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Most Affordable Theft Software For The Mac? In Case Someone Steals It..

R

rs14smith

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 7, 2009
144
2
Hey everyone,

I'm planning on investing in the iMac 27in and considering it's going to cost me over 2 grand, I want to go the extra mile to make sure if the rare case someone breaks into my room and takes it, I have a high chance of recovering it.

I know there is software out there that you can install on the Mac and if the person "unlikely" connects it to the internet, it will send some type of signal to whatever company, and they can pin point where your mac is.

Is there anything better or anything else you guys recommend?

I would think that if I was a thief I would wipe the Mac clean and install a clean OSX on it, thus wiping away any tracking software. Maybe it's not that easy to wipe away the software, I don't know, thus why I'm opening this thread for suggestions :D

Thanks
 
You can setup a firmware password that makes it really, really hard to install any new OS or boot from another volume. It has to be entered when you wanna boot from any other volume/medium than the standard installed OS.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
Intel-Firmware-Padlock.JPG


Undercover is considered one of the best anti theft software titles for Mac and it costs only 49USD.
http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/mac/


Although the title "anti theft" is strange considering the Mac has to be stolen to really get use out of the software.
 
Unfortunaltey even firmware passwords can be reset with ease.

Once you have local access its very easy to bypass any security methods you have installed.
 
Azrel said:
Unfortunaltey even firmware passwords can be reset with ease.

Once you have local access its very easy to bypass any security methods you have installed.
Click to expand...

Really?

What do you mean by local access?

Is it done like the following article states?
http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

Resetting the PRAM (first removing one stick of RAM) or are there other ways?

Even computer illiterates can do that.
 
As far as I know you only need a Leopard/SL DVD to break the FW password. You insert the DVD, boot from it and you get the option to break the password. Never tried it, but that's at elast what I've heard.
 
Guys you know what would really be great but may be expensive is, if we can like place a device inside our Mac's and some kind of way track it whether the Mac is on or off or connected to wifi.

I would think the device would have a battery attached to it so it could hold a charge for a decent 72 hours or so, so it can continue to be tracked while the Mac is off.

Maybe using some type of satellite connection to actually track it or similar to how law enforcements track people using Cell Phones....

There has to be something like this out there for the consumer right?

I mean software is great and all (better than no theft software at all), but a device would be superb.

What you think?
 
rs14smith said:
Guys you know what would really be great but may be expensive is, if we can like place a device inside our Mac's and some kind of way track it whether the Mac is on or off or connected to wifi.

I would think the device would have a battery attached to it so it could hold a charge for a decent 72 hours or so, so it can continue to be tracked while the Mac is off.

Maybe using some type of satellite connection to actually track it or similar to how law enforcements track people using Cell Phones....

There has to be something like this out there for the consumer right?

I mean software is great and all (better than no theft software at all), but a device would be superb.

What you think?
Click to expand...

A Mac's not a cellphone, if you're so concerned just add it to your household insurance as a specified item, it's cheaper than the software and definately works ;)
 
LaunchpadBS said:
A Mac's not a cellphone, if you're so concerned just add it to your household insurance as a specified item, it's cheaper than the software and definately works ;)
Click to expand...

I guess you missed the whole concept of what I wrote. Of course the Mac is not a Cell Phone...:confused:...I said put a "device like what cell phones use" inside the Mac.

Considering I'll be using my Mac while at college (apartment), I'm not sure if it'll still qualify for household insurance? Like if my mom adds it to her household insurance, and I take the Mac off to another home and it gets stolen, I don't think that would qualify...

Basically I'm just brainstorming, and pitching ideas to see what others recommend, and I think for the average person that spends over $1,000 should take some initiative to try to protect their investment. What do you think?:)
 
hmm all that anti theft software has a flaw , if someone steals your mac , he is after money not the mac itself and he wont even try to bypass any passwords or things like that , if he`s not complete idiot he will break it for parts and sell the parts which are easy sellable and wont leave a trace like processor, fans , screen , graphics card if its not onboard ,the harddrive after formatting it, the ram , , , non of these parts will be checked by anybody if they are stolen and bring a couple hundred quid on ebay , or have you ever asked someone on ebay if he has proof of ownership when he sells a harddrive or ram or computer parts in general?

get it insured on your household contents insurance and job done
 
if you are realy keen to prevent the theft in first place then get one of these and place it inside , it takes some angle grinder or similar to break in and get your iMac
10365801-lcd-enclosure-from-armagard.jpg

they come in different sizes from 19" to 60" and are meant for outdoor tv` to protect them against vandalism and theft
preventing the theft is better then trying to trace it . the police has to find it first or? then it takes evetuaaly weeks to get it back and maybe its damaged then so prenveting is the best option you got


i do not mean you have to leave it in there all time as it might not look that good on your desk but maybe under the desk mounted to the wall , so if you leave house lock it in and its safe
 
rs14smith said:
I guess you missed the whole concept of what I wrote. Of course the Mac is not a Cell Phone...:confused:...I said put a "device like what cell phones use" inside the Mac.
Click to expand...

