Mac Security Alarm System 243
RogueAce writes "A program named iAlertU sounds a screeching siren when someone attempts to steal your Macbook. Thanks to the sudden motion drop sensors that Macs use to park the hard drive, iAlertU can detect when your Macbook is being picked up, moved or closed. Also, by using the handy remote that comes with the Macbook, you can turn the alarm on and off like you would a car, which the Macbook responds to by making the all too familiar chirping sound and a flash and flicker of the screen. The code behind it is from a guy named Christian Kleins."
But... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:But... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:But... (Score:5, Insightful)
Make an audible alarm that only goes off when the patented magnetic power cord [apple.com] is detached (accidental or otherwise).
* or remotely trigger a second magnet -- hidden in a backpack -- to pull your new $25/ounce toy out of the wrong hands.
Re:But... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:But... (Score:2, Funny)
Whoah dude, if I stopped smoking weed for a few months, I'd easily be able to buy one of these little babys (only to get it stolen a few days later).
Re:But... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:But... (Score:2)
Re:But... (Score:2)
Whether you're a laptop thief or merely an annoyed cow-orker, this alarm won't really stop you.
Re:But... (Score:2)
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
What is the difference between a rusted Chevy El-camino and a Jaguar? The Chevy, despite its appearance, is still probably running while you're taking the Jaguar in every thousand miles for a tune-up and an oil change.
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
As Macs become more popular, they will no longer be able to rely on security through obscurity. Sure, Macs may be based on Unix, but those security enhancements will be undone by integrating programs into the operating system.
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
And besides for some of the English-speaking slashdot crowd, who really needs spell-check in their web browser?
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
The perfectness of that black screen in a whitish frame shouldn't be marred by poorly designed applications.
On a side note, after trying Safari for a bit on my iBook, I installed Firefox and never looked back. While not a bad browser, Safari really felt like Firefox's retarded cousin.
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
I guess you can say that Mac users are like teenage girls. They are willing to spend $80 on a pair of jeans while the rest of us are happy with a $14 pair from Wal-mart that does the job just as well and will last twice as long.
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
You non-Mac users have no taste! I'd much rather pay $80 for a pair of good quality jeans that I like, than some cheap $14 jeans I'd never wear. :-)
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
I was comparing the attitude of the GP to that of a teenage girl. He's comparing superficial traits of the web browsers and stating that he won't use one basically because it looks bad on a Mac and doesn't use certain features that I'm sure the designers wouldn't want the program to use.
Its like a teenage girl who won't hang out with her friend because she is wearing
Re:Heartfelt note to recent "switchers" (Score:2)
Real Mac users run OmniWeb.
Or, we run Safari because 1) it works and 2) we can't afford the OW licensing fee after buying that Mac.
Re:But... (Score:2, Interesting)
Hmm, looks like there's finally a Windows version, too. It's always nice when the best software comes out for Macs first.
Re:But... (Score:2)
But... (Score:2, Funny)
One Tiny Loophole: (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:5, Informative)
So, the real question is... what happens when the computer is asleep?? Does it still work?
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:3, Informative)
My tabletPC _never_ gets turned off... and can sleep for well over a week and still have plenty of juice after a full charge.
Friedmud
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2)
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:3, Interesting)
It also t
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2)
I agree with you that Hibernate is pretty crappy... and as you say it doesn't work all the time. But I'm not talking about Hibernate... I'm talking about "Sleep".
"Sleep"ing is the same thing that macs do... they are still "on" but the hardrive is spun down, all peripherals are powered down and so is the screen. On my laptop the power light blinks while in sleep... just like on a mac.
It only takes a couple of seconds to recover from this state (just like on
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2)
All in all, I think this is a really cleaver idea. I see it being especially valuable within academic institutions.
That said, if you're really concerned about security a lock, although not full proof, is the way to go.
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2, Redundant)
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2)
Re:One Tiny Loophole: (Score:2)
This is going to be obnoxious (Score:4, Insightful)
And people can't even remember to turn off their cell phone ringers. What makes you think they're going to remember to turn off their laptop theft alarms?
Re:This is going to be obnoxious (Score:3, Insightful)
That's a bit of a simplistic view. If my car alarm goes off, I go check on it and make sure somebody hasn't broken a window or something. I've seen others around the complex do this, too. Even if somebody did break into my car and I didn't hear it, they still wouldn't easily be able to start it. When the alarm goes off, it kills the ignition.
All t
Re:This is going to be obnoxious (Score:2)
Obstrusive? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Obstrusive? (Score:2)
Re:Obstrusive? (Score:2)
Re:Obstrusive? (Score:2)
Re:Obstrusive? (Score:2)
Re:Obstrusive (sic)? (Score:2)
I also use a physical lock to secure my powerbook to a desk if I'm in an environment I'm a little sketchy about, and of course in somewhere like a Starbucks or an airport I'
Thinkpad Active Protection System (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Thinkpad Active Protection System (Score:2, Interesting)
Here: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Script_for_theft_al
Good idea, but you CAN wreck a computer... (Score:5, Insightful)
Still, I suppose even an inoperable Macbook with the hard drive intact is better than having all your corporate and personal data stolen.
