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how?

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  how? RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-03 15:13 -0700
    Re: how? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2011-06-03 15:15 -0700
      Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-03 23:21 -0400
        Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-03 21:58 -0700
          Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-04 09:57 -0400
            Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-04 07:44 -0700
              Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-04 11:32 -0400
                Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-04 09:10 -0700
                  Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-04 12:21 -0400
              Re: how? Walter Bushell <proto@panix.com> - 2011-06-15 15:57 -0400
          Re: how? RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-05 20:40 -0700
            Re: how? Jeffrey Goldberg <nobody@goldmark.org> - 2011-06-05 22:45 -0500
            Re: how? Chris Ridd <chrisridd@mac.com> - 2011-06-06 08:30 +0100
            Re: how? Wes Groleau <Groleau+news@FreeShell.org> - 2011-06-06 07:43 -0400
            Re: how? Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2011-06-06 08:31 -0500
        Re: how? George Kerby <ghost_topper@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-04 09:30 -0500
        Re: how? dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2011-06-04 19:38 +0100
          Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-04 14:44 -0400
            Re: how? dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2011-06-05 12:05 +0100
              Re: how? Tim Streater <timstreater@waitrose.com> - 2011-06-05 15:48 +0100
                Re: how? dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2011-06-05 21:56 +0100
              Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-05 10:55 -0400
        Re: how? Calum <com.gmail@nospam.scottishwildcat> - 2011-06-10 19:44 +0100
          Re: how? Chris Ridd <chrisridd@mac.com> - 2011-06-10 21:31 +0100
            Re: how? your.name@isp.com (Your Name) - 2011-06-11 09:36 +1200
          Re: how? Abu Yahya <abu_yahya@invalid.com> - 2011-06-12 00:00 +0530
    Re: how? George Kerby <ghost_topper@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-03 18:30 -0500
    Re: how? "robin" <robin51@dodo.mapson.com.au> - 2011-06-04 09:32 +1000
      Re: how? George Kerby <ghost_topper@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-03 18:45 -0500
    Re: how? Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2011-06-03 16:42 -0700
      Re: how? George Kerby <ghost_topper@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-03 18:50 -0500
        Re: how? Priam <priam@nowhere.com> - 2011-06-03 23:05 -0400
          Re: how? Jeffrey Goldberg <nobody@goldmark.org> - 2011-06-03 22:42 -0500
            Re: how? Priam <priam@nowhere.com> - 2011-06-04 01:01 -0400
            Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-04 10:05 -0400
          Re: how? George Kerby <ghost_topper@hotmail.com> - 2011-06-04 09:29 -0500
            Re: how? Priam <priam@nowhere.com> - 2011-06-04 14:38 -0400
              Re: how? Priam <priam@nowhere.com> - 2011-06-04 14:54 -0400
    Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-03 16:57 -0700
    Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-03 17:01 -0700
      Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-03 17:08 -0700
    Re: how? Bob Harris <nospam.News.Bob@remove.Smith-Harris.us> - 2011-06-03 20:23 -0400
      Re: how? Tevvin <Tevvin@walksincircles.com> - 2011-06-05 11:44 -0500
        Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-05 18:44 -0400
    Re: how? Jeffrey Goldberg <nobody@goldmark.org> - 2011-06-03 22:28 -0500
    Re: how? dividebyzer0 <dividebyzer0@gmail.com> - 2011-06-05 00:16 +0000
      Re: how? Gandalf  Parker <gandalf@the.dead.ISP.of.Community.net> - 2011-06-05 12:51 +0000
        Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-05 15:39 -0700
    Re: how? RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2011-06-05 20:33 -0700
      Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-06 13:40 -0700
        Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-06 15:55 -0700
          Re: how? Doug Anderson <ethelthelogremovethis@gmail.com> - 2011-06-06 16:14 -0700
            Re: how? Wes Groleau <Groleau+news@FreeShell.org> - 2011-06-06 23:52 -0400
            Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-07 12:05 -0700
          Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-07 12:04 -0700
            Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-07 13:17 -0700
              Re: how? Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2011-06-07 16:36 -0400
                Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-07 17:46 -0700
              Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-07 14:02 -0700
                Re: how? Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2011-06-07 17:44 -0700
                  Re: how? JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2011-06-07 22:09 -0400
                  Re: how? your.name@isp.com (Your Name) - 2011-06-08 18:31 +1200
              Re: how? Paul Debrowski <pdebrowski@shitiou.org> - 2011-06-07 21:18 -0400
                Re: how? Big Bad Bob <BigBadBob-at-mrp3-dot-com@testing.local> - 2011-06-11 12:56 -0700
                  Re: how? your.name@isp.com (Your Name) - 2011-06-12 09:30 +1200
                    Re: how? Howard Brazee <howard@brazee.net> - 2011-06-11 18:44 -0600
    Re: how? AD <isquat@gmail.com> - 2011-06-27 06:38 -0700

