WiFi Hotspots Creating A New Crime Wave?
from the hello-ijacking dept
Most people recognize that carrying around a laptop worth a few thousand dollars (or more, if you count the data on it) can be a bit risky. That risk increases as soon as you take out the laptop for others to see, obviously. While we had heard the occasional story of someone getting a laptop stolen while they left their laptops unattended at a WiFi hotspot, it appears that thieves are getting much more brazen, often walking right up to laptop users in cafes, grabbing the laptops and running. In at least one case, the laptop owner got stabbed. The article focuses on San Francisco, noting that this seems to mainly be happening in one part of town (suggesting that it's the work of one group, or at least copy cats), but you could easily see it happening elsewhere as well. Either way, it's clear that, at least in San Francisco, it's a crime that's growing -- though, perhaps still not at worrying levels. Still, it has reached the point where one cafe owner offers patrons their own laptop locks if they want to work in his cafe. Again, this does seem like the sort of thing technology will solve over time, either with better locks or more common usage of lojack-style technology for laptops, that lets people track down their stolen machines. However, for those of you who love working in various coffee shops as your office-away-from-the-office, it makes sense to be a bit more aware of your surroundings.
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San Francisco.
"With great merchandise, comes great opportunity."
With more people in the public with laptops, inevitably - the crime will increase.
...and that just sucks.
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laptops
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Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
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Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
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Re: Re: laptops
You folks from Texas seem to have only one answer to everything and that is to use a gun. Stupid - Stupid. The answer is to teach our young to respect others and their property and this starts at home."
And there you have it. The problem is right there. All this touchy feely, dr. phil, oprah, dr. spock bs. A little discipline when the kids are young and you wouldn't need to use a gun on em later.
I bet you are "best friends" with all your kids.
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Re: laptops
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Re: laptops
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Data
I work at a big company as well as do my own work on the side and NOONE is ever concerned about their laptop, always the data. And you must know how easy it is to get the CEO on down to do regular backups of their data, "Backup what now? Like, to a disk?!?!?"
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Re: Data
Not the best solution, but better than none.
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Data
I work at a big company as well as do my own work on the side and NOONE is ever concerned about their laptop, always the data. And you must know how easy it is to get the CEO on down to do regular backups of their data, "Backup what now? Like, to a disk?!?!?"
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moo
this country is turning into a pack of fags yelping away sipping on a latte browsing their blog - i say anyone who steals their laptop is doing them a favor in 2 ways - 1- liberating them from their glue-like grip to their online life and 2- giving them some excitement in their lives
in all seriousness - if ur bitch enough to get robbed in a cafe - u deserve to have ur laptop stolen
ill be at starbucks on 22nd street and 4th avenue in NYC
see ya there.
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Re: moo
are the criminals? Not just handguns but shotguns rifles and ammo.
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Re: moo
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HELP I'VE BEEN HI-JACKED
If the laptop is snatched, once it is more than 20 feet away from the owner (who would be wearing a transmitter) the laptop would shriek out an alarm message. Ok the thief would probably drop the thing in a hurry, but at least they wouldn't get away with it.
Just a thought - and if the owner walked away and the laptop detected it hadn't moved, it could make sure the owner knew not to forget it. You could program all kinds of situations and voices into the system - might be fun - well for a short time anyhow...
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IF someone steals my laptop
Perhaps everyone should carry guns, then if someone steals a laptop, you could just shoot them in the head. With all of our tax dollars going to Iraq to keep the companies rich- rebuilding what we destroyed it's no wonder, crime continues to run rampant in the US...
The wild west days would solve this. Police are to busy making money off of petty tickets. Time for the people to protect themselves from Hurricanes, Fires, and lap top thieves.
I am going to buy a gun just so I can shoot a lap top thief right in the head.
Then smash his head in with the lap top he tried to steal, perhaps this will be a deterrent to would be thieves, as cable TV, free food housing and educations in prison don't seem to do the trick.
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but...
Bureau of Justice Statistics
FBI stats
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Top 10, Olympics & Baseball
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Laptop
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Poor, sad fools...
