Microsoft security zaps laptop tracer

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M$ Thorns: Well, if you're the theif, yeah, that would be a very handy tool. However, if you're the ligitimate owner of the laptop, who has purchased the service for that exact purpose, then I'd find it kind of disturbing just how easily it can be disabled.

I also find it interesting that this particular software, claiming to be able to survive a reformat and OS reinstall (tells me that the software probably resides in the MBR, just as many boot sector viruses), should have to rely on the OS at all for its communications. It should just intercept the hardware calls from above the OS's level, appearing as a BIOS extension, as soon as it's activated.

It's kind of moot anyway; if the theif had half a brain, the first thing he'd do is a DoD nuke, then a reformat of the HDD from a low level, erasing any trace of any software. On the same note, laptop owners who take their precious digital posession out in public who also have half a brain should protect access to the computer by using the BIOS Password feature (NOT rely on OS password). Yes, I know that can be defeated, but it's often quite a pain to take a laptop apart to do the chore.

A true computer "LoJack" type system would actually have to be hardware integrated. As far as I know, there are no universal providers and nobody provides aftermarket notebook hardware based security (and who could blame them?).

I may have misinterpreted, but I have read someting that hints that Microsoft may be including such a tracking method as part of their proposed TCPA firmware. I should hope all to #3(( that M$ doesn't get a monopoly on portable computer hardware security, especially as part of their most feared technology advance proposal. Imagine BillyG and Co. as Big Brother, always knowing what software you're running, what you're trying to run, what you're doing, and on top of it, where you are. Oohoohoohoohoooo, gives me the shivers. I hope I'm wrong.; Posted by: D-cat Posted on: 12/16/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use