(That's referring to the extended AO rave not the following.)
Quote:
Originally posted by pscates
I don't advocate exploding laptops - not yet - but I think it would be cool if you could rig a laptop up with some sort of massive electrical shock device, and anyone who doesn't log in properly gets a Tazer-level jolt or two.
Are you drunk? (That's referring to the extended AO rave not the following.)
Are you a humorless handwringer?
One paragraph, done in humor (see, that's what those smiley/laughing faces mean) is an "extended AO rave"? Really? Interesting.
Or are you referring to the completely out-of-line, wild-ass section where I advocate the radical notion of people not stealing shit that isn't theirs? The horror! The intolerance!
Scott, that good news about the insurance. I was wondering about that, so that's cool.
My wife just had her Palm and camera stolen a couple of weeks ago. Things like that get a person worked up enough that if there were a ballot issue to implement public hangings for such offenses, it would definitely get my vote.
I remember seeing a Bond film years ago - one of the later Moore ones, perhaps "For Your Eyes Only" - and his Lotus had a "theft deterrent" sticker on the window. Some goon commences to breaking window and the entire car explodes, taking goon with it.
Yes, so they had to take the Citroen instead, hilarity ensues.
Man, reading this thread makes me even more cautious about protecting my new 12" PB from theft. I'm very sorry your PowerBook got stolen. Hopefully your insurance will cover it.
I keep my Home folder FileVaulted and require a password when waking from sleep, so if someone were to steal my 'Book, they won't get access to my files (easily, at least).
Yeah, what's up with filevault? Does it work OK? I keep anything remotely linked to money on an encrypted disk image and I'd use filevault if I knew it was safe.
soulcrusher, six years or so ago I lost a wallet/datebook and eventually just convinced myself it was life telling me to start over a little. Of course, I still look back every time I stand up from a seat to make sure I don't leave anything.
I would certainly change credit cards, though, just in case.
Yeah, what's up with filevault? Does it work OK? I keep anything remotely linked to money on an encrypted disk image and I'd use filevault if I knew it was safe.
soulcrusher, six years or so ago I lost a wallet/datebook and eventually just convinced myself it was life telling me to start over a little. Of course, I still look back every time I stand up from a seat to make sure I don't leave anything.
I would certainly change credit cards, though, just in case.
Filevault works but only when you're not logged in. If you've got your computer set to log in automatically, you're SOL in that regard. Similarly, if you've got encrypted disk images, but have the passwords in your keychain and your keychain set to never lock, you're again SOL. There are things in place to keep our data secure, but the trade off in time and convenience often doesn't convince us to use them.
The bottom line is that if you want to be safe, all the security measures in the world won't do a damn thing to help you if you're too impatient/lazy/etc to use them.
-t
ps - soulcrusher, I was in no way calling you lazy or careless. I was just commenting on the utility of these security measures. I hope nothing unrecoverable was lost.
In answer to the FileVault question, I actually decided to start using it a month ago. I know its initial implementation was buggy, so I waited a while. But so far it works fine. I can't even tell the difference in performance (from the on-the-fly encrypt/decrypt). I think it's a good feature. In addition, I have the following enabled:
NO autologin. EVER. Whenever I carry it anywhere, I log out and sleep it.
Enable the Open Firmware password. This prevents someone from booting off an OS X install CD and resetting the account password. In order to boot off ANY other disk other than the internal drive they have to crack the OF pass. If they try to take the drive out and boot it in another machine, then FlieVault should foil them.
I also have it set that you need to enter the account password to change any important settings, but thats just so that no one can f-ck anything up if I let them use it for sec
Using encryption on a laptop makes a ton of sense. Especially if it's your only machine (like me) and you use it for all sorts of personal business.
This is making me have second thoughts about getting a Powerbook.
Monitor the DynamicDNS address, though. A friend of mine had his laptop stolen, and the theif booted it up at his house and he was able to call up the ISP and nail the asshole.
This is making me have second thoughts about getting a Powerbook.
