Comments on: Why Not GPS for Laptops? http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:09:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nisa http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-89551 Nisa Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:30:53 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-89551 Using GPS device can easily be defeated by either disabling it in the Device Manager or by totally remove it. And I agree with Anonymous, GPS reads satellite data and not transmit anything. Unless you have a software that can read and do something with the data, it wouldn't do anything. Besides, GPS signal is not very good indoors, isn't it? Using GPS device can easily be defeated by either disabling it in the Device Manager or by totally remove it. And I agree with Anonymous, GPS reads satellite data and not transmit anything. Unless you have a software that can read and do something with the data, it wouldn’t do anything. Besides, GPS signal is not very good indoors, isn’t it?

]]> By: wirehead http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15361 wirehead Wed, 19 Apr 2006 12:41:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15361 I don't know if GPS is the answer to theft. Too easy to defeat for a portable device. Only works if {time to wrap laptop in sufficent amounts of foil} > {time to have cops deliver smackdown}.<br /><br />You can't treat a car and a laptop with the same threat model. The tools required to dismantle a laptop into saleable parts can be held in one's pockets. The tools required to do the same with a car require a good sized chop-shop.<br /><br />OTOH, there's no reason why any laptop shouldn't have GPS included in it for a variety of other reasons. As far as I can see, any device designed as multi-purpose ought to have a tiny camera, GPS, and network connectivity. The problem is that, with the notable exception of built-in Wifi, it's not one big killer app (not having to bother with any wires to get on the 'net) but a lot of little moments of extreme usefulness. I don’t know if GPS is the answer to theft. Too easy to defeat for a portable device. Only works if {time to wrap laptop in sufficent amounts of foil} > {time to have cops deliver smackdown}.

You can’t treat a car and a laptop with the same threat model. The tools required to dismantle a laptop into saleable parts can be held in one’s pockets. The tools required to do the same with a car require a good sized chop-shop.

OTOH, there’s no reason why any laptop shouldn’t have GPS included in it for a variety of other reasons. As far as I can see, any device designed as multi-purpose ought to have a tiny camera, GPS, and network connectivity. The problem is that, with the notable exception of built-in Wifi, it’s not one big killer app (not having to bother with any wires to get on the ‘net) but a lot of little moments of extreme usefulness.

]]> By: Rich http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15362 Rich Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:25:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15362 Thomas:<br /><br />The problem with GPS is the amount of power that it needs. If I steal your laptop, I am not going to turn the power back on. I am just going to leave it off. You need a system that does not need the laptop to be turned on. <br /><br />A recent story on KQED said that most laptop rings is looking for spare parts and not data. Thomas:

The problem with GPS is the amount of power that it needs. If I steal your laptop, I am not going to turn the power back on. I am just going to leave it off. You need a system that does not need the laptop to be turned on.

A recent story on KQED said that most laptop rings is looking for spare parts and not data.

]]> By: Thomas Hawk http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15363 Thomas Hawk Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:44:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15363 Anonymous, but isn't that what the Wherify phone does? If they can fit the technology into a phone, why not a laptop? Anonymous, but isn’t that what the Wherify phone does? If they can fit the technology into a phone, why not a laptop?

]]> By: Anonymous http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15364 Anonymous Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:29:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15364 I think most of you are confused about what GPS actually is. GPS devices are not "tracking" devices. <br />A GPS on your laptop will not enable it to be "tracked". GPS devices do not send out a homing signal. They just read the data from the GPS satellites. They transmit nothing! So go ahead, put a GPS in your laptop. You'll lose that too.<br />If your computer could read the GPS data and automatically email you it's location, then a GPS device would be helpful. Please be aware. I think most of you are confused about what GPS actually is. GPS devices are not “tracking” devices.
A GPS on your laptop will not enable it to be “tracked”. GPS devices do not send out a homing signal. They just read the data from the GPS satellites. They transmit nothing! So go ahead, put a GPS in your laptop. You’ll lose that too.
If your computer could read the GPS data and automatically email you it’s location, then a GPS device would be helpful. Please be aware.

]]> By: Stephen Mack http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15365 Stephen Mack Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:49:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15365 Thomas,<br /><br />You're absolutely right that it's absurd such sensitive data is saved on laptops.<br /><br />The SJ Merc on Monday had an article on this topic:<br /> http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/personal_technology/14309304.htm<br /><br />They mention a company offering GPS for laptops:<br /><br />Lojack (http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/)<br /><br />They also describe a service from Beachhead called Lost Data Destruction which lets you remotely destroy data on a stolen laptop:<br /><br />http://www.beachheadsolutions.com/lost_data.php <br /><br />My personal solution? No data is saved on my laptop. I always save it on the network, which is secured in several ways. If I'm working offline (which I only do rarely), I save whatever I'm working on ASAP. Thomas,

You’re absolutely right that it’s absurd such sensitive data is saved on laptops.

The SJ Merc on Monday had an article on this topic:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/personal_technology/14309304.htm

They mention a company offering GPS for laptops:

Lojack (http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/)

They also describe a service from Beachhead called Lost Data Destruction which lets you remotely destroy data on a stolen laptop:

http://www.beachheadsolutions.com/lost_data.php

My personal solution? No data is saved on my laptop. I always save it on the network, which is secured in several ways. If I’m working offline (which I only do rarely), I save whatever I’m working on ASAP.

]]> By: Bryan Socha http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15366 Bryan Socha Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:23:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15366 We use some HP models at work with finger print scanners, data encryptionon the drives and yes. gps. if you log in without a valid finger print, it uses the internet to report where its at.<br /><br />I asked the help desk guys here for more model info and if theres anything special we are adding to it for this. We use some HP models at work with finger print scanners, data encryptionon the drives and yes. gps. if you log in without a valid finger print, it uses the internet to report where its at.

I asked the help desk guys here for more model info and if theres anything special we are adding to it for this.

]]> By: Anonymous http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15367 Anonymous Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:42:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15367 The IBM commercial is a farce. Most RFIDs will be designed to be scanned and some with their own power supplies. But none would produce a scenario the IBM commercial advertises. The IBM commercial is a farce. Most RFIDs will be designed to be scanned and some with their own power supplies. But none would produce a scenario the IBM commercial advertises.

]]> By: Matt Gerlach, Xbox MVP http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15368 Matt Gerlach, Xbox MVP Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:59:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15368 I thought there was a version of RFID that was "always on". It would be something similar to the RFID that IBM shows in a commercial (UPS truck driver, almost runs over desk clerk and desk in the middle of the desert).<br /><br />Dell could give you your RFID# (or whatever it is), along with all the other information they give you. I thought there was a version of RFID that was “always on”. It would be something similar to the RFID that IBM shows in a commercial (UPS truck driver, almost runs over desk clerk and desk in the middle of the desert).

Dell could give you your RFID# (or whatever it is), along with all the other information they give you.

]]> By: Anonymous http://thomashawk.com/2006/04/why-not-gps-for-laptops.html/comment-page-1#comment-15369 Anonymous Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:24:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=2152#comment-15369 If stories like this keep scared yuppies from hogging tables in mission cafes, I'm all for it. I'd love to have my neighborhood cafes back.<br /><br />As for GPS in laptops, there are a few solutions, but I've heard good things about this one: http://www.absolute.com/ If stories like this keep scared yuppies from hogging tables in mission cafes, I’m all for it. I’d love to have my neighborhood cafes back.

As for GPS in laptops, there are a few solutions, but I’ve heard good things about this one: http://www.absolute.com/

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