If you haven't already heard or seen advertisements for it, Lo Jack (known for car anti theft devices that can help cops locate stolen vehicles) has come out with software that will help find your laptop if it is either stolen or lost.  Its touted as the next big thing and the growing buzz in the news and press and this in turn has sent shares for the company which is traded on the Toronto stock market climbing.  It is now even included or installed on new Dell computers.  So the question here is what is the reality and facts behind laptop computer theft, can the Lo Jack system address it, how well does it work and is it worth it for the protection it provides (it isn't exactly free - $49.99 per year or $99.99 for 3 years per the Lo jack website - lojack.com)?

Well, the question boils down to several facets like how much did you pay for your laptop (prices have come way down for top level laptops in the recent year as you can now get a loaded laptop preloaded with Microsoft Windows Vista for around $700 from BJ's and other retailers).  Yes, you can still find some models reaching upward of $2000 or even $3,000 but the majority can be found priced between $700 and $1400.  Now this does not mean a $700 investment does not need to be protected.  Its just to state that purchase price is becoming less of a reason as the prices of acquisition have and still continue to decrease much like for flat screen TV's.

Another reason or facet would be data protection.  Many people use their laptops to conduct business on the go.  They store customer data, business trends, sometimes even proprietary information (like new product designs, innovative marketing techniques, and other vitally confidential and important information) and important personal information in the way of passwords, personal identification numbers (like social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses amongst other things).  This data is far more important than the cost of replacement for the typical laptop.  As a matter of fact, when it comes to proprietary information and personal identification numbers (which may be stored as records or entries on your computer for quick access) this is information that can cost literally millions of dollars in lost revenue or identity theft if it gets in the wrong hands. 

The reality is that there are literallly gangs of thiefs that specialize solely in stealing laptop computers in almost every city in the U.S.  Some are more sophisticated and use advanced data mining techniques to extract passwords and other valuable data for credit theft, blackmail, and other criminal purposes.  Others just simply steal laptops and resell them online in auction marketplaces like Ebay where they can get top dollar almost overnight.  Thiefs prefer Ebay and Craigs List for reselling stolen computers and other items for the quick and high return and the very low or almost non existant risk of getting caught (Ebay states that theft and crime are very low on their auction site (lower than 1% according to Ebay management, but upon looking at the FBI website (FBI.org) it is actually much, much higher and around 20% to 30% or even higher - that's a huge or even massive difference between what Ebay executives like Meg Whitman report and what the FBI states are the real numbers of actual fraud and theft on Ebay).

Have younger looking, acne free skin. Treatment actually used by dermatologists that is guaranteed to work - TCA peel skin peel - Bestskinpeel.com

Restore cloudy, yellow headlight lenses to new and save big money over replacements New Lite headlight restoration and cleaning kit at mdwholesale.com!


Regardless of why they steal these laptops, where they sell them (Ebay) and the fact that 1 laptop is stolen every 50 seconds in America -  you should take measures to protect your personal or business laptop.  Identity theft is a huge and growing problem (1 out of every 100 people will soon feel its impact per FBI.org).  If your laptop does get stolen it could potentially end up with data miners whom are experts at retrieving the most password protected data from computers.  So a good tip is to try and minimize exposure to theft.  Do not leave your laptop in your locked car, especially in plain sight or in a laptop briefcase or bag that can easily be seen and identified as holding a laptop computer. 

According to the Charlotte Mecklenburg police the majority of laptop thefts are by theft rings and happen to locked cars.  This can and has happened everywhere from airport car lots and downtown parking garages to mall and department store lots.  Thiefs are now working in groups and will act like they are conversing next to a vehicle and then use various tools to actually push in the key cylinder in the car door and then gain entry in that way.  They no longer need slim jims or other hard to use auto entry tools.  Its as simple as pushing in the key cylinder or pulling it out on some models.  In only a few seconds they can easily gain access to your car or vehicle and steal your laptop computer.

