[clug-talk] FOSS Calling home solutions for laptops

[Mark Carlson]

On 5/8/09, Peter Van den Wildenbergh <peter at meta-logica.com> wrote:
>
>
>  Hi List,
>
>
>  Anybody aware of a good 'calling home' solution (FOSS on Windows and/or
> Linux) for laptops?
>
>  Does this 'technology' actually work, anybody able to recover a stolen
> laptop with this?
>
>  Input appreciated
>
>
>  Peter

SETI Project Finds Something: Stolen Laptop
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/02/seti_project_fi/

The commercial software always has customer testimonials... it seems
like it would be quite a bit of work to have a FOSS implementation
that was low hassle.  I have my server send me an email every night,
which includes the IP address.  If your laptop has GPS, you could try
to do that every time the computer starts up, or periodically
afterwards.

I don't know what to expect by going to the police with an IP address though...
Often, their response to theft is: "get used to it" and they may even
get offended when you want to file a report for insurance purposes.

If there is sensitive data on the laptop, you might get a better
response, but I wouldn't hold my breath.


Remote controlled taser embedded in the keyboard?  Might be more
trouble than it's worth, though ;-)

-Mark C.