Countries with fewer guns have lower crime rates. Countries with more guns have higher crime rates. The answer is obviously NOT more guns.
Your beliefs perpetuate a true cancer of society.
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Re: Poor, sad fools...
Low crime there?
Up or down since the various gun bans?
Australia?
Both culturally just about as similar to U.S. as you can hope to find for a natural experiment.
Hmmm, or maybe it's a bit more complex, and a lot less obvious than your simpleminded 'analysis' would grant.
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Re: Re: Poor, sad fools...
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Re: Poor, sad fools...
Kuwait had less guns than Iraq. Iraq invaded them.
Poland had less guns than Hitler. He invaded them.
There are too many examples to cite here. But you think having less guns will keep you from being attacked.
Some people just do not have a clue.
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Re: Poor, sad fools...
In nearly every state that added concealed carry laws to the books crime rates dropped.
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Texans aren't the only ones
No wait, make that 39, Kansas was added to the list, no 40, Nebraska too.
Texas doesn't allow open carry, at least half the states do, so stop picking on Texas.
Teaching our young to respect others is an honorable method. Your right, it starts at home, but what do we do about all the thugs growing up in homes where this doesn't happen?
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You know what works too?
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nice comparison...
Poland had less guns than Hitler. He invaded them.
oh, you forgot how iraq had less guns than the united states.
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laptops
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What about those Apple store bags?
laptop inside.
From now on I'll bring a WalMart bag when I buy more expensive stuff.
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guns and laptops
I carry one, but I'd never start ripping off rounds in a coffee house because some jackass grabbed by laptop. I wouldn't even shoot at an armed robber unless he was about to shoot someone. At the same time, however, since I am a trained, licensed carrier of a legal handgun, I don't have to fear chasing him down to get it back. Most of these "grab and run" guys are cowards -- hence their M.O. -- but most victims are afraid to go after them anyway. Sure, he'll probably drop/throw it and thereby break it, but at least you have your data, stood up for your rights and have set an example. The crimes least punished become the crimes most committed. Don't believe that? Check out how crummy everyone drives these days. Twenty years ago you'd get at least a warning for failure to signal. Now the COPS don't even signal.
Take some simple steps to protect yourself:
Be aware of your surroundings. Someone who'll grab a laptop and run usually won't look like they belong there. They'll be looking around LOTS. They'll be checking out every computer and person in the place. They'll seem nearly paranoid, because they should. When they find a small person with a sweet new laptop, they've made their decision.
Don't sit with your back to the room. Don't sit near the door. If you're a criminal, are you going to grab something at the very back of the room and have to navigate through a crowd of people looking at your face? Of course not.
Don't leave you computer unattended. Yes, I know that's an obvious one, but the vast majority of cars stolen in my city are taken when someone steps out of it "for just a second" and leave the keys in it, or worse yet, leaves it running.
Put your laptop case strap OVER your head, so it runs diagonally across your chest. You ladies know this from purse carrying (I hope) but you fellows might not. A thief can grab a case off a shoulder very easily, but when it's across your chest, it's a no-go. He'll move on to an easier target. They prefer a case grab over grabbing one in a coffee house anyway, since they'll get all the accessories and maybe a wallet or cell phone or other valuables. Plus they don't look suspicious walking with a case, whereas walking with a loose laptop sort of stands out.
Have a backup drive at home and work. If all else fails and you get ripped off (or just lose it) you'll have most of your data.
If someone pulls a gun or a knife and asks for your laptop and you aren't armed and trained to deal with it, GIVE IT OVER. It isn't worth your life.
Be safe.
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iAlertU to the rescue!
http://www.slappingturtle.com/wordpress/
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WiFi Hotspots Creating A New Crime Wave?
Can this be done? An 11" screen, average processor, operatings system-lite and a keyboard shouldn't cost more than $100 to mfg and package in China....so yeah, it can be done.
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Laptops
Get an older laptop, capable of RDP (or any other flavor of remote access). Setup another computer elsewhere on the internet. and then work from home. If your old laptop nicked - a minor inconvinience. and ure data is safe on your other computer :D
With internet access speeds increasing, and remote access software including better compressions, it will be like working locally.