I actually saw a pair trying to do this to my SUV.  I had a empty Bass cloth briefcase/laptop shoulder bag on the front seat that I had forgotten about and was in plain view.  It had a few notebooks and a newspaper or two in it so it looked like it probably had a computer in it.  I was parked at a local branch bank (Bank of America) lot in the immediate University area and when I came out there were two people talking next to my SUV.  One was leaned up against the drivers door and the other was very close to him.  As I approached the two saw me, and quickly walked away.  It was also kind of funny that they walked more than 6 cars over and then got in their car (a beat up looking red Mazda) and my car was not on their direct way in or out of the bank.  As I started my car and pulled out they kept looking straight at me and when I pulled out my cell phone and started punching numbers on it they took off really fast as they knew I knew what they were doing.  I obviously called the police to report this and was hung up on the first time and the second time they said it happens all the time and that if nothing was stolen or broken into that they couldn't do anything.   Another funny thing was that the rent a cop out front of the bank was busy talking to or propositioning a female client of the bank and didn't notice a thing - just goes to show how good and reliable rent a cops can be - not).

Anyways, this is to show that laptop theft is very pervasive and most likely goes on just about everywhere.  According to FBI.org and lojack.com a laptop is stolen every 30 minutes, so what can Lo jack do to stop or reduce this.  Nothing.  What they do is help locate your stolen laptop by tracing its location anytime it is turned on and the internet is on or available (obviously if the computer is not in an area with good reception (Lo Jack uses wireless phone technology) then it will not work.  What Lo jack does do is make it so a larger number of laptops will be recovered.  It is important to note that the educated thiefs that do data mining have become wise to Lo Jack and other laptop and GPS based tracking systems by using cellular blocking technology already employed by many hospitals and department stores like cases or enclosures that completely block out reception and removing the hard drive without turning the computer on and reinstalling it as a slave or back up drive on another computer without wireless or otherinternet access.  This makes it so that Lo Jack does not work in these cases at all.

Being that only a small percentage of stolen laptops is done by professional thiefs and data miners it means the Lo Jack system is still a good deterrant against typical theft for resale on Ebay or Craigs List.  Most of these simpler thieves will think twice before stealing an item that can easily be traced anytime it is turned on.  Or at least the fear of getting caught in this manner will make them less likely to do it.  Now, at $49.99 for one year and $99.99 for 3 years it is very much worth it to have the added protection it provides.  If you have any personally identifying or proprietary business information or data that would be extremely costly if it got in the wrong hands you not only need this, but also need to use common sense.  Do not leave your laptop in a parked and or locked car.  Do not take it with you on trips when it is not necessary.  Use software protection packages and software like McAffee and Norton and password protect everything important - even logging on in the first place.  There are more advanced password and enryption techniques which can make it very, very hard for even the professional FBI employed data miners to decypher and read like 32 bit encryption.  This can be purchased online or at your local computer store like CompUSA. 

Basically laptop theft is a lot like car theft.  It happens in every city throughout the U.S., but the more steps you take to protect yourself the less likely it is that you will become a victim and the more likely the thief will move on to some easier prey (ie. someone that takes no precautions andis an easy theft or mark as they would call them).  It also wouldn't hurt to have a complete firewall and protection system that daily updates like McAffee or Norton to ward off other attacks like viruses, trojan horses, phishing, and other malicious attempts to get access to your laptop computer and make your life more frustrating in the least.



More great similar articles packed full of great info and tips found nowhere else that you will definitely want to read:


What really is a safe car and what makes it safe?


All about collagen injections and their effects on beauty and aging skin


How to easily and quickly improve your credit right now


Serious Home remedies for acne that anyone can do - best thing is they really work!


Great hairstyle and haircare tips that will make you look absolutely fabulous and make it easy guaranteed


Learning to ride a motorcycle made easy as one, two, three


How to tell if you are pregnant


Selling used cars for massive profits


Country Fried Home Videos are a big hit For CMT and reality TV