Stolen ThinkPad T440s (Anti-Theft/Tracking)

B-MASTER

B-MASTER

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Hi guys i am after a little advice for a client, they purchased a ThinkPad T440s brand new and the laptop was pre-configured buy the store.

So to cut a long story short the laptop has been stolen, does anyone know if he is able to track the location (gps,ect?)of the item or he can just encrypt the device to hide his important data ?

i have been doing some research but i am only able to come up with this website regarding the anti-theft

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/enterprise-security/3rd-gen-core-vpro-overview-animation.html

All advice is appreciated in locating this laptop
 
If the client didn't load and activate such software before hand how is he going to magically do it now?

Horse, barn door, etc..... :confused:
 
Intel Anti Theft uses a product that is OEM'd from Absolute Software (aka LoJack). It is a subscription service, so if the client did not pay and activate it.................. then as Nline says
Horse, barn door, etc.....
Click to expand...

Andy
 
@nlinecomputers I did state that the setup was completed prior to purchasing the laptop, to what extent he is not sure. so going back to my original post is there anyway to find out with the details he has if the laptop is traceable or he can just remote brick the device.

I am just unsure if the laptop is "tracable" via gps or inbuilt chipset or the device can be wiped/bricked only via the software
 
The laptop is traceable. You can remote brick it. The base agent for Intel Anti Theft resides in a reserved BIOS area, so note even BIOS updates or change of hard drive will be able to get rid of it. If the hard drive is replaced, then the agent that resides in BIOS, will prompt a full behind the scenes download of the full software suite, allowing full reporting back to the Absolute website.

What happens next is that when the laptop is reported stolen (presumably by contacting the original supplier), they will then activate the tracing on the device. When the device is changed into a 'Stolen/Missing' state, it reports back to the Absolute Software site every 15 minutes, with IP address etc. They can even change the password. Absolute Software will then work with law enforcement to recover the device.

But you need to go back to the company that you mentioned in your OP.

Andy
 
B-MASTER said:
@nlinecomputers I did state that the setup was completed prior to purchasing the laptop, to what extent he is not sure. so going back to my original post is there anyway to find out with the details he has if the laptop is traceable or he can just remote brick the device.

I am just unsure if the laptop is "tracable" via gps or inbuilt chipset or the device can be wiped/bricked only via the software
Click to expand...

If that is the case he should have been given details about that. Website login password etc. That kind of thing is rarely setup by stores as they ask for details like SSN or birthplace that only the end user can provide.
 
Very helpful advice guys,

I have just been told computer was setup and all relivent details (network/domain) config was setup by a 3rd party tech (Used alot by the company) so assuming this tech is competent then the tracking software would have been configured and accessible.

However once the laptop was in his possession no one has looked over the laptop since it was sent. all he has to do is log in to the laptop which is on the company network.
 
AndyM said:
The laptop is traceable. You can remote brick it. The base agent for Intel Anti Theft resides in a reserved BIOS area, so note even BIOS updates or change of hard drive will be able to get rid of it. If the hard drive is replaced, then the agent that resides in BIOS, will prompt a full behind the scenes download of the full software suite, allowing full reporting back to the Absolute website.

What happens next is that when the laptop is reported stolen (presumably by contacting the original supplier), they will then activate the tracing on the device. When the device is changed into a 'Stolen/Missing' state, it reports back to the Absolute Software site every 15 minutes, with IP address etc. They can even change the password. Absolute Software will then work with law enforcement to recover the device.

But you need to go back to the company that you mentioned in your OP.

Andy
Click to expand...

So this can be done after the fact? Assuming that it was not setup? By serial number I assume? So this thing phones home even if you never complete the setup?
 
The OP insists that his client had got his supplier to activate it.

As we all know, the service cannot be activated once it has been stolen, which is why I agreed with you in my first post :)

Andy.
 
AndyM said:
The OP insists that his client had got his supplier to activate it.

As we all know, the service cannot be activated once it has been stolen, which is why I agreed with you in my first post :)

Andy.
Click to expand...

Which means he is screwed as I seriously doubt that happened.
 
So after a meeting with the client i have been able to deduce that the settings have not been enabled in the bios, only setup on the PC (not activated)

So hes screwed basically, there is no way the laptop can be tracked or wiped there is nothing more than i can do for the client.

But i thank you all for the advice on this matter, you have all be very helpful
 
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