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#320

Tim Streater <timstreater@waitrose.com> wrote:

> In article <1k2dx06.1ov7kju19c7g0cN%dcohenspam@talktalk.net>,
>  dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) wrote:
> 
> > Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
> > 
> > > Well as I said elsewhere the real thief is the client who knows (or
> > > suspects real hard) that the laptop is stolen.  That more knowledgeable
> > > client will more likely go to lengths to "protect" the laptop from being
> > > traced.
> > 
> > Makes sense. But considering how many Mac users aren't computer savvy, I
> > suspect you are overstating this risk.
> 
> I don't know what you mean by "computer savvy", but why should they need
> to be? In any case most users of other platforms aren't either.

I suspect there are many people who would just ake it for granted that
computers came with an operating system and applications, they would not
know about install disks.

Certainly, many  would not know anything about installing or removing
RAM
-- 
<http://www.decohen.com>
The Labyrinth of the Heart: Changed Myths for Changing Lives 
book and e-book <http://www.decohen.com/labyrinth>
Send e-mail to the Reply-To address, not the From address.

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#318

On 2011-06-05 07:05 , Daniel Cohen wrote:
> Alan Browne<alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca>  wrote:
>
>> Well as I said elsewhere the real thief is the client who knows (or
>> suspects real hard) that the laptop is stolen.  That more knowledgeable
>> client will more likely go to lengths to "protect" the laptop from being
>> traced.
>
> Makes sense. But considering how many Mac users aren't computer savvy, I
> suspect you are overstating this risk.

You don't say?  Mac users are not computer savvy?  Oh.

Makes sense, of the three people closest to me that use Macs only one 
(my son) can get around it with complete ease - and he's no expert at 
all - he even wrote some C programs on it (for a class).  He just got in 
from school (in another city) in the middle of the night.  I'll do some 
maintenance on his MBP later today.

The next, a friend, is quite good, but can fall apart solving some 
simple issues (network, backups).

My SO is still putting off "Finder 101" that I want to give her as a 
series of courses to let her roam the machine a bit more.  In the 
meantime she can browse, do Word/Excel with no problems.

> Of course, I may be understating it. There's no statistics on this.

You're probably right.

-- 
gmail originated posts filtered due to spam.

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#364

On 04/06/11 04:21, Alan Browne wrote:

> So all a thief has to do is erase the drive and re-install OS X?

Most users of anti-theft software also set up a firmware password to 
make this somewhat more difficult. They also enable the guest login 
account to 'encourage' the thief to use that rather than re-installing, 
and thus give themselves away.

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#365

On 2011-06-10 19:44:35 +0100, Calum said:

> On 04/06/11 04:21, Alan Browne wrote:
> 
>> So all a thief has to do is erase the drive and re-install OS X?
> 
> Most users of anti-theft software also set up a firmware password to 
> make this somewhat more difficult. They also enable the guest login 
> account to 'encourage' the thief to use that rather than re-installing, 
> and thus give themselves away.

There are suggestions that Lion has some sort of "Find my Mac" 
functionality, rather like these bits of anti-theft software.
-- 
Chris

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#366

In article <95fd8sFq7cU1@mid.individual.net>, Chris Ridd
<chrisridd@mac.com> wrote:

> On 2011-06-10 19:44:35 +0100, Calum said:
> 
> > On 04/06/11 04:21, Alan Browne wrote:
> > 
> >> So all a thief has to do is erase the drive and re-install OS X?
> > 
> > Most users of anti-theft software also set up a firmware password to 
> > make this somewhat more difficult. They also enable the guest login 
> > account to 'encourage' the thief to use that rather than re-installing, 
> > and thus give themselves away.
> 
> There are suggestions that Lion has some sort of "Find my Mac" 
> functionality, rather like these bits of anti-theft software.

