Undercover : anti-theft program for Mac

While browsing Apple’s website I came accross a reference to an anti-theft program called Undercover and checked it out. Having a 2800 euros MacBook Pro 17", I sure felt that 30$ was not a bad investment.

At first I was suspicious about this, wondered how they could do it. The principle is that your Mac gets a unique ID stored on Orbicule’s servers. Once installed, Undercover will check every 6 minutes with the server if your Mac is reported stolen (just have to transmit the ID to orbicule upon theft). If the stolen Mac is unable to acces the internet, it then simulates hardware failure. If this doesn’t force the thief to have it repaired, the Mac displays a message saying this Mac has been stolen, that it has become unusable. Orbicule’s contact information and a promise for a finder’s fee will be displayed as well.

Of course, it does not prevent someone from dumping your Mac into an alley, or tearing its hardware apart to try bypass this. Normally, he can’t format the HDD, if you did set a password with the Open Firmware protection as instructed (I wonder about changing the HDD though... and also about the Open Firmware hackability...).

Anyway, I thought I would share...

I’m not sure why would a thief return a MacBook to their local friendly repair shop if there’s a chance that they’re going to turn around and say "Hang about, you’re a tealeaf! Call the cops!", when they could just nick another one.

But the "here’s what your thief has been doing with your machine" idea is worth $30. Especially as you get that back if they can’t retrieve the Mac.

Your write up contains a few errors. The story is:

Once installed, Undercover will check every 6 minutes with the server to see if if your Mac is reported stolen (just have to transmit the ID to orbicule upon theft). If the stolen Mac is unable to acces the internet Mac has been stolen, it sends images of the screen and pictures from the camera every 6 minutes to help you, their ISP and the cops find the guy. If/when you decide that law enforcement based on screengrabs has failed, you can then switch it to Plan B where it then simulates hardware failure. If this doesn’t force the thief to have it repaired When the Mac is connected to a different network (assumed to be proof that the Mac is at a repair shop or the home of an unlucky eBay bidder), the Mac displays a message saying this Mac has been stolen, that it has become unusable. Orbicule’s contact information and a promise for a finder’s fee will be displayed as well.

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I am curious - how much is the finder’s fee that Orbicule cover?

Quote from: PaulGregory at Sep 20, 2006, 04:29 AM

I’m not sure why would a thief return a MacBook to their local friendly repair shop if there’s a chance that they’re going to turn around and say "Hang about, you’re a tealeaf! Call the cops!", when they could just nick another one.

I agree that part is rather weak...

Quote from: PaulGregory

But the "here’s what your thief has been doing with your machine" idea is worth $30. Especially as you get that back if they can’t retrieve the Mac.

More importantly, the idea is rather tracking your Mac (an IP can help) and identifying the thief in fact, especially with the iSigtht support you can even get a picture of the guy

Quote from: PaulGregory

Your write up contains a few errors.

Thanks for fixing those !

Quote from: PaulGregory

I am curious - how much is the finder’s fee that Orbicule cover?

I have no idea !
Probably not specified in the message, to let the person hope it’s a big one.
I am not sure they actually pay the fee...

I hunted through the site earlier and at one point is does state that Orbicule cover the finder’s fee (although the message screen is editable by the user).

Mind, seeing your Mac being used by someone else... it’d be like getting photos from a private detective of your wife with another man!