This is part of the reason why, when I wanted a portable for mobile internet access and presentations for school, I bought a 233 MHz Wallstreet for about $250 instead of going for a laptop as my only system. I could have afforded to get a 12" PowerBook (or an older 15") as my only computer if I were to sell my desktop, but I didn't want to give up the power my desktop has, and I really didn't want my computer to be suceptible to theft in that way. That laptop of mine is certainly nice (thank god for the G3 processor, really helps things along in OS 9), but not nearly nice enough to make me want to shoot myself if it gets stolen. I know that if someone mugs me on the street and wants my laptop, I can just say "My life is definitely worth more than $250" and hand it over.
The only problem is that it's still so good-looking (even by today's standards) that appearance really isn't a theft deterrant. Sure, it's a bit thick and heavy (2" and 7.2 lbs), but the curves and simple design are still attractive. You really have to go all the way back to the PowerBook 100-series or 500-series if you want an ugly PowerBook, but those aren't really useful for anything.
I feel really for you soulcrusher - my place was burgled a little while ago and the got my wallstreet G3, TV and stereo, PA system, mixing board, Nikon s90 and lenses, 8 track tape recorder, my roland A90, marshal speaker cabinets, and some other stuff. Truthfully it has F-uped my life and I've been walking around like a zombie ever since.
soulcrusher, make sure you check out the pawn shops in the area, you might get lucky.
I feel really for you soulcrusher - my place was burgled a little while ago and the got my wallstreet G3, TV and stereo, PA system, mixing board, Nikon s90 and lenses, 8 track tape recorder, my roland A90, marshal speaker cabinets, and some other stuff. Truthfully it has F-uped my life and I've been walking around like a zombie ever since.
That happened to a student teacher of mine while she and her husband were on honeymoon. They came back to a completely empty house. She came in for next morning's class looking half dead.
One thing you should be really careful of: The people who pull that kind of theft know that you'll get a big insurance check and replace it all, and they'll wait five or six weeks for that to happen, then come back. If you have neighbors or someone else who can keep an eye on the house during the day (when house robberies almost always occur) tell them to call 911 if they see any trucks pull up to your address.
Best of luck. I can only imagine what it's like to come home and find everything gone.
This is making me have second thoughts about getting a Powerbook.
Monitor the DynamicDNS address, though. A friend of mine had his laptop stolen, and the theif booted it up at his house and he was able to call up the ISP and nail the asshole.
I would never leave a PB unattended anywhere (ie car), but, que sera, sera.
Comments
(That's referring to the extended AO rave not the following.)
Originally posted by pscates
I don't advocate exploding laptops - not yet - but I think it would be cool if you could rig a laptop up with some sort of massive electrical shock device, and anyone who doesn't log in properly gets a Tazer-level jolt or two.
Death rays. I want death rays.
Originally posted by crazychester
Are you drunk? (That's referring to the extended AO rave not the following.)
Are you a humorless handwringer?
One paragraph, done in humor (see, that's what those smiley/laughing faces mean) is an "extended AO rave"? Really? Interesting.
Or are you referring to the completely out-of-line, wild-ass section where I advocate the radical notion of people not stealing shit that isn't theirs? The horror! The intolerance!
Scott, that good news about the insurance. I was wondering about that, so that's cool.
Commiserations.
FUCK
I want to kill myself.
Originally posted by torifile
Damn that sucks! I'm sorry to hear it. You weren't at Dook at the time? I was going to say "Durham..." but I guess it can happen anywhere...
Classic...
Originally posted by pscates
I remember seeing a Bond film years ago - one of the later Moore ones, perhaps "For Your Eyes Only" - and his Lotus had a "theft deterrent" sticker on the window. Some goon commences to breaking window and the entire car explodes, taking goon with it.
Yes, so they had to take the Citroen instead, hilarity ensues.
Poor Lotus though.
I keep my Home folder FileVaulted and require a password when waking from sleep, so if someone were to steal my 'Book, they won't get access to my files (easily, at least).
soulcrusher, six years or so ago I lost a wallet/datebook and eventually just convinced myself it was life telling me to start over a little. Of course, I still look back every time I stand up from a seat to make sure I don't leave anything.
I would certainly change credit cards, though, just in case.
Originally posted by giant
Yeah, what's up with filevault? Does it work OK? I keep anything remotely linked to money on an encrypted disk image and I'd use filevault if I knew it was safe.
soulcrusher, six years or so ago I lost a wallet/datebook and eventually just convinced myself it was life telling me to start over a little. Of course, I still look back every time I stand up from a seat to make sure I don't leave anything.
