Yes, then Lojack is useless.
No. OS X doesn't ever send the serial number over the internet. There is no way this is possible.
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Apartment broken into, punk stole my computers!
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Yes, then Lojack is useless.
No. OS X doesn't ever send the serial number over the internet. There is no way this is possible.
By MAC Address, in the future we may get the ISPs to cooperate and locate stolen machines from a central criminal database -- but likely they will drag their feet as it being an invasion of their user's privacy.
However, would be nicer if service providers simply would blocked cellphones, computers, etc. in a central stolen property db from their systems.
Man, I'd make sure it wasn't a guest or friend you've had over. Most thieves only target apartments if they know what's inside and are targetting something in particular. Otherwise it's often too risky for an undetermined reward; being so close to other residences and all (not to mention escape route can be challenging). Houses are much more inviting for the average burglar.
I was burgled last May - lost an MBP, iBook, Powerbook G4, Powerbook G3 and a really nice HP laptop. The thief also stole my iBook install disks, so I knew the first thing he was going to do was reformat. That made me feel a little better as he probably was not going to waste time cracking my passwords to go through my hard drives.
Lojack and the like are pretty much useless placebos until they find a way to embed it in the actual firmware.
The police took all of the serial numbers, but this is only in case the stolen laptops were ever recovered for the purposes of identification and for my insurance purposes (I wasn't at the time, having just moved in). The police has much more pressing tasks than trying to track stolen property via the interweb.
Lojack and the like are pretty much useless placebos until they find a way to embed it in the actual firmware.
The police took all of the serial numbers, but this is only in case the stolen laptops were ever recovered for the purposes of identification and for my insurance purposes (I wasn't at the time, having just moved in). The police has much more pressing tasks than trying to track stolen property via the interweb.
Well if you read the lojack software site for macs.. you will know that you cannot format the computer without knowing a password. It's a root level password or something. It does make it harder.
Sure, it could happen, but that person would need to be paranoid enough to do all of that. Most thieves aren't, although some probably are. That means having your install disks (those disks check what sort of system you own to see if it can install on that particular type of Mac), or buying upgrade disks.
My current MacBook doesn't have a serial number at all. What would I do?
Wow, I am so sorry to hear that 
Try calling your credit card company -- I know USAA covers stolen items, especially if you only bought it 2 weeks ago.
Try calling your credit card company -- I know USAA covers stolen items, especially if you only bought it 2 weeks ago.
firmware password info: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482
OK, so let me conclude this: If ones' computer got jacked, there is no way he or she could get it back. Unless Lojack installed.
Hmm...I might want to look into renters insurance. Especially seeing how I leave my MBP on my desk at home all day almost everyday. I also leave a fairly nice entertainment system in my room too. Oh, and like I've mentioned before, I can count on one finger the amount of times my apartment has been locked in the last 5 months.
I hate to say it man, but I don't care where you live... That is extremely dumb... Is it that much a hassle to carry an extra key around?
well why can't they put GPS chips inside the machines. like the ones they use on wild animals. let say: $49 for a GPS chip. I'd totally pay for it. Even $99.
so really, it's kinda "pointless" to report a stolen computer to the police because they can't do anything but has your case on record.
so really, it's kinda "pointless" to report a stolen computer to the police because they can't do anything but has your case on record.
i feel your pain, i had a car break-in at my old apartment. every apartment i had been in before required proof of renter's insurance before you moved in, this place did not so i figured i'll get it later. well two weeks after i moved in i walked out at 7:40am to go to work to find two guys ripping my car apart. renter's insurance would have covered it. i lost nearly $5k in stereo equipment and the damage to my car, idiot pried the door handle off instead of just breaking the glass. on the plus side, i came out in time to prevent them from taking my wheels, they had the car on a jack already, another 20 minutes and my car would have been resting on frame.
