• From: forest town, lake land
  • Registered: 2011-02-26
  • Posts: 358

Topic: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

Worried about your sweet #! laptop getting stolen? Prey is an opensource lojack for your computer. It is available in the debian testing/unstable repos. If you have testing or unstable set up on your system (see the apt-pinning link in my sig) you can simply

sudo apt-get install prey

Next you will need to create an account on the preyproject site. You will need to grab your API key from the accounts page, and your device key (once you create a device it will be on the device page).

To set up your machine you will need to sudo nano /etc/prey/config
Look for this part:

####################################################################
# http posting configuration
####################################################################

# you can get both of these from Prey's web service
api_key=''
device_key=''

and enter your keys

To test your setup, and that your keys are correct you can run

sudo /usr/lib/prey/prey.sh --check

To test that everything is running set your machine to missing in the prey control panel (http://control.preyproject.com/) and wait for a report to show up.

If you don't like the idea of preyproject having access to anything it is also possible to run it with your own server and email. More on that later!

Apt Pinning - Pulseaudio - Nvidia Drivers - Laptop Power Saving - 3G Bandwidth Logging -  obmocmenu
  • qlue
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  • Registered: 2011-07-31
  • Posts: 25

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

I don't see the point! Any thief is likey to work off-line if they want your data and if they just want the hardware, they'll probably install Windows, thus rendering any Linux 'lojack' inoperative! roll

  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
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  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,471

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

Might be a good way to spy on your kids if they're on the run with their laptop or something.

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • From: Dungeons of Doom
  • Registered: 2011-01-02
  • Posts: 657

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

qlue wrote:

I don't see the point! Any thief is likey to work off-line if they want your data and if they just want the hardware, they'll probably install Windows, thus rendering any Linux 'lojack' inoperative! roll

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it or operate it because to most people scrotwm would be rocket science, even though it's not that hard to use.

"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" -Albus Dumbledore
  • Unia
  • #! Die-hard
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  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-07-17
  • Posts: 2,304

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

AwesomeFist wrote:
qlue wrote:

I don't see the point! Any thief is likey to work off-line if they want your data and if they just want the hardware, they'll probably install Windows, thus rendering any Linux 'lojack' inoperative! roll

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it or operate it because to most people scrotwm would be rocket science, even though it's not that hard to use.

EDIT: Nevermind. cool

Last edited by Unia (2011-08-03 21:45:50)

Let's do it and don't screw it.
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  • From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

AwesomeFist wrote:

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it

Just load Windows onto a USB stick and install?

Note: ** Please read before posting **

BTW if you wish to contact me, send me an e-mail instead of a PM.
  • MrPink
  • #! CrunchBanger
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  • From: .dk
  • Registered: 2011-06-28
  • Posts: 180

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

anonymous wrote:
AwesomeFist wrote:

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it

Just load Windows onto a USB stick and install?

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, and break the usb ports with a hammer and chisel, so they can't install windows on it

  • Registered: 2010-09-02
  • Posts: 347

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

Just fill the ports with JB-Weld, no need for a hammer and chisel which might damage other parts.

Get Dropbox and an extra 250 mb http://db.tt/wAizqw0
  • From: Dungeons of Doom
  • Registered: 2011-01-02
  • Posts: 657

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

anonymous wrote:
AwesomeFist wrote:

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it

Just load Windows onto a USB stick and install?

It runs on the mips architecture...

Last edited by AwesomeFist (2011-08-04 01:44:21)

"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" -Albus Dumbledore
  • Unia
  • #! Die-hard
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  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-07-17
  • Posts: 2,304

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

AwesomeFist wrote:
anonymous wrote:
AwesomeFist wrote:

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it

Just load Windows onto a USB stick and install?

It runs on the mips architecture...

Heh, that's why edited my post earlier on: I thought the same as anon lol

Last edited by Unia (2011-08-04 09:26:21)

Let's do it and don't screw it.
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  • MrPink
  • #! CrunchBanger
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  • From: .dk
  • Registered: 2011-06-28
  • Posts: 180

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

AwesomeFist wrote:

It runs on the mips architecture...

Well, that's a relief for my usb-ports wink

edit: And to get back on topic: @OP

Will I benefit from this, if my box is set up with encrypted lvm?

Last edited by MrPink (2011-08-04 12:00:11)

  • Awebb
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  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,471

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

Okay, since there is trouble understanding how this works, I'll try to explain the relevant parts:

1. Boot computer -> prey is off
2. Bootloader -> prey is off
3. System boots to login shell -> prey is on
3.1. No network set up: -> prey is on but useless
3.2 Network plugged in: -> prey is on, you have mail

Encrypted:
1. Boot computer -> prey is off
2. Encrypted bootloader -> prey is off
2.1 This is as far as an attacker gets. It is totally useless in this kind of environment.

Unlike mobile phone trackers, this only works if a thief is dumb enough to plug the computer in and boot it up. However, this could be useful if you have children with their own laptops who go AWOL.

I'm so meta, even this acronym

13 Reply by ali

  • ali
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  • Registered: 2010-05-31
  • Posts: 1,034

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

MrPink wrote:
anonymous wrote:
AwesomeFist wrote:

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, so they can't install windows on it

Just load Windows onto a USB stick and install?

That's why someday I'll get a lemote computer, and install some wm like scrotwm, and break the usb ports with a hammer and chisel, so they can't install windows on it

but they can still perform a network install
don't forget to break the ethernet port too

i don't know about you guys but when i steal my laptops i wipe the hdds, i can't even make up my mind what os i want to use on my own machine and you think i'll use whatever someone else installed?

Last edited by ali (2011-08-04 13:26:49)

openbox-logout exit on escape
  • qlue
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  • Posts: 25

Re: Track your stolen #! box with Prey

ali wrote:

i don't know about you guys but when i steal my laptops i wipe the hdds, i can't even make up my mind what os i want to use on my own machine and you think i'll use whatever someone else installed?

That's where shred is usefull!