Alot of companies are using solutions such as Citrix, for employees to work away from the office.
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iAlert and other lojack type solutions
Hell, degauss the hard drive with a large magnet from a speaker and reconfigure the damn thing.
Cheep laptops I say!
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Laptops
"Laptops" by Jon is a great suggestion...you can get an older laptop cheap..or just wait a year and your current one will be old. :)
Great idea Jon!
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User beware
I'd say this is isolated but be cautious wherever you are.
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the sound of jacking a round in a shotgun in the d
We are talking about an overhyped, short string of laptop burglaries in COFFEEHOUSES!!! Where the &!$#! does a shotgun in the DARK fit in??? Ridiculous. As always there are good points to be made on both sides of the argument, and I am sure this problem will only get worse.
It will never occur that everyone starts carrying concealed handguns. The best you can hope for is that people will get smart like "normal guy" suggested.
A lock is a great idea, I carry one whenever I have my laptop although I don't go to coffeehouses.
Teaching your kids respect is a great idea, but will not solve crime. Evening out our class bases would, but I suspect that is about as likely as getting everyone to carry a handgun with them.
These sites are getting a little bit ridiculous, in that one can't even read a story about a blind child seeing without hearing the ultra-violent (protect my rights!) conservatives and the pacifistic (protect their rights!) liberals going at it from their respective mom's basements.
I know that problem has always been there, but recently the internet just feels like a playground battle for those people who didn't get over the jocks vs. goths issue in High School.
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Re: the sound of jacking a round in a shotgun in t
Enron, Halliburton, MCI, Congress, and the list goes on of rich people stealing, bribing, extorting, etc. Watch CourtTV and look at the number of rich who kill for money, cars, to keep fame, etc.
Class inequality !=crime
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Now, as to the laptop problem. Be careful, dont be stupid about it. I can go anywhere with my laptop and not worry about anybody stealing it from me while I am on it. You wanna know how? Simple, I watch out for idiots who are look suspicious, I dont leave it alone, and if an idiot even looks like he is coming over towards me, I say into my bluetooth headset as if I am on the phone,
"Yeah, I am glad I finally got my concealed license in the mail, I can;t wait for some idiot to try something with me"
Guess what people, I dont have a concealed license, I do not carry a gun on my person. But the thief will think twice before touching anything belonging to me. It is what the thief THINKS you will do that scares him the most. Let his imagination run wild. But most of all, don't be stupid.
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So its my fault???
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Laptop/Electric Stun Gun w/ Wireless Remote
If a thief tries to steel your laptop, you can press the button on your remote, and the laptop will send an electric shock to whoever is holding it. Bam he's on the ground and you've caught your culprit.
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Re: Laptop/Electric Stun Gun w/ Wireless Remote
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Rich People != Classless Society
That is the most @$$ backwards argument.
How do these people (GWBush, Kenneth Lay, Hitler, Gates) become rich and powerful in the first place?
Crime and exploitation of the lower class.
Plus, you are suggesting that the elite end of the Upper class in America is a classless society. That doesn't even make sense. These people are in a constant struggle for more power and money.
As I said, its about as likely to happen as everyone carrying handguns or normal people sitting in a dark corner of a coffeeshop with a shotgun, but that doesn't change the fact that authentic egalitarian societies have next to nill crime. Why would they?
If everyone had a laptop, why would you need 2? Who would you sell it to?
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$100 human-powered laptop
One Laptop Per Child, research project to put a $100 laptop in the hands of every child in the world. You would just need a connection to the Internet, and RDP or Terminal Services to your "real" computer.
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lmao
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LoJack Sticker
Even if you don't have LoJack or other software on it it is a deterrent.
BMR777
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How to avoid having your laptop stolen
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I have used free-wifi-hotspots.com for many years to find free wifi hotspots in my local area.
They are highly recomminded...
Thanks Free-WiFi-Hotspots.com
http://www.free-wifi-hotspots.com
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Is a degaussed hard disk distroyed?