There's also the fact that most theives are incredibly stupid and wouldn't
know how to erase the drive, let alone be able or have the discs to
reinstall Mac OS X. No doubt there's quite a few marginally more
intelligent types who try to re-install some version of Windows instead.

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#368

On 6/11/2011 12:14 AM, Calum wrote:
> On 04/06/11 04:21, Alan Browne wrote:
>
>> So all a thief has to do is erase the drive and re-install OS X?
>
> Most users of anti-theft software also set up a firmware password to
> make this somewhat more difficult. They also enable the guest login
> account to 'encourage' the thief to use that rather than re-installing,
> and thus give themselves away.
True. Some don't even require logging-in...they run once the login 
prompt appears.

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#285

On 6/3/11 5:13 PM, in article
00addd67-75e8-4a93-85ed-d6aadba6dae2@q12g2000prb.googlegroups.com, "RichD"
<r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:

> There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was
> stolen.  He had anti-theft software installed, which
> snapped pictures at regular intervals through the webcam.
> 
> Then it said he activated the program remotely,
> to send him the pictures, and the thief was eventually
> caught.
> 
> My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this
> 'remote control'?  Like,  he sent a virus to the machine,
> or what?
> 
> 
> --
> Rich

Welcome to the Mac forums Rich!

Here is how...

<http://hiddenapp.com/>

Sorry, not available for crappy PeeCees.

BTW: I thought disliked Apple (along with most everything else, LOL)?

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#286

"RichD" <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:00addd67-75e8-4a93-85ed-d6aadba6dae2@q12g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
| There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was
| stolen.  He had anti-theft software installed, which
| snapped pictures at regular intervals through the webcam.
|
| Then it said he activated the program remotely,
| to send him the pictures, and the thief was eventually
| caught.
|
| My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this
| 'remote control'?  Like,  he sent a virus to the machine,
| or what?

Why?  Do you have a stolen Mac? 

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#288

On 6/3/11 6:32 PM, in article
4de96f33$0$89993$c30e37c6@exi-reader.telstra.net, "robin"
<robin51@dodo.mapson.com.au> wrote:

> "RichD" <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:00addd67-75e8-4a93-85ed-d6aadba6dae2@q12g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
> | There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was
> | stolen.  He had anti-theft software installed, which
> | snapped pictures at regular intervals through the webcam.
> |
> | Then it said he activated the program remotely,
> | to send him the pictures, and the thief was eventually
> | caught.
> |
> | My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this
> | 'remote control'?  Like,  he sent a virus to the machine,
> | or what?
> 
> Why?  Do you have a stolen Mac?
> 
> 


LOL! Good one!

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#287

In article 
<00addd67-75e8-4a93-85ed-d6aadba6dae2@q12g2000prb.googlegroups.com>,
 RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:

> There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was
> stolen.  He had anti-theft software installed, which
> snapped pictures at regular intervals through the webcam.
> 
> Then it said he activated the program remotely,
> to send him the pictures, and the thief was eventually
> caught.
> 
> My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this
> 'remote control'?  Like,  he sent a virus to the machine,
> or what?
> 
> 
> --
> Rich

As soon as laptop is connected to the internet, the pre-installed 
anti-theft software checks in with the anti-theft database on the 
server.  If it's flagged as stolen or "track me", then certain 
pre-installed services are turned on.  The network and camera report 
information on the IP address to the anti-theft site.  I don't know if 
laptops have any sort of GPS like an iTouch or iPhone, so that may be 
also tracked.  If WiFi network is used, there's probably additional info 
that can be added to the database.  AFAIK, you can't install this 
software after the fact.

If the thief had just pulled the hard drive or booted off a MacOS 
install media and reformatted the drive and reinstalled the OS, there 
wouldn't have been a problem.  The pre-installed tracking software would 
have been gone.  AFAIK, there's nothing in any of the boot PROMs on 
either Macintosh or PC that does this sort of tracking without software.  
And you have to connect to the Internet to send information back.

This sort of anti-theft software has been around for a while now.  A 
school system used it to spy on their students getting the VP and head 
of IT fired for invading the privacy of the students and the school 
district sued by the parents of the student that uncovered the spying.

