Tracing a Stolen PC

GOOD QUESTION!! I'm looking forward to seeing an answer. I was thinking the IP address but I guess thats tied to the ISP and line.

I'd be interested to hear how this can be done...

But I've a sneaky suspicion it would be impossible... What with dynamic IP addresses and the ever increasing need to stop you're computer being 'probed' or having any unnecessary ports open etc...

I suppose it could be possible if the computer had a program running at start up that detected a changed password and then sent out an email to the owners address with the information that was being stored or used on the computer, a bit like a spyware program, in the hope that some bit of information might contain the new user's name or address etc... or better still just the IP address of the new user's ISP!! and the IP address it has been allocated at that particular time...

That would make it easy to trace through the ISP's logs to a particular address???

But as soon as he run some antispyware software it would be detected.... maybe???

John.

I am also interested in how this turns out.

I seem to remember some bit of info about each CPU had a serial number or ID of some kind used for identification or software verification a few years back. A big stink followed when that bit of info was made known, probably by the people that used mostly pirated software. That soon died off, mostly because the chips were shipped with the ID or serial number turned off by default. Has this issue quietly been resurrected and we missed the turning on part? Or more specifically, if this has been turned on, can it be used to find this guy's missing computer?

The MAC id/address of the ethernet port is unique. A sniffer program may be able to trace it but it could take a little less than forever and thats if its not hidden behind a firewall or router or even has been changed.

I hear that PC's running XP send out an ID tag every time they log onto the internet. Also if you ever get a fault when using IE have you looked at what info is being sent when Microsoft ask for an Error Report...again this states that the hardware ID's may be transmitted along with potentially personal information which can be used to identify an individual...but they promise this is purely unintentional!!!

Merry Xmas one and all

No, its impossible for you to find it through the internet. Because you cannt get your requirement information from it. if you wnat to find it through internet, the first condition will be the pc could send out its indentity code automatically. second you have to know its ip when its on net. but the ip is radomicity. Even if you know the ip, you hardly to entry the pc through its terminal.as we all know most fo the pc has installed firewall.unless you are super hack and have patience. Now we understand how shall we provent pc from stolen. set up an indentify code in way of hardware in mainboard by asking for manufactuere. when we are on net the id will be sent out automatially. second, the id has to be sent to a fix address, say, policy station or somewhere likes. Then we can find the stolen pc easily. I was told the very new version op from microsoft window publish next year has an exclusive id for indentify user. by the time you might find the pc anywhere not difficult.

I can recall seeing details of a security programme that could be installed on laptops or PSs & would transmit its location as soon as it found an internet connection. Can't remember the name of the programme or how it was triggered.

Computer program by a company called computrace program name Lo/Jack is designed to allow a monitoring station set up to locate 90% of stolen computers when the system is registered with them and the software is installed on the computer. Survives a reformat and some other tests. Don't know anything else about it, but that it is available for $49.99 a year in the U.S. Just bought a Sony VAIO and it came with a blurp on the system about it.

I believe that they use a "Lo-Jack" system to trace stolen cars also.

You can find out more about LoJack for laptops here - www.lojackforlaptops.com

I know someone who had their laptop recovered by these guys....very cool.

The newest operation system Vista has such function I was told.(I havnt seen the ops). But I suggest we 'd better use some hardware insteading of software only. its evidence, one can easily erase the signal by format.or change a disc.Besides, this software function can be easily suspected to encroach private right, just like trojan programme. There is a good example from mobil phone using. it emit an id and can be esily identified by authorities and can be controlled by the authorities. with the help of gps, they can easily find the locate the burglar when they are ringing. of cuase, the pc neednd use gps because when thief surf net, the ip which represent its location will be sendout and can be located eailyl.