I would certainly change credit cards, though, just in case.
Filevault works but only when you're not logged in. If you've got your computer set to log in automatically, you're SOL in that regard. Similarly, if you've got encrypted disk images, but have the passwords in your keychain and your keychain set to never lock, you're again SOL. There are things in place to keep our data secure, but the trade off in time and convenience often doesn't convince us to use them.
The bottom line is that if you want to be safe, all the security measures in the world won't do a damn thing to help you if you're too impatient/lazy/etc to use them.
-t
ps - soulcrusher, I was in no way calling you lazy or careless. I was just commenting on the utility of these security measures. I hope nothing unrecoverable was lost.
In answer to the FileVault question, I actually decided to start using it a month ago. I know its initial implementation was buggy, so I waited a while. But so far it works fine. I can't even tell the difference in performance (from the on-the-fly encrypt/decrypt). I think it's a good feature. In addition, I have the following enabled:
NO autologin. EVER. Whenever I carry it anywhere, I log out and sleep it.
Enable the Open Firmware password. This prevents someone from booting off an OS X install CD and resetting the account password. In order to boot off ANY other disk other than the internal drive they have to crack the OF pass. If they try to take the drive out and boot it in another machine, then FlieVault should foil them.
I also have it set that you need to enter the account password to change any important settings, but thats just so that no one can f-ck anything up if I let them use it for sec
Using encryption on a laptop makes a ton of sense. Especially if it's your only machine (like me) and you use it for all sorts of personal business.
man, i don't even leave sunglasses in my car
Monitor the DynamicDNS address, though. A friend of mine had his laptop stolen, and the theif booted it up at his house and he was able to call up the ISP and nail the asshole.
Originally posted by CubeDude
This is making me have second thoughts about getting a Powerbook.
This is part of the reason why, when I wanted a portable for mobile internet access and presentations for school, I bought a 233 MHz Wallstreet for about $250 instead of going for a laptop as my only system. I could have afforded to get a 12" PowerBook (or an older 15") as my only computer if I were to sell my desktop, but I didn't want to give up the power my desktop has, and I really didn't want my computer to be suceptible to theft in that way. That laptop of mine is certainly nice (thank god for the G3 processor, really helps things along in OS 9), but not nearly nice enough to make me want to shoot myself if it gets stolen. I know that if someone mugs me on the street and wants my laptop, I can just say "My life is definitely worth more than $250" and hand it over.
The only problem is that it's still so good-looking (even by today's standards) that appearance really isn't a theft deterrant. Sure, it's a bit thick and heavy (2" and 7.2 lbs), but the curves and simple design are still attractive. You really have to go all the way back to the PowerBook 100-series or 500-series if you want an ugly PowerBook, but those aren't really useful for anything.
soulcrusher, make sure you check out the pawn shops in the area, you might get lucky.
Originally posted by Hassan i Sabbah
I feel your pain. Just had my other favourite silver thing, my bicycle, stolen last night.
Commiserations.
again?
Originally posted by Res
I feel really for you soulcrusher - my place was burgled a little while ago and the got my wallstreet G3, TV and stereo, PA system, mixing board, Nikon s90 and lenses, 8 track tape recorder, my roland A90, marshal speaker cabinets, and some other stuff. Truthfully it has F-uped my life and I've been walking around like a zombie ever since.
That happened to a student teacher of mine while she and her husband were on honeymoon. They came back to a completely empty house. She came in for next morning's class looking half dead.
One thing you should be really careful of: The people who pull that kind of theft know that you'll get a big insurance check and replace it all, and they'll wait five or six weeks for that to happen, then come back. If you have neighbors or someone else who can keep an eye on the house during the day (when house robberies almost always occur) tell them to call 911 if they see any trucks pull up to your address.
Best of luck. I can only imagine what it's like to come home and find everything gone.
Originally posted by CubeDude
This is making me have second thoughts about getting a Powerbook.
Monitor the DynamicDNS address, though. A friend of mine had his laptop stolen, and the theif booted it up at his house and he was able to call up the ISP and nail the asshole.
I would never leave a PB unattended anywhere (ie car), but, que sera, sera.
Has anyone used ISP tracking software?
http://www.softwide.com/default.asp?ID3=5587
I would seriously consider getting this if I had a PB.