Macbook Pro Stolen :(

Yesterday, my mac book pro (running leopard) was stolen at the airport

unfortunately I did not have any security programs on the computer that would erased my data id stolen, but I do have some very senitive data.

After giving it some thought I realized that my mail cilent is configured to download new messages from the internet automatically....

Is there anyway I can include some sort of attachment, or apple script that would wipe the computer so the thief does not have access to my condifential data....

this sucks....


thanks in advance!

No is a strong word. You could create a trojan, email that to one of your accounts and try to make it attractive for the person to execute. Something as simple as an Applescript or command line that removes the user files might work. Note that there hasn't been much success in the area of viruses and trojans against OS X.

If your system was set up to allow you in from another computer and you can find a way to get the IP address it is using, then maybe you can get in that way. Perhaps the ISPs that hold your accounts can tell you the IP address.

Immediately change all passwords for systems you log into. If you have credit and bank accounts on that system, then you should make some calls to find out what you should do about that.

Tips for your future Mac...

Since you travel, you should set up your system so it requires every user to login. With that and turning on FileVault it should make it next to impossible to retrieve information from a stolen system. I don't use FileVault because of performance concerns.

Private information I place in an encrypted disk image created using Disk Utility. It requires a password to use and so if my system is stolen the person can't get into that sensitive information.

There is suppose to be a way to set up firmware login too.

If your content isn't encrypted and the user can't log in, then they can remove the drive to read it or perhaps boot it into firewire disk mode if working with another Mac.

You could try in future to get a service that tracks laptops

maybe these guys can help

http://www.orbicule.com/undercover

or http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/

I think there are others but the first option looks pretty good

I would also create an encrypted disk image for sensitive stuff like xstep said

i was thinking along the applescript lines but have no expierence writing script how would i go about it?

I haven't tried this since I have a desktop mac

But someone has already tried

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20020820012945666&query=laptop

The advantages of undercover is that they try and get it back and catch the thief.

Stolen at the airport? Was it a bag switch scam or just straight theft?

one second my bag was there the next it was gone

louishen said:

I haven't tried this since I have a desktop mac

But someone has already tried

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20020820012945666&query=laptop

The advantages of undercover is that they try and get it back and catch the thief.

Stolen at the airport? Was it a bag switch scam or just straight theft?

Click to expand...

Here is the link to that software, i was reading up on this as well.

- http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/

What a coincidence - mine too!

Amazingly, the exact same thing happened to me at the airport - the exact same day!

Ok which airport?? I'll avoid that one....