Stolen Macbook pro

[RivaiC]

Hi Guys

I have a friend that lost her macbook pro when at work, and it just gone without trace, left only power adaptor and the bags.

Is there anyhow we can trace the Serial number of the macbook or perhaps we should contact apple and ask them for help ? There must be some sort of tracking system that apple use, i have heard of it before.

Any ideas ?

Thanks
Rivai

 

[Panos Bournias]

Aduuuhhh!!

Aduuuhhh!!

Rivai, I am sorry for this. When they stole mine I did not find ever but... a friend in Singapore managed to trace the thieves and took it back. I dont know how he did it though. There is a way for sure.
Cheers
Panos

 

[RivaiC]

Hi Panos, thanks...i know there's an undercover application but it isnt install in the stolen macbook.

Try to call apple but it's saturday, will try to make a report on monday and see if they can do something to track in case if it goes online or repair. It's the least i can do.

But man, this is pain in the ass...

Rivai

 

[Ben Holmes]

If it was registered when you got it, Apple will have the serial - this happens in the sign up process you do when you first get it. Otherwise it will be on the box, or receipt from the shop. So, lots of ways of finding the serial. Finding the laptop? Harder.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Best way to track a Macbook Pro (or any Mac) is by two numbers. The serial number and the MAC address tied to the integrated ethernet controller(s). Both are reported to Apple every time the system downloads through Software Update. All ethernet devices have a unique MAC address, this is not to be confused with being a Mac.

I don't know how much help Apple will be at assisting in recovery. But they have the information that can be used to link to the IP address used to send the info, which in turn would allow for tracing the location of that computer.

This is how the hidden applications like computer LoJack work. They notify the LoJack (or whatever anti-theft service) server of their serial number, MAC address(es), location (if available), IP, etc.. when they connect to the internet. For the most part, these anti-theft applications are worthless these days. Most competent computer thieves know all about them and the first thing they do is shut off the computer anyway. They later access the drive and search for info they can use or sell -- bank info, user account info, etc.. Then they wipe the drive, possibly do a basic OS install, often install spyware of their own (if they're part of a larger computer theft ring) and then send the system back out into the wild by hocking it at a pawn shop or on something like craigslist.

Depending on your location, many stolen computers are also trafficked to other countries, primarily to regions in South America, Africa and the Middle East.

You say it was stolen from her work... Was this a work computer? Does the company she works for have any insurance coverage or liability here?

 

[N_Villers]

I had a 17" stolen 2 years ago (getting the s**t kicked out of me in the process) and have tried every way I could to track it with no luck.

I now install tracing software on every machine I own but thats not even a guarantee as Jeff mentioned above.

 

[RivaiC]

She found the serial number from the box and it was register to apple. There's not much that we can do up to this point except report it to apple.

It is her personal macbook pro and wasnt cover in the insurance but it was missing from workplace. She is using less scientific method to track down how it got stolen at the first place and it was pretty shocking to know what was exactly happening.

Rivai