News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

May 24, 2006

security

Feeling a little insecure about your MacBook?

Posted May. 24, ’06, 1:52 PM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Security

Orbicule ProductsStroll into any cafe and pull out your Mac laptop and you know what you’ll get? Admiring glances from people around the room, even wistful looks from those trapped behind their PCs. But you never know when the mind of a thief might lurk behind an innocent-looking facade.

A while back, we mentioned iAlertU, a program designed to sound an alarm if the laptop was moved while the program was armed. The nifty aspect of the software was that it used the Mac’s Sudden Motion Sensor, but unfortunately there were a number of shortcomings, many of which have now been resolved (disabling the mute key, for example).

But iAlertU is hardly the only program in the anti-theft department. Meet Orbicule’s dynamic duo of Undercover and Theft Sensor. The latter is much the same as iAlertU; it uses the SMS to sound an alarm if the laptop is moved or if the laptop’s lid is closed. Unfortunately, in my quick tests it was easy to circumvent TheftSensor by plugging something into the laptop’s audio out port.

Undercover is different: rather than a deterrent, it’s designed to help recover your laptop it it’s been stolen. Not only will it transmit network information, but it will regularly send you screenshots of your Mac and shots from your built-in iSight if you have one. Furthermore, if recovery fails, Undercover begins to periodically darken the screen, simulating a hardware failure. Once the computer is brought in for repair or sold, it will display a full-screen message stating that the computer is stolen, which it will also speak aloud using OS X’s speech synthesizer.

If you’ve been looking for a way to ward off those ruffians and malcontents looking to make off with your laptop, you might be interested in this pair.


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