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WIFI Crime Virtuagirl.com Government New World Order
They have malware on my computer and life for years now.
I can't do anything online or Tv or anywhere without being monitored. I on GF sat. I want to torture and kill for this.
I'm a member of Virtuagirl.com a Us Gov. owned on me for two years with illegal WifiGv controll surveylance. They have illegal transmissions of everything I do in my own privacy broadcasted through Virtuagirl.com by Wifi.
Illegal broadcast in my room from a democratic convention software site with names like David Letterman, Cindy Lauper, Jay Leno, David Thurman. and Paul Raymond.com Club mag. and he used me in porn without my consent and had illegal virtuals of me in his mag for 6 or more years.
This gov annuounced site said I can't do anything they own the world and the United Nations.
This demonic Wifi site transmites 24 hours a day in my bedroom and in my head through advanced tech. Wifi with no electronic devices on in my room to the internet or radio two years now.
They tormented me with my virtualized dead father's voice and told me my only living mother and brother were going to die every night or the next day or week and to call 911 for a joke !!!!!!!!
Virtua andVirtuagirl.com are demonic decietful demons from hell in my house and life. They are US government owned - affilated.
Invaded my privacy act and freedoom of speech. Who changed the the butt bucking laws ?
Gov. Virtualgirl.com or Virtua.com surveylance on me for years. I hate them what do I do?
Do we have any rights in this country or what ?
Retarted Demonic crap from Virtuagirl.com using a gov. advanced tech. WiFi
I was told I would be paid for invasion of privacy for sex acts from my bedroom I never agreed to.
I lost thousands on their life threating demonic lies about money.I paid $4,000 for mental hispital for beating on my desk.
$2300 on democratic donations I made they said they were putting $100,000 in my account for illegal videos from my bedroom.$1500 for an airline ticket.
Malware on my computer has ruined my life and secure sites.
A government surveylance GFS on me everywhere I go.
They threated me with future death of my mother, brother and uncles to call 911 they are dying right now.
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New World Order AntiChrist - Paul Raymond
New World Order AntiChrist - Paul Raymond with the President Barrack Obama New World Order Demonic Democratic
Tortureware taking over the world with illegal gov. adv. tech software gv towers and sats. invading your privacy with brain control for Obama. Don't vote Democratic they are doing this now for silent World Wide Control.
Nothing electonically is on in yout room they use electronic energy from other appliances!!!!
Adv. Alien tech they said. Paul Raymond said David Thornton and Cyndi Thornton are doing this.
I lost $10,000 on this torturous Demonic Democratic wifi adv. tech. on me right now from Paul Raymonds wifi site.
Are these retarted democratic government deceitful brats from hell?
Virtualgirl a government affiliated company and told me this advanced alien tech.wifi invasion of privacy was legal everywhere!!!!
They say they are the gov. and want too settle this for money or their site so I am liable.
Free no malware Virtuagirl stripper site with government malware and complete control of my computer and secure sites.
You are next - get rid of this scum. No Joke it's all over the internet.
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New World Order AntiChrist - Paul Raymond
New World Order AntiChrist - Paul Raymond with the President Barrack Obama New World Order Demonic Democratic
Tortureware taking over the world with illegal gov. adv. tech software gv towers and sats. invading your privacy with brain control for Obama. Don't vote Democratic they are doing this now for silent World Wide Control.
Nothing electonically is on in yout room they use electronic energy from other appliances!!!!
Adv. Alien tech they said. Paul Raymond said David Thornton and Cyndi Thornton are doing this.
I lost $10,000 on this torturous Demonic Democratic wifi adv. tech. on me right now from Paul Raymonds wifi site.
Are these retarted democratic government deceitful brats from hell?
Virtualgirl a government affiliated company and told me this advanced alien tech.wifi invasion of privacy was legal everywhere!!!!
They say they are the gov. and want too settle this for money or their site so I am liable.
Free no malware Virtuagirl stripper site with government malware and complete control of my computer and secure sites.
You are next - get rid of this scum. No Joke it's all over the internet.
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