To Catch a Thief

[bwbarbieri]

My computer was stolen two days ago. I've used it a lot on the Internet. I'm registered at many sites. Assuming the people who get it use it to connect to the Net, does anyone know if there is a way to tack it to find it?
Right now I have nothing but a real simple system. It will take me a while to get back up and running. So don't be surprised if I don't get back to this post in the near future. But... I will be back!

[Jeff7]

Was there any sensitive info on the computer, like financial info? If so, it might be a good idea to contact your bank or credit card company, assuming you have a credit card that is. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
Otherwise, if you have passwords on the computer for your bulletin boards, you might want to keep an eye on for new posts that you didn't make. I think the bboards log IP addresses of people making posts. That may be useful in finding the computer.

[FrozenLiquidity]

What ISP did you use? Assuming that you had a dial-up configuration on your computer, you should be able to contact the ISP and check to see if your account is being used. Then maybe they can use a tracing program to find your computer.

In gereral keep an eye out for it. (i.e. Classified ads, garage sales, pawn shops, etc.)

Hope that helps

FrozenLiquidity

[voogru]

That Sucks http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

if someone stole my comp and i found out who it is Id make him Pay..... Get The Shotgun!


anyways if some idiot stole my comp i have a Superviser Password which is stored in the BIOS which means if they were smart enogh to hook it up or sell it, it would be useless. and im sure they wont be able to clear the cmos because they dont know what motherboard it is and dont have a manual. and they probally wouldnt know what a BIOS was.

also I have a Remote Control Bomb Inside the case which the remote has a range of 50000 miles so at a push of a button they will be vaporized http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

also I have GPS on it which will give me the Longitude and lattitude of its pos. (like what the skiers use to find there buddies in case of an avalanch) http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

Now really i dont have a bomb on my comp or a gps but do you think that would be a good idea to put a GPS on it?

-voogru

[This message has been edited by voogru (edited 01-25-2001).]

[FrozenLiquidity]

Yeah, I'll have to get A GPS for my Comp next time I upgrade. Good idea voogru.

It would be a sad day is the theif actually knew a bit about computers. They would probably strip it of parts to use in their system or to sell. I'd hate to see my computer being torn apart for components by a greedy theif. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

*hugs computer* there there, all better now.

All the best to you bwbarbieri

FrozenLiquidity

[captpete]

Check the pawn shops. People who burglarize computers don't do it to set them up at home. They want cash fast.

[Mykex]

Sorry to hear it hope they get the bastage(s)!

Kinda makes me glad my case looks like ****. If my PC were stolen it would have to be someone who knew me. My monitor would get grabbed for sure. Not cause its good,its just big(19in/RIC-Pixie995)would give an out of shape thief an instant hernia though. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

I wonder what Lojack for a PC would go for? I have heard the unit is small...but how small?

[This message has been edited by Mykex (edited 01-25-2001).]

[RayH]

There are Lojacks for computers......

A handy program for computers is a Mouse Lock! At least they would have to reformat if they wanted in your computer. In that case, it would wipe out the information you don't want people to have!

[SithLord075]

Yes, keep an eye out for it in classified ads (newspapers, pennysaver, etc.) Chances are, scum like that are too idiotic to even know how to operate a computer, let alone have made it past the ninth grade. If there was any sensitive info on it (on-line banking, etc.), then I would definitely scramble to have those accounts closed. Theives make my blood boil. If the person is ever caught, NAIL HIM/HER (legally ofcourse).

[Jeff7]

This is why we need high powered, remote control auto-destruct systems for computers. Sure you lose the computer, but the thief will probably never steal anything again. Boom. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[socalgal]

Sorry to hear of your loss, bwbarbieri http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

I would change passwords at the sites you have passwords at, and think of anything else that may have been stored on your comp that may compromise you financially. Credit cards, notify your email contacts, contact your ISP, change ISP and email account passwords, instant messaging programs, Napster, etc., whatever.

I hope you recover your comp and the #$%^_)!thieves get what's coming to them!


[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 01-26-2001).]

[bwbarbieri]

Thank you all for the responses. I can't read them right now, but I've copied them to take home to review later.

If I can I'll be back. Right now I'm still working on getting another system together.