Been burgled, laptop and mobile stolen - what to do?
Discussion
Morning all,
As per the title, I've had an uninvited promising young footballer in my home last night who's made off with my laptop and mobile. Apart from the fact that I'd quite happily kill the little
with my own bare hands, what steps should I take to secure whatever he might find on the phone and laptop?
I've cancelled all credit cards, and am changing all the passwords I can think of. Is there anything else I can do to avoid being done over just in case he's an asshat with IT skills?
Laptop was password protected but I assume that's not going to be worth much if they really want to get at the stuff on the machine.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
As per the title, I've had an uninvited promising young footballer in my home last night who's made off with my laptop and mobile. Apart from the fact that I'd quite happily kill the little
with my own bare hands, what steps should I take to secure whatever he might find on the phone and laptop?I've cancelled all credit cards, and am changing all the passwords I can think of. Is there anything else I can do to avoid being done over just in case he's an asshat with IT skills?
Laptop was password protected but I assume that's not going to be worth much if they really want to get at the stuff on the machine.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
That's a bummer. You have my sympathies. Does it have wireless networking, and can it be tracked through its WiFi connection if the computer is turned on? See "How to track stolen laptop with a .mac address" here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4586129_track-laptops-_mac...
Dunno if it will help or not...
Dunno if it will help or not...
nonplussed said:
Morning all,
As per the title, I've had an uninvited promising young footballer in my home last night who's made off with my laptop and mobile. Apart from the fact that I'd quite happily kill the little with my own bare hands, what steps should I take to secure whatever he might find on the phone and laptop?
I've cancelled all credit cards, and am changing all the passwords I can think of. Is there anything else I can do to avoid being done over just in case he's an asshat with IT skills?
Laptop was password protected but I assume that's not going to be worth much if they really want to get at the stuff on the machine.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Sorry to hear that. I've been there and feel your pain.As per the title, I've had an uninvited promising young footballer in my home last night who's made off with my laptop and mobile. Apart from the fact that I'd quite happily kill the little
with my own bare hands, what steps should I take to secure whatever he might find on the phone and laptop?I've cancelled all credit cards, and am changing all the passwords I can think of. Is there anything else I can do to avoid being done over just in case he's an asshat with IT skills?
Laptop was password protected but I assume that's not going to be worth much if they really want to get at the stuff on the machine.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
At what level was the laptop password-protected? BIOS (as soon as you switch it on, before Windows)? Or just a Windows password?
Tyre Smoke said:
Whilst I sympathise with your plight, do you really need to post on a motoring based website for help knowing what to do?
You've been burgled, it is something that has been happening for centuries. What do you think people did before the internet?
If you'd bothered reading my post you'd see it was specifically about the security related aspects of the loss of the laptop and phone. I've had people in my house overnight while I slept upstairs with my wife and children, some very important equipment has been stolen, and I'm generally not quite thinking straight. But fine, your point is taken. You've been burgled, it is something that has been happening for centuries. What do you think people did before the internet?
Tyre Smoke said:
Whilst I sympathise with your plight, do you really need to post on a motoring based website for help knowing what to do?
You've been burgled, it is something that has been happening for centuries. What do you think people did before the internet?
Fairly sure that you could apply that to any thread whatsoever ever posted on a forum.You've been burgled, it is something that has been happening for centuries. What do you think people did before the internet?
In fact, you posting that onto a forum is in itself ironic.
Is there any need to discuss things with e-strangers at all?
Tyre Smoke said:
Whilst I sympathise with your plight, do you really need to post on a motoring based website for help knowing what to do?
You've been burgled, it is something that has been happening for centuries. What do you think people did before the internet?
I think you'll find that, although motoring based, PH caters for a very diverse audience.You've been burgled, it is something that has been happening for centuries. What do you think people did before the internet?
For example: Where could you get advice on a replacement intercooler for an Evo and get advice on the best way to cook a steak?
The point I was making was why anyone would feel the need to post for advice on what to do. Call the police, wait for two days as it will be non urgent. Show Community Support Officer the point of entry, give list of what is missing and move on.
I know, it happened to me. It is very unpleasant.
OP there is nothing you can do. Except claim on your house insurance if you feel so inclined.
Once again I sympathise.
I know, it happened to me. It is very unpleasant.
OP there is nothing you can do. Except claim on your house insurance if you feel so inclined.
Once again I sympathise.
Arese said:
At what level was the laptop password-protected? BIOS (as soon as you switch it on, before Windows)? Or just a Windows password?
Just a Windows password sadly. Pretty easy to circumvent I should think. Thanks for all your thoughts, looks like I've done what I can. I realise the original post might have sounded a bit inane, I did specifically mean security stuff. Despite my limited intelligence I have managed to inform BiB and the insurance company all on my own initiative :-)
nonplussed said:
Arese said:
At what level was the laptop password-protected? BIOS (as soon as you switch it on, before Windows)? Or just a Windows password?
Just a Windows password sadly. Pretty easy to circumvent I should think. Thanks for all your thoughts, looks like I've done what I can. I realise the original post might have sounded a bit inane, I did specifically mean security stuff. Despite my limited intelligence I have managed to inform BiB and the insurance company all on my own initiative :-)
If you have any web emails, it might be worth checking the sent items, you never know, the aspiring footballer may be extremely dumb!
Superhoop1904 said:
Nolar Dog said:
Superhoop1904 said:
...hope you get your stuff back.
Yeah right. Look out for it on eBay then go and throttle the when you "win" it. 
k off you nonplussed said:
Arese said:
At what level was the laptop password-protected? BIOS (as soon as you switch it on, before Windows)? Or just a Windows password?
Just a Windows password sadly. Pretty easy to circumvent I should think. Thanks for all your thoughts, looks like I've done what I can. I realise the original post might have sounded a bit inane, I did specifically mean security stuff. Despite my limited intelligence I have managed to inform BiB and the insurance company all on my own initiative :-)
Edited by Arese on Friday 23 April 12:09
Getting past the Windows password isnt that straight forward. I tried to do it on a Vista laptop for a member of family who had forgotten it and gave up in the end.
Its quite easy to get access to the data on the disk but i doubt some chavvy thieving scum will go to that level of effort. I wouldn't worry as long as you have changed your passwords, it will just probably be sold on and someone will re-install an OS on it.
Its quite easy to get access to the data on the disk but i doubt some chavvy thieving scum will go to that level of effort. I wouldn't worry as long as you have changed your passwords, it will just probably be sold on and someone will re-install an OS on it.
Edited by paul99 on Friday 23 April 12:18
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