Re:Good idea, but you CAN wreck a computer... (Score:2, Interesting)
Odd that the values from a hard drive protection me
Good to know... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Good to know... (Score:2)
Re:Good to know... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Good to know... (Score:2)
NarratorDan
Re:Good to know... (Score:2)
nice feature (Score:3, Informative)
As for being off... I wonder, does anything run while the laptop is asleep? My powerbook has probably spent less than 5 minutes turned off in the last four months. Most users close the lid and sleep it. (my powerbook draws the same 2 watts when it's asleep as when it's off, so why bother turning it off?)
A firmware hack might enable the alarm to wake up the book if it's moved. I assume the PMU/SMU is controlled by flashable firmware. Also, the SMS is in the older powerbooks also - this article only mentions the macbook pros, I wonder if it works in the older models also?
Re:nice feature (Score:3, Interesting)
Some CD-ROM drives have two buttons on the front, instead of just a single eject button. If it has two buttons, the left button is a play/next track button and the right button is stop/eject. They'll usually have a headphone jack on the front as well (which only works
Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:3, Funny)
My problem arises when I take my old Powerbook in there and realize I need to use the restroom. The crowd is pretty honest and I'm pretty quick in the facilities, but I really hate packing up my whole setup and taking it into the stall with me. This might allow me that feeling of security to leave my old Powerbook out while I take care of business.
While there's still some risk involved, it sounds like this will be just the thing to make me:
I'd probably risk this with my old model Powerbook, but I don't think I'd do so if I upgraded to a new MacBook Pro.
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2, Funny)
Look on the bright side: If you keep pulling your pants down while browsing the web at a coffee shop, sooner or later you'll see a rise in available bandwidth.
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
deity I hate it when trying to get a coffee in any place that has free wifi... it's usually heaving with people who're browsing and have long since finished their drinks/food. As far as I'm concerned, you lose your entitlement to seatspace when you finish your drink and whatever f
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
Obviously you've never been to a real cafe like in Europe. There, once you've got a table, you've got it for as long as you want, and they won't bother you to leave. Granted, others may come up and sit in the seat across from you, but some interesting and fun conversations can start that way.
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
In my experience, people who complain about such things invariably lack such things of their own and so resent those who do because they have something the others don't.
Anyway, where would it be OK for people to use their laptops? Only at home or the office? Might as well use a desktop computer then. The point of a laptop is to use it in various places, including public places.
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
Because actually making social contact with someone and saying "Would you keep an eye on this while I use the restroom?" is too scary?
Seriously, why are you IN the coffeeshop? A coffee you can't make at home? At $3 a cup? If coffee were the real reason then buying some brew-gadget would pay itself off quickly and you could stay in your jammies.
No, you're likely in the coffee shop for the social aspect. The
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
Next time put a warning message on posts like this. I got to this part and nearly freaked out. Social contact? Typing with others in the room with me?"camaraderie"? I was afraid if I kept reading, you might mention talking to people and maybe making eye contact with a girl.
Too much for me to take on a Saturday morning, sorry.
Re:Coffee Shop Use Case (Score:2)
More Mac Theft Software (Score:5, Informative)
Serious Theft (Score:2)
#!. Pull the battery
#2. Pull the hard drive
#3. & thus never allow anything to run off the original hard drive
Re:Serious Theft (Score:2)
Re:Serious Theft (Score:2)
why do we always skip the simple answers.....
Re:More Mac Theft Software (Score:2)
Re:More Mac Theft Software (Score:2)
Re:More Mac Theft Software (Score:2)
Oh right, as if it isn't a tech support nightmare enough to let Mac users upgrade their memory, now you want to make it impossible to do so? Just encrypt your damn data with filevault and you'll be fine. Sure, you'll lose your MacBook, but your data will be safe unless Russians or the NSA stole it.
Re:More Mac Theft Software (Score:2)
And FWIW, I have filevault on in my PowerBook. But this is all about recovering stolen machines and/or preventing theft altogether, not data safety.
Just hold down the power button for a few seconds (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Just hold down the power button for a few secon (Score:2)
Re:Just hold down the power button for a few secon (Score:3, Informative)
Video of it in action... (Score:5, Informative)
Mute? Headphones? Sleep mode? Power off? (Score:4, Insightful)
There are too many ways around this so called "security" mechanism to be anything more than a gimmick. Although I will credit it because a theif that has no idea about or previous experience with this software is going to get caught red handed.
Re:Mute? Headphones? Sleep mode? Power off? (Score:2)
An alarm is only there to prevent stupid thieves, which is why they only lower your insurance for theft... not render it meaningless.
