Dell Includes LoJack with XPS Laptops

[malware]

Dell said it is now providing buyers of the XPS M1210, 1710 and the M2010 computers access to LoJack's one year of theft protection service free of charge. After the first year, users will have to subscribe to the regular LoJack service, which currently goes for $50 per year. The LoJack for Laptops service does not require GPS functionality, but works with a relatively simple call-home software. Computers with the LoJack contact the monitoring center of the company when connected to the Internet. If a notebook is reported stolen, the device is placed on "high-alert" and it will try to call home every 15 minutes, allowing the LoJack recovery team to track down its position. The company claims that it can recover three out of four stolen laptops.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Easy Rhino]

Dell said it is now providing buyers of the XPS M1210, 1710 and the M2010 computers access to LoJack's one year of theft protection service free of charge. After the first year, users will have to subscribe to the regular LoJack service, which currently goes for $50 per year. The LoJack for Laptops service does not require GPS functionality, but works with a relatively simple call-home software. Computers with the LoJack contact the monitoring center of the company when connected to the Internet. If a notebook is reported stolen, the device is placed on "high-alert" and it will try to call home every 15 minutes, allowing the LoJack recovery team to track down its position. The company claims that it can recover three out of four stolen laptops.

Source: THG

that is all well and good but sounds more like a marketing scheme then anything else. any real thief will just take apart the laptop and disable the lo jack.

 

[mullered07]

software ? format ?

 

[Easy Rhino]

software ? format ?

it is probably a chip, not software.

 

[Solaris17]

find the chip grab a flat head and pop it out soldering grounds etc if nessecary.

 

[jocksteeluk]

it is probably a chip, not software.

nope it defiantly is software

http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/learn-more-lojack-for-laptops.asp

 

[Conti027]

i think its a good idea cause the only way it would get stolen from me is if someone broke in to my house and just took all they could and i dont think they would that would be in it but then again they would be lucky to leave my house alive after steeling from me

 

[little geek]

where theres a will theres a way........all u need is a philips a pocket knife and you got ur self a laptop!by the way i don't think its software because if u nick a laptop u blank it before you even use it and then wipe all the numbers of the bottom its probably hardware

 

[Keiki]

Easy way is to... not connect to the internet and then reformat the laptop if it's really software. After you reformat it, it's basically yours. I would probably feel safer with the GPS system built into my laptop so they know where my laptop is.

 

[Easy Rhino]

nope it defiantly is software

http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/learn-more-lojack-for-laptops.asp

uh yea, but what hardware do you think the software is written for???? disable the chip and you disable the lo jack. its not like its windows software you can just delete. that would defeat the purpose.

 

[Velocity]

its been available in dell laptops sence august, used to work for dell, its just included now in their premium warranty packages. not sure why it took them this long to figure it out and publish an arcticle about it, but yeah good news to xps owners, they get a year free (usualy the promos include the premium warranty with the xps systems(m1210, m1720, and the rediculous m2010))

Easy way is to... not connect to the internet and then reformat the laptop if it's really software. After you reformat it, it's basically yours. I would probably feel safer with the GPS system built into my laptop so they know where my laptop is.

also its not a chip or running software, its a passive program and its permantly flashed into the motherboards bios, so a reformat is not going to do anything. basically once you get online, the mac adress is flagged with lojacks security center, then they contact the local police and if your lucky enough to get the cops responce in time enough you get your lappy back, but they would have to use laptop in a wifi zone for more than 40 minutes or so for the cops to actualy apprehend the suspect.

 

[kwchang007]

well....having a dell laptop it's defiatly in the bios. i think there's an option to turn it "off" but i doubt that it works that way, i'll look next time i go into bios.

 

[WarEagleAU]

I thought all laptops, since 2005 had lowjacks? At least, thats what the FBI says.

 

[jocksteeluk]

uh yea, but what hardware do you think the software is written for???? .

Computrace LoJack for Laptops runs on both PCs and Macs, here’s how it works:

* You download and install Computrace LoJack for Laptops software – it’s easy and secure. No hardware required.
* Your computer silently and securely contacts our Monitoring Center when connected to the Internet.
* You rest assured knowing your computer is protected.

If your computer is ever stolen…

* You file a police report and notify our Recovery Team.
* When your stolen computer contacts our Monitoring Center, it is placed on high-alert and starts calling us every 15 minutes, allowing our Recovery Team to closely track your computer’s location.
* Our Recovery Team provides law enforcement with tracking information and documentation essential for procuring search warrants and leading them to the location of your computer.
* The police recover your computer and return it to you!

Start protecting your computer today. Get LoJack for Laptops.

what ever this software is for if you disable it i am pretty much sure the system will cease to work.

 

[Easy Rhino]

Computrace LoJack for Laptops runs on both PCs and Macs, here’s how it works:

* You download and install Computrace LoJack for Laptops software – it’s easy and secure. No hardware required.
* Your computer silently and securely contacts our Monitoring Center when connected to the Internet.
* You rest assured knowing your computer is protected.

If your computer is ever stolen…

* You file a police report and notify our Recovery Team.
* When your stolen computer contacts our Monitoring Center, it is placed on high-alert and starts calling us every 15 minutes, allowing our Recovery Team to closely track your computer’s location.
* Our Recovery Team provides law enforcement with tracking information and documentation essential for procuring search warrants and leading them to the location of your computer.
* The police recover your computer and return it to you!

Start protecting your computer today. Get LoJack for Laptops.

what ever this software is for if you disable it i am pretty much sure the system will cease to work.

alright so you can uninstall it. but the then how does the laptop contact the monitoring center? through the lan? that is assuming the people who stole it were dumb enough to access the internet without formatting. seems to me that building the laptop with an actual chip embedded on the motherboard is a better way of recovering your content.

 

[kwchang007]

alright so you can uninstall it. but the then how does the laptop contact the monitoring center? through the lan? that is assuming the people who stole it were dumb enough to access the internet without formatting. seems to me that building the laptop with an actual chip embedded on the motherboard is a better way of recovering your content.

well, i know in dell it's in bios, i think it can be turned off and on (maybe) but it can't be un-installed