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What I don't get about these programs (for desktops/laptops) is...do you guys have passwords on your user accounts? And if so, they must have somehow cracked th

by 44Aman 15y ago

What I don't get about these programs (for desktops/laptops) is...do you guys have passwords on your user accounts? And if so, they must have somehow cracked them to get access. In that case, I know if I was going to steal a laptop, the first thing I'd do is format it. Do any of the programs remain after a hard disk wipe? Also, for those using the Prey panel - why does it have an option to save your password? If you're still logged in when the thief makes off with your laptop, and he has any knowledge of these kind of programs, they'll just log in and deactivate your account or change settings.

UnFleshedOne 15y ago
Even for phones, don't most people have pincodes and automatic lockout after some time of inactivity? Stolen phone is useless without cracking that and probably reflashing. Of course if you do have a tracking program you might leave the device otherwise unprotected to discourage reformats.
sorbus 15y ago
> What I don't get about these programs (for desktops/laptops) is...do you guys have passwords on your user accounts? And if so, they must have somehow cracked them to get access. > In that case, I know if I was going to steal a laptop, the first thing I'd do is format it. Do any of the programs remain after a hard disk wipe? I have a non-passworded guest account specifically for that purpose. If someone steals my laptop, I want them to be able to use it so that Prey can get me information. Going along with that, my BIOS is passworded and won't boot off anything but the hard drive, so that the only way to wipe the drive is physically removing it. I'm counting on any thief not being technically sophisticated to go that far, and it also gives my information a bit more security (in theory it stops a thief from running something like Orphcrack to get my account's password). I don't believe that any of these programs will persist after the hard drive is wiped or replaced, though I have heard of manufacturer-provided solutions which live in ROM and install themselves into the operating system automatically (I'm probably getting some details wrong). > Also, for those using the Prey panel - why does it have an option to save your password? Yeah, the "Remember me" checkbox is really weird (I'm assuming that that's what you're talking about). I suppose that it makes life more convenient for some people, if they're using a desktop or suchlike to manage other devices. Or maybe it's just something that the developers reflexively included.

by 44Aman 15y ago

UnFleshedOne 15y ago

Even for phones, don't most people have pincodes and automatic lockout after some time of inactivity? Stolen phone is useless without cracking that and probably reflashing. Of course if you do have a tracking program you might leave the device otherwise unprotected to discourage reformats.

sorbus 15y ago

> What I don't get about these programs (for desktops/laptops) is...do you guys have passwords on your user accounts? And if so, they must have somehow cracked them to get access. > In that case, I know if I was going to steal a laptop, the first thing I'd do is format it. Do any of the programs remain after a hard disk wipe? I have a non-passworded guest account specifically for that purpose. If someone steals my laptop, I want them to be able to use it so that Prey can get me information. Going along with that, my BIOS is passworded and won't boot off anything but the hard drive, so that the only way to wipe the drive is physically removing it. I'm counting on any thief not being technically sophisticated to go that far, and it also gives my information a bit more security (in theory it stops a thief from running something like Orphcrack to get my account's password). I don't believe that any of these programs will persist after the hard drive is wiped or replaced, though I have heard of manufacturer-provided solutions which live in ROM and install themselves into the operating system automatically (I'm probably getting some details wrong). > Also, for those using the Prey panel - why does it have an option to save your password? Yeah, the "Remember me" checkbox is really weird (I'm assuming that that's what you're talking about). I suppose that it makes life more convenient for some people, if they're using a desktop or suchlike to manage other devices. Or maybe it's just something that the developers reflexively included.