[LINK] Remote laptop detection

[Craig Sanders]

On Wed, Aug 23, 2006 at 02:33:59PM +1000, Ivan Trundle wrote:
> Read an interesting speculative article about laptop thefts from
> vehicles in Malaysia, which hinted that thieves are able to detect
> the RF signal (or something else) emanating from the laptops internal
> clock, or possibly an RFID signal, or bluetooth, IR, or the battery,
> or whatever. Wake on LAN? Detection of lithium ion trace material?
>
> Anyone care to speculate on how this is possible? Given that laptops
> are virtually impossible to switch off completely (sleep, yes; unplug
> the battery, yes - but the internal CMOS battery?), what steps should
> laptop users take to avoid detection and possible theft?

lots of laptops have wireless LAN interfaces built in these days. that
would be easy to detect.

> Or is this just an urban myth, and that thieves simply stake out the  
> victim (or victim's car) beforehand?

dunno.

craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas at taz.net.au>           (part time cyborg)