and unfortunately it doesn't matter what area you're in, i was in a pretty nice area, only a few blocks from a VERY nice affluent area, but only a few miles from a crappy area. that's how southern california is though, you're rarely far from a bad area, and the people in the bad area go to the nice area, to get the nice stuff. i got a call from the costa mesa police department nine months after my car was broken into, they found the guy, my stuff was long gone but at least i know he was punished for what he did.
it really does make my blood boil to think that people somehow think it's okay to take things that don't belong to them. i wish you the best of luck in getting your stuff back, or at the very least the criminals paying for their crime.
and unfortunately it doesn't matter what area you're in, i was in a pretty nice area, only a few blocks from a VERY nice affluent area, but only a few miles from a crappy area. that's how southern california is though, you're rarely far from a bad area, and the people in the bad area go to the nice area, to get the nice stuff. i got a call from the costa mesa police department nine months after my car was broken into, they found the guy, my stuff was long gone but at least i know he was punished for what he did.
it really does make my blood boil to think that people somehow think it's okay to take things that don't belong to them. i wish you the best of luck in getting your stuff back, or at the very least the criminals paying for their crime.
Haven't you ever heard, "Big Brother is watching?"
I would pay $99 not to have a GPS chip in my machine.
You know full coverage auto insurance would of also covered that damage.
That being said renters insurance is general a good idea. I been meaning to get it for a while now since I moved into my apartment. I mean for 20 bucks a month I get around $30k worth of protection of my stuff. One thing most people do is they tend to under estimate how much stuff they own and the value of it. Hell I would not be surpised for me personally if 30k is not enough. I would say even for college students if you start adding up the value of everything you own you will be surprised at how high that number will climb.
No, Lojack isn't the only way. Take a look at Undercover, made by a Belgian company called Orbicule - for Macs only.
Orbicule also has an interesting device to protect Macbooks and MBPs when you take them out in public (like to your favorite Starbucks).
Wow, that's pretty harsh, Saikou! Y'know, some of us just don't want to live that way (under lock and key) and we choose where we live accordingly. You're right - there are no guarantees. But there's still a difference between living in midtown and living in a cabin in the woods.
And I'm still trying to figure out what you meant by "extra" key . . . you don't mean my car, do you??? If I ever took the key out of the ignition, I'd never know where to find it!
MAC addresses wouldn't do anything. They're not propagated after the first hop; the ISP would only see the MAC of a router, not anything behind it.
OP, I'm glad you weren't home when they broke in, and are uninjured and safe. I'm sorry you lost so much of your expensive equipment. I trust you still have the blackbook in your signature at least? I can't imagine how you're feeling over this. I suppose the only thing you can do at this point is remind yourself that they are just things that can (eventually) be replaced, and thank goodness you are okay.
it would have covered the damage to the car, but it also would cost more than $100 more per month than i was paying at the time. it would not have covered the stereo and wheels or anything else aftermarket had they gotten them, without paying even more for insurance on the aftermarket parts. renter's insurance = $15 a month or so.
anyhow, i wouldn't care if there was a GPS lojack thing in my computer, i'm never anywhere i wouldn't want anyone to know where i was, with or without my computer.
I know this isn't much, but call Apple and give them the serial number of your stolen Mac/s as I believe there is a small chance that the Mac/s may be registered with Apple over the 'net in the future and Apple should hopefully notify you about this. That's the theory anyway.
you know when you install OS, it asks to register. i wonder when you click "OK", if apple will get that serial or the IP. can't they track the computer that way?
Wow, that's pretty harsh, Saikou! Y'know, some of us just don't want to live that way (under lock and key) and we choose where we live accordingly. You're right - there are no guarantees. But there's still a difference between living in midtown and living in a cabin in the woods.
And I'm still trying to figure out what you meant by "extra" key . . . you don't mean my car, do you??? If I ever took the key out of the ignition, I'd never know where to find it!
Haha, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to be harsh.. Just lookin' out for you man! Don't want you to come come and find your stuff not there anymore. That'd be horrible!
I definitely wouldn't want the government tracking the movements of my Mac Pro as it sat on my desk.