-- 
DeeDee, don't press that button!  DeeDee!  NO!  Dee...
[I filter all Goggle Groups posts, so any reply may be automatically ignored]

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#289

On 6/3/11 6:42 PM, in article
vilain-E96EAD.16420203062011@news.individual.net, "Michael Vilain"
<vilain@NOspamcop.net> wrote:

> In article 
> <00addd67-75e8-4a93-85ed-d6aadba6dae2@q12g2000prb.googlegroups.com>,
>  RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was
>> stolen.  He had anti-theft software installed, which
>> snapped pictures at regular intervals through the webcam.
>> 
>> Then it said he activated the program remotely,
>> to send him the pictures, and the thief was eventually
>> caught.
>> 
>> My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this
>> 'remote control'?  Like,  he sent a virus to the machine,
>> or what?
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Rich
> 
> As soon as laptop is connected to the internet, the pre-installed
> anti-theft software checks in with the anti-theft database on the
> server.  If it's flagged as stolen or "track me", then certain
> pre-installed services are turned on.  The network and camera report
> information on the IP address to the anti-theft site.  I don't know if
> laptops have any sort of GPS like an iTouch or iPhone, so that may be
> also tracked.  If WiFi network is used, there's probably additional info
> that can be added to the database.  AFAIK, you can't install this
> software after the fact.
> 

<http://hiddenapp.com/> explains how it works and it cannot be done after
the theft. There are no GPS, but can be pretty accurate in urban areas of to
less than a mile according to their FYI. Not bad for $15 a year...

> If the thief had just pulled the hard drive or booted off a MacOS
> install media and reformatted the drive and reinstalled the OS, there
> wouldn't have been a problem.  The pre-installed tracking software would
> have been gone.  AFAIK, there's nothing in any of the boot PROMs on
> either Macintosh or PC that does this sort of tracking without software.
> And you have to connect to the Internet to send information back.
> 

Most thieves aren't that sophisticated in the real world.

> This sort of anti-theft software has been around for a while now.  A
> school system used it to spy on their students getting the VP and head
> of IT fired for invading the privacy of the students and the school
> district sued by the parents of the student that uncovered the spying.

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#294

Le 2011-06-03 19:50, George Kerby a écrit :

> On 6/3/11 6:42 PM, in article
> vilain-E96EAD.16420203062011@news.individual.net, "Michael Vilain"
> <vilain@NOspamcop.net>  wrote:

>> If the thief had just pulled the hard drive or booted off a MacOS
>> install media and reformatted the drive and reinstalled the OS, there
>> wouldn't have been a problem.  The pre-installed tracking software would
>> have been gone.  AFAIK, there's nothing in any of the boot PROMs on
>> either Macintosh or PC that does this sort of tracking without software.
>> And you have to connect to the Internet to send information back.
>>
>
> Most thieves aren't that sophisticated in the real world.

Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?

Mac Morons will always amaze me!

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#297

On 11-06-03 10:05 PM, Priam wrote:

> Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?

This was my first questions when I heard about such system, but it turns
out that casual thieves really are pretty stupid.

The stupidity of the thief is one of the biggest things we have going
for us. But there are other things that make it less likely for a thief
to bother with a re-install.

If they don't have access to an OS X install disk, that adds one barrier.

Another is if you use a firmware password (these can, of course, be
defeated, but it takes some expertise).  Finally, OS X comes with a
"Guest" account that users of such systems are encouraged to enable. It
means that someone can use the machine as a guest without needed a password.

Windows users are used to reinstalling the OS frequently when the
registry gets corrupted or they've accumulated to much malware. Linux
users enjoy reinstalling the OS as part of their fine tuning and
learning experience. But Mac users rarely reinstall the OS, so maybe
these schemes are more effective for Macs.

We will never know the exact numbers, but machines do get recovered
through these systems.

Cheers,

-j


-- 
Jeffrey Goldberg          http://goldmark.org/jeff/
I rarely read HTML or poorly quoting posts
Reply-To address is valid

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#299

Le 2011-06-03 23:42, Jeffrey Goldberg a écrit :
> On 11-06-03 10:05 PM, Priam wrote:
>
>> Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?
>
> This was my first questions when I heard about such system, but it turns
> out that casual thieves really are pretty stupid.

Casual thieves, people who first a laptop left on a desk, maybe.

> If they don't have access to an OS X install disk, that adds one barrier.

Not that hard to find.