Re:Mute? Headphones? Sleep mode? Power off? (Score:3, Interesting)
What if the theif simply carries a sound-proof case in which to put his new prize?
Cheap, simple, fast, works for any laptop, etc.
You guys talking about plugging in headphones and doing on-the-spot mods are thinking too hard. Think like someone on the prowl for a laptop:
The problem is that it might make noise. You want the noise to stop. So you carry a well-insulated case and beat your feet, which any decent "office creeper" thief is
rfid? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:rfid? (Score:2)
Not the best security, but would had saved our.. (Score:5, Interesting)
We had a group of normal gentleman come in, two of them starting a conversation with our sales staff. The other gentleman who came in walked around to browse, and without being seen by our sales staff who were busying talking to the other man used bolt cutters to cut the metal wire security device and placed the Macbook in a bag and walked out.
This was all caught on video, but there's not much we can do now since we can't identify any of them.
Our store manager considered options to prevent this in the future but everything was just to expansive.
Until I implement our own in-house security system (Network based, if a local server is unable to ping a particular desktop/laptop it'll sound an audible alarm) I'll be installing this software on our Macbooks.
Re:Not the best security, but would had saved our. (Score:2)
But customers will always want to jiggle them, and you don't want to frighten them away.
Stores like harvey norman seem to have a system with a wire attached to a little box stuck to the back of phones, palm tops, etc. There is a LED on the little box to show you that something will happen if the wir
I remember getting burgled (Score:2)
He also took my laptop out of its case, opened the screen, turned it on and booted to the Windows login screen. And that's how I found it.
It wasn't a bad a little laptop.
I wonder...
Re:I remember getting burgled (Score:2, Funny)
He was looking for a Linux laptop maybe?
stuff (Score:2)
I don't think an alarm will stop anyone from stealing a $2000 laptop. maybe a $400 laptop, but not a macbook pro.
The Mac Decoy Pro (Score:4, Funny)
What's a Mac Decoy Pro, you ask? It's an extra nonworking Macbook Pro. Looks just like the real functional thing, just sitting there waiting to be taken.
Where did I get it? Well, when I heard that Powerbooks were going to use Intel processors, I bought a Macbook Pro with the express intention of swapping out the hard drive, memory and processor: the first two I did with nary more than a dented/warped casing. The latter... well, my screwdriver slipped and broke several components off the main board. I tried the purchase just the notebook mainboard from Apple, but essentially, they told me to go screw myself*. So with a heavy heart and a sigh of resignation, I did what any self respecting geek would do: I played poker for an hour until I had enough to buy another Macbook Pro. I've reassembled the broken one, which I leave out in the open in my cubicle when I go home at night. If it gets stolen, then that's my alarm indicator that it's time to leave the company.
* I'm still wondering that "incredible level of service" I keep hearing from Mac users.
Solomon
GPS helped us find a stolen laptop. (Score:3, Interesting)
Laptop was stolen, theft was noticed, word went out. Laptop booted up, transmitter in laptop transmited. Laptop booted from CD without going into the case and turning the transmitter off, laptop began transmitting continously. Windows format and install takes a while, so the signal was transmitted for more than an hour. Some wandering around with recievers until company security was sure they had the right apartment. Police called and informed of the situation and that company security is going to get the laptop back, now, would the police like to meet them there?
End result was laptop recovered in less than 12 hours, and thief in jail for felony theft. The laptop was gone longer as evidence than it was gone with the thief.
It is expensive, it is not perfect, and I have no idea how you would get it into a case with as little freespace as a
Mac laptop, but it can work very well.
I would be more specific but I signed one of those NDA's that some companies love so much.
The main starting problems would be the usual, cost, how to fit it in the case and maybe power consumption. Also, a big hurdle might be getting the police to declare a GPS signal probable cause to go into where ever the laptop is. Especially if the signal is not currrently transmitting. My previous employers solved that last one by sending there own people and then reporting the whole mess to the police, but most of us individuals don't have those resources. (Maybe that is a good thing, should
In a recent memo... (Score:2)
"What the hell did I ever do to you?"
Turn on and off with the remote? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Turn on and off with the remote? (Score:3, Informative)
~Philly
Setting off the alarm while travelling. (Score:3, Insightful)
IBM advertised them first... (Score:2)
head-parking technology. Any reason why the same type of program wouldn't work on IBM (now Lenovo) notebooks or any manufacturers using similar technology?
-l
Re:What if (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What if (Score:2)
Re:What if (Score:2)
Re:Screw the alarm, I want GPS! (Score:2)
GPS hardly ever works. You have to be aware of where the antenna is to get any signal at all. And criminals will still disable the software after stealing the laptop.
Re:Screw the alarm, I want GPS! (Score:2)
Re:Screw the alarm, I want GPS! (Score:2)