How to Track Your Stolen Gadgets Over the Web

Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:47PM EDT

See Comments (5)

Reader Denise writes: I'm trying to find out about the free software that can be downloaded to MP3 players that helps recover the device if stolen. It sort of works like Lojack.

I went on a hunt for such software and turned up GadgetTrak, which basically does exactly what Denise is talking about. Check it out: You sign up for an account on GadgetTrak's website (it's free), then register your devices on the site. You can register any USB device that has storage: So not just an MP3 player, but a thumbdrive, camera, PDA... just about anything that shows up as a drive in Windows.

For each device, you download agent files created specifically for that piece of hardware, which GadgetTrak creates for you. Then copy the files to the USB device, and you're finished. If you report on the GadgetTrak website that a device has gone missing, it will begin tracking that device whenever it is plugged into a computer. How? The agent files attempt to launch an autorun file whenever the device is plugged in, which activates the tracking mechanism (and sends you an email). If the autorun isn't launched, either because the PC has autorun disabled or it was canceled by the user, the device attempts to entice the new user to launch the agent tracker manually by naming the executable "passwords.exe."

I gave it a spin with a USB thumbdrive and it works pretty well. Autorun didn't come up on the test PC I was using as the "thief's" computer (for reasons I won't bore you with), but when double-clicking the passwords.exe file, I was quickly greeted with an email about the location of the drive. What's the catch? With a free account you only get the IP address of the PC the device is plugged into. You have to pay $12 (or slightly less if you buy in bulk) for a one-year subscription for each device you'd like additional data for. The pro data includes the PC name, the user name on that PC, and the city and postal code of the PC's location, all of which would definitely be helpful if a device were stolen.

Nifty website, and I've bookmarked it. If you're looking for something a little friendlier that can help you recover lost (not stolen) USB devices, check out this earlier post on the topic. 

Comments on How to Track Your Stolen Gadgets Over the Web

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 1 Posted by de_5_a27 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    "Currently the agent will only work on Windows systems (Windows 2000-XP, Vista is partially supported). However given that Windows currently accounts for more than 85% of the market (Source: MarketShare), the odds are pretty good that the device will be plugged into a Windows system at some point. The agent requires an internet connection to connect to the server." From the website... Being a Mac user, I guess I should steal a bunch of people's iPods and wipe them while unplugged from the net. This kind of software seems like a good idea, but odds are if your device is stolen, you're just not going to get it back.

  • 2 Posted by just_jwin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is such a great idea in term computer system capabilities. However, i feel a little vulnerable as i am reading this article. Suppose this type of agents were install on your PC without you being aware of it. Does it means that your some of your information and online status will be expose over the internet? I would really hate to accidently have some spyware on my computer system if it gets into the wrong hand.

  • 3 Posted by ben2000svsu on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    There's just one problem with this system. If the thief's has any kind of spyware or firewall installed on it (Windows Firewall) the thief will be alerted and probably just clear the device and be done with it. The other problem with this is that if you just lose the device, you're still stuck.

  • 4 Posted by troykadam on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    For starters, the person who plugs the stolen item into a computer is likely not the thief, but someone who bought it from the their or whoever the thief fenced it to. What I don't understand is how this system could ever recover a stolen ipod. Unless you plan on packing a few firearms and busting down their door yourself to retrieve the item, I don't see how the info will help you. The police won't get a search warrant based on this info to search for a $250 piece of stolen goods. They likely won't help you recover it beyond asking the residents of the address a question like "do you have a new ipod?" to which the residents will of course deny - end of story. Until this system has the police support that lojack enjoys I don't see it as any more than a tool for vigilantes.

  • 5 Posted by sherry09876 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    "troykadam", I agree with you.....to a degree. For the most part, the info gathered/shared with you from GadgetTrak when/if your lost/stolen iPod serial number has been detected is, for the most part, useless because we do not have the authority to "search/sieze" items based on the GadgetTrak information alone. And the police officials won't go "above and beyond" to recover a stolen iPod. BUT - a different perspective is this : My son took his girlfriends' iPod to school one day and it was stolen while it was charging on one of the school computers (just a foot away from my son). (And yes, he recognizes that he didn't use his better judgement that day) But, had she had the GadgetTrak files on her iPod....and the thief plugged the iPod into a school computer, the information provided by GadgetTrak could render useful. The email notification would be prompt, the information would direct us to the exact computer where the iPod is, and recovery "could be" swift. Based on the fact that the school staff is aware of the iPod serial number and that there is a current police report filed as well as a report filed with Apple... The device could be tracked/detected (by GadgetTrak), tracked down (by the information provided by GadgetTrak), verified to be the stolen iPod via the serial number, recovered to it's rightful owner and the thief could potentially be prosecuted (if they know WHO plugged that particular iPod into that particular computer on that particular day) and either get a confession or proven to be the thief in court. So, the circumstances would have to lend themselves useful in order for the GadgetTrak data/information to be useful. Just some food for thought.

More Posts: 1

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.