> Another is if you use a firmware password (these can, of course, be
> defeated, but it takes some expertise).

2 minute search:

"You can bypass the password by changing the amount of physical RAM 
inside the computer and then resetting PRAM during the first boot 
immediately after the RAM change. In other words, if you change the 
amount of RAM in a Mac, it will start up normally one time to give you a 
chance to reset the PRAM; if you don’t reset the PRAM during that boot, 
firmware-password protection will be restored the next time you boot."

http://www.macworld.com/article/145418/2010/01/unbootablemini.html

Getting to an iMac's RAM doesn't require "some expertise".

> Finally, OS X comes with a
> "Guest" account that users of such systems are encouraged to enable. It
> means that someone can use the machine as a guest without needed a password.

If Macs work this way, it's pretty stupid. Privilege escalation is one 
of the most common security flaw. Ubuntu ask for a password before a 
guess account may be defeated. Of course, the user/root password is easy 
to defeat.

> Windows users are used to reinstalling the OS frequently when the
> registry gets corrupted or they've accumulated to much malware.

Windows users are dummies just like M&Ms but I wonder if having registry 
problems and malware is that common in Windows 7. Miller considers its 
security system stonger than OS X.

> Linux
> users enjoy reinstalling the OS as part of their fine tuning and
> learning experience.

:) Fine tuning does not need reinstalling and there is very little you 
can learn installing Linux, nowadays, except on partitioning. Of course, 
installing Linux from Scratch is another matter.

> But Mac users rarely reinstall the OS,

Less often that Linux users who try this and that distro, for sure.

> so maybe
> these schemes are more effective for Macs.

Is installing OS X that complicated? I recently installed Ubuntu on 2 
USB keys and it's a cinch. It takes a while to update thereafter, but 
you don't have to sit beside teh computer. Then, you must configure it 
to suit your taste, but you'd have to do this anyway if you bought the 
computer.

> We will never know the exact numbers, but machines do get recovered
> through these systems.

The best protection is to buy a bottom of the line laptop that won't 
arouse envy. People usually don't use Photoshop with their laptop. So, 
what's the point. If you can watch a movie, it's powerful enough.

And leash it to your neck :)

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#303

On 2011-06-03 23:42 , Jeffrey Goldberg wrote:
> On 11-06-03 10:05 PM, Priam wrote:
>
>> Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?
>
> This was my first questions when I heard about such system, but it turns
> out that casual thieves really are pretty stupid.
>
> The stupidity of the thief is one of the biggest things we have going
> for us. But there are other things that make it less likely for a thief
> to bother with a re-install.
>
> If they don't have access to an OS X install disk, that adds one barrier.

I don't think it's the thieves who get caught, but those who buy from 
the thieves.  They lose their money and as likely as not can't pin down 
the thief for the police.

There are "classes" of thieves.  And you can be sure that some are very 
savvy in evading detection and covering their tracks.

> Another is if you use a firmware password (these can, of course, be
> defeated, but it takes some expertise).  Finally, OS X comes with a
> "Guest" account that users of such systems are encouraged to enable. It
> means that someone can use the machine as a guest without needed a password.
>
> Windows users are used to reinstalling the OS frequently when the
> registry gets corrupted or they've accumulated to much malware. Linux

Eh?  I've run installs of WinXP for years w/o needing to re-install.

On my prior machine it ran with the factory installed WinXP from 2006 
until a few weeks ago (motherboard died).  Cheap (free) anti-virus s/w 
(AVG) was the prophylactic.

> users enjoy reinstalling the OS as part of their fine tuning and
> learning experience. But Mac users rarely reinstall the OS, so maybe
> these schemes are more effective for Macs.

I've re-installed Mac OS X 3 or 4 times on this iMac due to the prior 
failing hard disk [that was not reported by the Apple Disk Utility 
(incomplete SMART use) and only reported by 3rd party SMART s/w].

-- 
gmail originated posts filtered due to spam.

