to!! They have just released an large update as well. :)
 
G

glitch44

macrumors 65816
Feb 28, 2006
1,121
157
so all of those with security software, i'm curious-- you have disabled login passwords?
 
M

mattyb240

macrumors 6502a
May 11, 2008
520
0
You have to disable automatic log in, create a guest user account so that who ever steals it can still get access to the internet etc and then set a firmware password.
 
M

McGilli

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 11, 2008
380
0
mattyb240 said:
You have to disable automatic log in, create a guest user account so that who ever steals it can still get access to the internet etc and then set a firmware password.
Click to expand...

For the Firmware - you are talking about just setting the EFI password from the OSX install disc - so that the MBA no longer boots from an external drive right?
 
A

airtime!

macrumors newbie
Dec 15, 2008
6
0
if we are talkin about security you guys have got to check out ialertu. very effective (for a software) in security and maintains that typical mac slickness.
 
K

kwestin

macrumors newbie
Nov 26, 2008
5
0
MacTrak

Hello,

Full disclosure here, I am the Founder & CTO of GadgetTrak, which makes MackTrak.

We designed MacTrak http://www.gadgettrak.com/products/mac/ differently from other anti-theft applications, in that it does not send any information to a monitoring center. Other products provide a monitoring center and staff the ability to access your device, access your camera and sends data to their servers outside the US.

The fact that we were making use of the camera as well as utilizing wi-fi positioning to get the location of the device within 10 meters raised some serious privacy concerns. To mitigate this risk we removed the third-party monitoring center altogether. Once you activate the software remotely all data goes directly to your email and your Flickr account, no location, images etc ever come to our server, only to the accounts you specify.

For more infromation regarding our privacy safe approach please visit:

http://www.gadgettrak.com/products/mac/privacy/

If you need assistance when your Mac is stolen you can forward the information on to us, or provide law enforcement with our contact details and we can work with them to recover the device.

If you enter the promo code "macrumors09" a 30% discount will be applied.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions.

Thank You

----

Ken Westin
GadgetTrak Founder & CTO
http://www.gadgettrak.com
http://www.twitter.com/kwestin
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom