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Stolen Macbook Pro
- Thread starter Sauron's Master
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If you payed with an American Express card, you are protected against theft for 90 days and have an extended warranty for 2 years. I think you need a Silver Card. Check your Credit Card company and ask if you are covered.
My dad works at a University, and he says if you have a laptop stolen and you know the Mac Address usually they can find its general location if the thief is using it on the school network (Which in most cases they will). Contact the University see what they can do (Especially if you know the Mac Address).
Also I am very worried about when I start school next semester I don't want my laptop to get stolen, what are ways I can protect it (Like what are the best locks) and is it possible to get laptop insurance in case something happens.
Also I am very worried about when I start school next semester I don't want my laptop to get stolen, what are ways I can protect it (Like what are the best locks) and is it possible to get laptop insurance in case something happens.
Those locks are a joke all you have to do is pull on the laptop really hard and it will come off, it will damage the side of the laptop but they will break off. I recommend Lojack http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=340126
as soon as the plug into the internet it alert the computrace ppl and they work with the police to find it.
Like I said, check your insurance and credit card company for their theft policy. I know on my sisters Dell, she has a fingerprint scanner which looks the computer. Thats all I know right now.
I know that my parents homeowners insurance covered me at college. Just ask them Deductible can be anywhere from 250-1000, but its usually replacement value of the laptop and camera (and whatever was stolen). So it would cover buying the newer models of whatever you had.
Happened to me with tools and electronics out of my car. Luckily my deductible was only 250, but still sucked. But in the end I got new tools and electronics out of it.
Good luck.
Happened to me with tools and electronics out of my car. Luckily my deductible was only 250, but still sucked. But in the end I got new tools and electronics out of it.
Good luck.
That undercover program has $10 off a license if you're a student.
I've got renters insurance through my parents policy, which is nice, although I don't know the details, it should be covered.
I'd get one of those locks, even if people say you can rip the computer off, still get one. We don't keep our houses unlocked because the locks can be picked, or our cars unlocked cause someone can break the window. Get it, it'll lock your computer, and if a thief tries to take it, at least it will slow them down/damage the computer if they take it. A computer that looks like it's been ripped out from a lock would be a lot harder to sell and that in itself could deter the theft.
I've got renters insurance through my parents policy, which is nice, although I don't know the details, it should be covered.
I'd get one of those locks, even if people say you can rip the computer off, still get one. We don't keep our houses unlocked because the locks can be picked, or our cars unlocked cause someone can break the window. Get it, it'll lock your computer, and if a thief tries to take it, at least it will slow them down/damage the computer if they take it. A computer that looks like it's been ripped out from a lock would be a lot harder to sell and that in itself could deter the theft.
Wow, I didn't know campus in-dorm theft was such a problem... will stop by Apple later today to pick up a Kensington lock, and later download iAlertU, though I'd think that's hardly a deterrent.
And yeah, if you bought your MBP/camera using American Express, call and see if they cover it!
And yeah, if you bought your MBP/camera using American Express, call and see if they cover it!
That is terrible and I hope you get it back. Seems like the odds are 99% that someone in your own dorm took it.
If you don't get it back, and you don't have insurance available, remember three words when you do your taxes for 2007: "theft loss deduction." Not as good as a recovery or insurance, but if this deduction is available to you, it is at least something. If you don't file your own return, be sure to remember to remind your parents to look into this issue (assuming they claim you as a dependent on their return).
If you don't get it back, and you don't have insurance available, remember three words when you do your taxes for 2007: "theft loss deduction." Not as good as a recovery or insurance, but if this deduction is available to you, it is at least something. If you don't file your own return, be sure to remember to remind your parents to look into this issue (assuming they claim you as a dependent on their return).
My school is located in a not very safe neighborhood in middle of philly 
I also am a commuter and I have to travel from where I park my car to school (5 blocks walking) I need to be able to track down my laptop ... I just saw a video on youtube, and the guy just introduced a website where you can register your macbook/pro and every time the laptop connects to the internet via airport the site simply gives you the address ...
I can not find that video again ... anyone has heard about this ?
I also am a commuter and I have to travel from where I park my car to school (5 blocks walking) I need to be able to track down my laptop ... I just saw a video on youtube, and the guy just introduced a website where you can register your macbook/pro and every time the laptop connects to the internet via airport the site simply gives you the address ...I can not find that video again ... anyone has heard about this ?
Here's an update.
Someone's scrobbling Puerto Rican hiphop to my last.fm account, which I have none of in my iTunes library.
Now, being that I seriously doubt anyone would bother to hack my last.fm password and that there's only one other computer that I installed the last.fm scrobbling client on, I would conjecture that whoever stole my laptop is either using it or pawned it off to someone who is using it right now. The music seems to fit the demographic profile anyway.
I think I left the "open application with iTunes" option on in the last.fm client and whoever is using my computer has no way to reinstall (the CDs were never taken) and no idea how to turn that option off. Either way, I think there's a viable network trail.
The problem is: how do I go about tracing the current "owner" and their location and IP address? Unfortunately, I don't have access to the federal resources authorized by the Patriot Act. I know last.fm keeps a running log of IP addresses but they've not responded to my support email.
My other option is to contact my campus security and check for my computer's MAC address on the network. I would first need to get my serial and MAC address for the ethernet card or Airport from Apple though. How do I go about doing that? We're required to register our computer's MAC address when we first log onto our ResNet so it should be an issue to find the culprit assuming they went to my college.
Either way, I have someone scrobbling to my last.fm and it would be quite a feat to catch someone this way.
Someone's scrobbling Puerto Rican hiphop to my last.fm account, which I have none of in my iTunes library.
Now, being that I seriously doubt anyone would bother to hack my last.fm password and that there's only one other computer that I installed the last.fm scrobbling client on, I would conjecture that whoever stole my laptop is either using it or pawned it off to someone who is using it right now. The music seems to fit the demographic profile anyway.
I think I left the "open application with iTunes" option on in the last.fm client and whoever is using my computer has no way to reinstall (the CDs were never taken) and no idea how to turn that option off. Either way, I think there's a viable network trail.
The problem is: how do I go about tracing the current "owner" and their location and IP address? Unfortunately, I don't have access to the federal resources authorized by the Patriot Act. I know last.fm keeps a running log of IP addresses but they've not responded to my support email.
My other option is to contact my campus security and check for my computer's MAC address on the network. I would first need to get my serial and MAC address for the ethernet card or Airport from Apple though. How do I go about doing that? We're required to register our computer's MAC address when we first log onto our ResNet so it should be an issue to find the culprit assuming they went to my college.
Either way, I have someone scrobbling to my last.fm and it would be quite a feat to catch someone this way.
Regular Macbook?
I was wondering if I could get IAlertU on my regular new Macbook or is this program only for Macbook Pro?
I was wondering if I could get IAlertU on my regular new Macbook or is this program only for Macbook Pro?
