An open message to the idiots that mugged me this morning.

[eminva]

@CCrew 6716 wrote:

or he legit bought it off the street.

Legit? Off the street?

The street . . . of course, that’s where I buy all my computers, bikes, cell phones, watches, guns and sterling silver flatware . . . you get such amazing bargains, I can’t imagine why anyone shops anywhere else.

Seriously, good news so far. Hope they continue the investigation.

Liz

[acc]

Boy, I bet he was sure surprised.
Amazing recovery.
Let’s see, I buy so many things off the street. No, I don’t.
Because they’re hot.

ann

[CCrew]

I use “legit” in the most esoteric terms. As in he wasn’t the actual thief but actually paid $ for it no matter how misguided. I’m still short the particulars.

Apparently the trace software we use at work and their operations center works directly with police on the apprehension. They have the ability to lock the machine from key/power button responses and trip a shrill alarm on the machine allowing you to sit there looking like a complete idiot when apprehended. I would have paid extra to have seen that.

I’m still short the laptop as I’m told it will be held for evidence.

[RESTONTODC]

@KLizotte 6717 wrote:

Wowsy! I can’t believe the police got there in time to nab him;

Since it was in Mclean, VA, the Fairfax County PD provides quicker response than MPD.

Hopefully, they get the thugs.

[StopMeansStop]

Is this tracking software based? If someone wiped the OS they would be free and clear, no?

[americancyclo]

Glad to hear it was recovered, so now you have two macbooks? Too bad the webcam wasn’t activated at the same time as the alarm and apprehension. That would make for some good video.

[CCrew]

@StopMeansStop 6725 wrote:

Is this tracking software based? If someone wiped the OS they would be free and clear, no?

Lock the EFI bootloader on a mac and you can’t nuke the drive without the password.

[CCrew]

@americancyclo 6728 wrote:

Glad to hear it was recovered, so now you have two macbooks? Too bad the webcam wasn’t activated at the same time as the alarm and apprehension. That would make for some good video.

Eventually I guess. Trying to find out how long they hold the recovered one.. My infosec folks are handling all this. Seems there’s some fun involved with the crossing state lines issue.

[StopMeansStop]

I looked it up. The software is in the bios, so even replacing the drive will still make it call home. Of course you could patch the bios….

[CCrew]

@StopMeansStop 6763 wrote:

I looked it up. The software is in the bios, so even replacing the drive will still make it call home. Of course you could patch the bios….

Still won’t kill it by patching. Apples use EFI vs Bios, but same principle.

[KLizotte]

If the guy actually bought the laptop off Craigslist, I presume there is a strong possibility that they can track that sale back to the guy(s) who originally held you up (presuming they sold it themselves on CL)?

Let’s hope the respective police departments are up the challenge!

Fingers crossed.

[StopMeansStop]

@CCrew 6774 wrote:

Still won’t kill it by patching. Apples use EFI vs Bios, but same principle.

Unless the bios/EFI is physically locked down it can be patched. Though I suspect a hardware injection method is coming down the pike. Of course you could cut the power line on the board and the cat n mouse game continues.

I forsee in the not too distant future CPU’s having some sort of wireless built in and a non-profit or LEO opertated “phone home” system.

[consularrider]

Anyone notice that the physical discription of the assailants is smiliar to the suspects in the killing of Myles Mclean last month in NE?

[justasaintz]

I’m really glad for you CCrew. I really hope the situation improves around key bridge, its appalling to hear that it happened twice in such a short span.

I’m going to look into computrace now, sounds like an amazing piece of software to have. lucking my work place does use, now i just need to find if they’ll lend a license!

Hoping here that you’ll get your MB back soon.

[Author]

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