install a key logger on my laptop?

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cato

less hate, more science
Registered Senior Member
as many of you may know, I have a new laptop. my question this time is about security. there was a laptop stolen from school recently, so I started thinking of ways to protect myself, and I had a good idea.

what if I installed a key logger on my own laptop? is there a way I can securely allow my home pc to get access to a keylogger installed on my laptop, without allowing joe anybody access to it?
 
nice, that would be funny. *you stole my laptop, so I steal your credit card number*

actually, I just want to be able to do it so I could get info that could bust the thief (or whoever they sold it to)

what info would you be able to get to bust someone? obviously you could get their credit card number (if they do anything online), maybe their address if they buy something online, what else?
 
Shouldn't we assume that thieves or buyers of hot laptops would do a clean install? if it is relatively easy to do "remote administrative keylogging", then what prevents crooks from GIVING AWAY laptops to suckers known to do internet shopping and banking?
 
i am not sure if i follow you cato
you want to leave your laptop at school?
a keylogger will not prevent thieft, a keylogger will not help you
dsdsds has a point
if i stole a laptop the first thing i would do is pour over the hard drive for some personal info and/or important files, transfer said files either to my hard drive or cdr then a wipe of the laptops drive

the major advantage of a laptop is its portability
take it with you
 
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Keyloggers would only be of use if the laptop is stolen and used with the OS intact. Not just that the OS has to be "networked". Admittedly you could leave your laptop open to connecting to wireless networks however thats a security flaw in itself.

The only things you can really do is secure your laptop, Most new laptops have a place that security cables can be connected, otherwise there are places that will fit them for you. On top of that you could suggest to your school that if they haven't already, they should get fittings that allow laptops to be LOCKED to them.

For the most part if a person is organised enough to steal a laptop, I would guess that they are more likely to be the sort to be able to vent most security like BIOS passwords. However you could setup a Dongle method of access to your laptop, have a smartdrive (one of those pen ones that you can wear around your neck) as a dongle so that you need it inserted into your laptops USB port, That would lower the ability of someone to get into the OS, however I'm not entirely sure if they have rigged a "Firmware" version of dongle for laptops (where the laptops firmware is stored in the dongle)

In laymens terms, if they stole a laptop without a firmware dongle, they inherit a rather cumbersome door stopper.
 
ok, how about laptop with integrated phone & modem & GPS. Upon power up, it would call home and give location.
 
Replace the battery with an explosive device and walk up and down the dodgiest road in your area.

Repeat until clean.
 
I don't intend to leave my laptop anywhere, and I probably wont. however, if I walk out of a room and forget it, I would want some security in case it was stolen. I could put a hard drive password on it, but that would just decrease the resale value. it wouldn't help me get it back or get those who stole it. a regular bios password is useless, it took me 10 minutes to pull the cmos and reset it.

really, the only hope to get it back, or prosecute those who do have it, would be to somehow figure out who has it, and a key logger could do that. it may be a long shot that I could get the info, but there is no other method of protection that can do more that decrease the resale value.
 
You can get Lo-jack for your laptop, so the police can track it down. I'm totally serious, I heard an add for Lo-jack on the radio, and they said it could be for cars, motorcycles, and laptops!
 
Lo-Jack for the laptop does the same thing as the keylogger. It's basicly software that you install that reports information over an active network connection.

It would be kinda cool if it was a radio tracking device like lojack equipped cars. I bet someone could invent a cellular type device that would work.
 
A keylogger will record all the activity on your computer, it's helpful once your device is stolen. I have heard many a story about"Get back a stolen laptop by keylogger" ;)
 
When you consider just about all cell phones can be GPS tracked. It seems to me having that capability built in to all laptops as hard to locate firmware would be a no-brainer. I thought I remembered reading something that talked about doing that for all laptops as it wouldn't add much to the cost. Also, they could power it with a 5 year battery so it wouldn't need the computers power to work. That would sure make people think twice before stealing laptops than can be tracked even when the computer is powered off.
 
I do know of free keyloggers but they are not useful when it comes to remote monitoring. you can try searching for LockItTight on cnet.

I would have posted the link but for the low post count I cannot :(
 
Remote monitoring is only useful if the person isn't particular technologically savvy. After all for it to work it requires a connection out, either using a landline, wifi or mobile connection. Disabling those is likely the first thing a person would do if dealing with a stolen device, (Perhaps placing through a LAN connection into a firewalled area that scans for data leaks)

As for tracking GPS,... there are various types of bag that can be made through a particular material that any electronic object can be placed and blocked from a network with. So tracking can be negated.
 
You'd look at look cooler if just modified one of these:

wallet-chain-hp3-1-lg.jpg
 
mashell said:
A keylogger will record all the activity on your computer, it's helpful once your device is stolen. I have heard many a story about"Get back a stolen laptop by keylogger" ;)
Click to expand...

Really, I'm looking for a tracking software to protect my PC, Can the keylogger really help me to get back a stolen laptop? :confused:
 
sweetie said:
Really, I'm looking for a tracking software to protect my PC, Can the keylogger really help me to get back a stolen laptop? :confused:
Click to expand...

I'm not endorsing this product but only bringing it to your attention. It looks like a very good system but you should investigate anything that you want to use.

"This product is AMAZING. My apartment was broken into and my laptop was stolen. Two hours after reporting it to LoJack, they had already tracked it! I got it back a couple days later and the man is still in jail! I am extremely happy with this product and recommend it to everyone! "
Paigemo from Mobile, Alabama

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...mnrDhc83ANrqrMdxQ&sig2=gBgZQZtG_sj_l8WUUTqwXw
 
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