What does Lojack / Computrace do?

Question

I have purchased a new laptop from the Dell website, and am considering installing Lojack on it. I understand that Lojack regularly sends a message over the internet to its headquarters, which gives some location and identity information, which can be used to recover the laptop if it is stolen. Does Lojack also send information over the internet from the following sources :-    a)      Wifi connection information. Many people now use free (and paid for) wireless connections; does Lojack include information about these connections as well as landline connections?   b)      Forensic collection tool. Does Lojack gather information from the computer about the identity of the current user (eg name, email, address etc.), where possible, and include that in the message to headquarters?   c)       GPS. If the computer has a GPS unit installed, does Lojack include location information from this source in the message?   d)      Camera. A lot of laptops now have a camera at the top of the monitor screen. Does Lojack take a photograph periodically, and include that in the message?   If I install Lojack and another similar tracing or tracking product, will the two programmes conflict with each other; causing one or both to fail? Message Edited by David160 on 08-06-2008 05:52 PM

Garred · Answer

Lojack for your laptop ( it also can be used on desktops ) is software that talks back to the company every time you log on the internet. It gives them the information as to the location in the world the laptop connected at. If you report the laptop stolen, and the laptop is used they can trace it down and notifiy the local police to try to recover it within 30 days.

Here is a list of the Dell systems that can use Lojack in BIOS.

Product Line Models Inspiron 1200, 1300/130B, 1420, 1501, 1520, 1521, 1525, 1720, 1721, 2200, 6000, 6400, 9300, 9400, B120, B130, E1405, E1505, E1705, 640M, 700M, 710M Latitude 110L, 120L, 131L, ATG, D410, D420, D430, D510, D520, D531, D610, D620, D630, D631, D810, D820, D830, X1, XFR D630, XT Precision 390, 490, 690, M20, M65, M70, M90, M4300, M6300, T3400, T5400, T7400 XPS Inspiron M140/630, M170 XPS M1210, M1330, M1530, M1710, M1730, M2010 Optiplex 330, 745, 745C, 755 Vostro 1000, 1400, 1500, 1700

David160 · Answer

I have looked at the Lojack website, but it does not say whether Lojack collects information on WIFI connections, forensic collections, GPs location information, and camera photographs.

Other similar software, eg Failsafe from Phoenix Technologies, does this; see http://www.phoenix.com/NR/rdonlyres/B495C852-EA0C-4387-9DA2-0B5D902AF2A1/0/FailSafe_Datasheet.pdf

I wondered whether Lojack does this?

Windows General

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