Easily done if you're an amateur radio operator. You can then track the thing wherever it goes, even if it's off.
 
rs14smith said:
I guess you missed the whole concept of what I wrote. Of course the Mac is not a Cell Phone...:confused:...I said put a "device like what cell phones use" inside the Mac.

Considering I'll be using my Mac while at college (apartment), I'm not sure if it'll still qualify for household insurance? Like if my mom adds it to her household insurance, and I take the Mac off to another home and it gets stolen, I don't think that would qualify...

Basically I'm just brainstorming, and pitching ideas to see what others recommend, and I think for the average person that spends over $1,000 should take some initiative to try to protect their investment. What do you think?:)
Click to expand...

Get tenants insurance, while I was in university no matter where I stayed my tenants insurance was like $100 for a year and covered anything up to $10,000 in my room.

This is by far the most affordable option considering it's policy if it's stolen; you will get a new one.
 
BelowTheBelt said:
Get tenants insurance, while I was in university no matter where I stayed my tenants insurance was like $100 for a year and covered anything up to $10,000 in my room.

This is by far the most affordable option considering it's policy if it's stolen; you will get a new one.
Click to expand...

The best solution I've found so far in this entire thread lol :D

I'm new to all this insurance business and how it works, but will definitely look into that. $100.00 a year to protect something I paid $2,000+ for is well worth it. So the tenants insurance, is it something you register for through the university or is it something that usually your main insurance company provides, like State Farm..etc.?
 
anti theft is ok , but it has to be stolen first and you wont get it back soon
yes insurance is a good thing , but no insurance pays you the next day

so someone breaks in to your room takes the imac ..and then you have to go to the police or call them around , they do a report , the report you have to send to the insurance , the insurance sends someone around to have alook if there is a way for them to not have to pay , and only then you might get it replaced . do you honestly want to wait for weeks?

a mate of me got his plasma tv stolen which did cost him only £1500 he got it in his insurance policy for £1500 insured
before the insurance send the money to replace it , he had to wait a certain time (cant remeber how long that was , if eventually the police would find it , then the insurance came up with arguments it was allready 4 month old and would therefore be worth less , so they did want to pay only £1000 , then they came and said it would be available elswhere for less money ,and reduced their offer because it was elswhere availabel for 1300 by now (these things happen things get cheaper in a summer sale or so) and based on that price new and because his was 4 month old he would only get £800
after 9 month , and after my mate took a lawyer (his uncle or so)they run out of arguments and payed what he insured it for
 
For your mac try iAlertU. Free and useful software.
For your iPhone try THIEF BUSTER. Simply the best antitheft for the iPhone (2 bucks)
 
Cheapest anti-theft software:

It's nearly fool-proof, and thieves actually will run in fear of it. It's called "Rover", and can be picked up from your local Humane Society for FREE.

dog.bmp


Yep. If you're worried about theft, buy a dog.
 
Stolen Computer

Try Lo/Jack for Laptops. I have it on my MBP as well as State Farm personal articles policy.
 
gorjan said:
As far as I know you only need a Leopard/SL DVD to break the FW password. You insert the DVD, boot from it and you get the option to break the password. Never tried it, but that's at elast what I've heard.
Click to expand...
No that's the OS X Admin user. You can create a new account in single user mode.

Firmware passwords are a different matter!

Winni said:
Windows 7 Ultimate Edition with activated BitLocker.
Click to expand...

Why not just use PGP on OS X?

Bennieboy© said:
dont the new iMac have the security lock slot on the backs like the old ones?
Click to expand...

Yes, Yes it does.
 
spinnerlys said:
Undercover is considered one of the best anti theft software titles for Mac and it costs only 49USD.
Click to expand...

On their site, it says: "We are so confident that Undercover will enable us to recover your Mac that we offer you two money-back guarantees. If we can not recover your stolen Mac, we will fully refund Undercover(1). Of course we still offer our traditional money-back guarantee: if you are not satisfied with Undercover, you will get a full refund within 30 days of purchase. No questions asked."

Offering to refund the cost of their software if your mac isn't recovered doesn't exactly ooze confidence in my book.
 
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