750,000 laptops were stolen last year
Only 2% were returned
According to the FBI, laptop theft has increased 48% in the last two years and is expected to increase dramatically as
it has in past recessions. So what can you do to get your computer back if it is ever stolen?
Track your stolen laptop with Prey
Prey is a free program that you can use to track your laptop if it is ever stolen. Prey can transmit detailed tracking information,
take a screen shot of the desktop and if your computer is equipped with a webcam - a picture of the thief.
Pray runs silently in the background never letting the thief know you're tracking them. If the
thief doesn't connect your computer to the internet, Prey will automatically connect to any available wireless network and
start transmitting tracking data.
Prey is easy to install and available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Download Prey
Why should I bother, if the thief will just reformat the hard drive?
Prey won't survive if the hard drive is reformatted, but experience shows that thieves tend to browse through the files on a stolen
computer first. Plus, most laptop thefts are thefts of opportunity, involving people who may not know much about computers and will
never expect that you are tracking them.
Help Prey work
Prey only works when your computer is connected to the internet. Prey can automatically connect to any unsecured wireless
network, but this feature doesn't work perfectly and it requires an unsecured wireless network. Enabling the Guest account will
allow the thief to easily use your computer and get online. Once your computer is online, Prey can send you the tracking information.
How to enable the Guest account
Try it out
Once you have prey installed on your computer, try it out. Depending on what version and what operating system you're using,
Prey may not work the first time around. An antivirus or firewall can cause problems, so try disabling them and see if that helps.
How to Fix Common Problems with Prey
Get your laptop back
When police recover lost or stolen items they have no way of
identifying the owner, so the items sit in a property locker. Police can search the database at Juststolen.net and if the item
has been registered, identify the owner.
Juststolen.net is completely free. You can register any item of value and search the database for your lost items. The added
benefit of registering an item is that if that item were to disappear, Juststolen.net stores all of the important information that
police would need, like the serial number and model number.
www.JustStolen.net
Prevent laptop theft
Only 2% of stolen laptops are ever returned; with the help of tracking software like Prey, the odds increase dramatically,
but there are no guarantees. It may not always be possible to prevent someone from taking your laptop, but there are a few things you
can do:
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Laptop bags are easy targets and are frequently snatched. Instead, keep your laptop in a backpack or some
other less obvious carrying case. |
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Buy a laptop lock and use it. |
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Finally, don't leave your laptop out in plain view. Laptops are frequently taken from unoccupied vehicles
or an unoccupied table at the Coffee shop or library. |
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