You can run: As with many Mac security options, Hidden can pinpoint your missing computer on a map.

All of these programs can also take surreptitious screenshots and photos using the device’s iSight camera, and all include features that allow remote monitoring, locking, and deletion. All of them provide variations on the same service: When you report your equipment missing through a Web-based control panel, the software will attempt to locate your device using its geolocation features, if the device is connected to the Internet. Several third-party applications promise superior theft protection. Weeks after my incident, the remote-erase action for my laptop still shows up as “pending” in Find My iPhone.

The good news is that even without location services, you can still lock or erase the machine remotely, but only when the device connects to the Internet. (The Find My Mac service does have its potential drawbacks,Īs Wired’s Mat Honan learned-someone who cracks your password could theoretically use it to erase your computer.) On location: You must enable Location Services, available in the Privacy section of the Security pane, for Find My Mac to work to its fullest. For whatever reason, I had either forgotten to enable or absentmindedly disabled the location services on the MacBook. Within a few minutes after my laptop was stolen, I launched my iPhone’s Find My Phone app, which keeps track of all of my registered devices. It was untethered, uninsured, and-as I realized a few minutes after the theft occurred-unconnected. My MacBook Pro was less than a month old. What once was lost: The Find My iPhone service and app can help you locate an iOS device or Mac. The advantage, however, is that users may be able to lock or delete the contents of their device remotely, thereby securing their data and making it harder for thieves to resell the machine. (Find My Mac works only with Macs running OS X Lion or later.) Even then, police say, simply turning off the device easily defeats the feature. In both cases, the location tracking functions only if you’ve enabled the device’s location services. But what should you do while you wait for law enforcement?Īpple’s solution is the “Find My Mac” or “Find My iPhone” service. When a thief absconds with your phone, tablet, or computer, naturally you call the police.

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