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#304

On 6/3/11 10:05 PM, in article isc7de$j3g$1@dont-email.me, "Priam"
<priam@nowhere.com> wrote:

> Le 2011-06-03 19:50, George Kerby a écrit :
> 
>> On 6/3/11 6:42 PM, in article
>> vilain-E96EAD.16420203062011@news.individual.net, "Michael Vilain"
>> <vilain@NOspamcop.net>  wrote:
> 
>>> If the thief had just pulled the hard drive or booted off a MacOS
>>> install media and reformatted the drive and reinstalled the OS, there
>>> wouldn't have been a problem.  The pre-installed tracking software would
>>> have been gone.  AFAIK, there's nothing in any of the boot PROMs on
>>> either Macintosh or PC that does this sort of tracking without software.
>>> And you have to connect to the Internet to send information back.
>>> 
>> 
>> Most thieves aren't that sophisticated in the real world.
> 
> Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?
> 
> Mac Morons will always amaze me!

Yep. Your average crack-head thieving taxi driver has a degree in IT. Guess
you're right.

NOT!

FOAD, shithead...

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#310

Le 2011-06-04 10:29, George Kerby a écrit :

>>> Most thieves aren't that sophisticated in the real world.
>>
>> Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?
>>
>> Mac Morons will always amaze me!
>
> Yep. Your average crack-head thieving taxi driver has a degree in IT. Guess
> you're right.

Well, of course, for a standard M&M, formatting a drive and reinstalling 
OS X would be quite a feat -- that's why the kids performing the trick 
in Apple stores are called geniuses, right? -- but I'm sure an average 
taxi driver would succeed in no time at all.

BTW, are you sure that taxi drivers are more dishonest than the average 
Mac Moron? They're certainly more honest than your guru.

> FOAD, shithead...

Beware dumbass, your blood pressure is rising and you're killing yourself.

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#313

Le 2011-06-04 14:38, Priam a écrit :
> Le 2011-06-04 10:29, George Kerby a écrit :
>
>>>> Most thieves aren't that sophisticated in the real world.
>>>
>>> Of course not! Who has ever heard of thieves reformatting a drive?
>>>
>>> Mac Morons will always amaze me!
>>
>> Yep. Your average crack-head thieving taxi driver has a degree in IT.
>> Guess
>> you're right.
>
> Well, of course, for a standard M&M, formatting a drive and reinstalling
> OS X would be quite a feat -- that's why the kids performing the trick
> in Apple stores are called geniuses, right? -- but I'm sure an average
> taxi driver would succeed in no time at all.
>
> BTW, are you sure that taxi drivers are more dishonest than the average
> Mac Moron? They're certainly more honest than your guru.

Typical Mac users who can't format a drive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4M-K9iA4R0&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYTz1PVh06U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ni4fFU_B4s&NR=1

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#290

On 06/03/11 15:13, RichD so wittily quipped:
> There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was
> stolen.  He had anti-theft software installed, which
> snapped pictures at regular intervals through the webcam.
>
> Then it said he activated the program remotely,
> to send him the pictures, and the thief was eventually
> caught.
>
> My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this
> 'remote control'?  Like,  he sent a virus to the machine,
> or what?

one method might be vnc.  Other methods might be commercial (a couple of 
applications come to mind, advertised on the radio and TV).  If your 
computer is set up to 'phone home' whenever it's connected to the 
internet, this would be even easier, since you would instantly know when 
it's online, and what the IP address is.  Apple's shell and utility 
environment is based on FreeBSD 5.x and is basically the same as linux 
or newer releases of BSD or UNIX.  As such, you could easily set up an 
ssh daemon or PPPoE or some other virtual networking method that would 
give you access whenever it's online.  Once you have access to the 
machine, if you're a computer-savvy hacker type it should be a 
no-brainer to make it take photos, report its location via GPS (assuming 
you have hardware for this), and so on.

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#291

In article 
<00addd67-75e8-4a93-85ed-d6aadba6dae2@q12g2000prb.googlegroups.com>,
 RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:

> There was a recent news item, an Apple Mac was stolen.  He had 
> anti-theft software installed, which snapped pictures at regular 
> intervals through the webcam.
> 
> Then it said he activated the program remotely, to send him the 
> pictures, and the thief was eventually caught.
> 
> My question is, how the heck did he accomplish this 'remote control'?  
> Like,  he sent a virus to the machine, or what?

It's a commercial program that he installed on his own machine.  It's sorta 
like Find My Mac, but it can also take pictures using the built-in camera.  
There are a number of these utilities, from different companies, for sale.

-- 
Tea Party Patriots is to Patriotism as 
People's Democratic Republic is to Democracy.

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