Did you know that you can get a Lojack for your laptop? I did, but like many who currently have a laptop, notebook or netbook I didn’t think anything would happen to my laptop. Heck I had three of them to my disposal in my house. Yet on a warm afternoon 35 minutes after picking up my kids from summer camp, I found out about not having a Lojack for my laptop the hard way.  There I was pulling into my carport with a dumbfounded look on my face. I could not believe what I was seeing. My carport door was kicked in and my house had been burglarized.

Forty five minutes later, after the police had come and checked the house to make sure we could go back in safely, I found out that the only thing that was taken from our home was our three laptops. They were all located in the same room in plain view so it was very easy for this smash and grab to take place.  So here is my curren t dilemma.  I will eventually replace 2 of the laptops very soon but I am torn between what service I should choose to help prevent loss or theft.

I first of course investigated Absolute Software’s LoJack for Laptop. LoJack for Laptop is probably the most popular software because of the LoJack name brand it uses.  I then went on to Awareness Technologies’ Laptop Cop and then a fairly new kid on the block GadgetTrak Inc.

What impressed me the most so far was Laptop Cop’s ability to locate a lost or stolen laptop and give me the option of deleting or retrieving the files I want. Laptop Cop actually records everything that the thief does. From every email they send or receive to the IM conversation they engage in, the websites they visit, and any usernames and passwords they type, everything will be captured. This information often contains personally identifiable information such as name, address, phone number, etc. Because this information is so revealing, it can be used to get law enforcement involved and significantly increase your chances of successfully recovering your laptop.

PC-Trak™ from GadgetTrak has an advantage because not only can you track your laptop but it also uses your integrated  web camera to capture images of the thief and uploads them with location to your Flickr account and email.

One thing PC-Trak has over the others could prove to be the deciding factor is the price. While LoJack for Laptops and Laptop Cop have annual service fees around $50.00 GadgeTrack’s PC-Trak is only $24.95. GadgeTrack is also the only software that is compatible for Mac computers. In addition to computers GadgeTrack has the ability to protect mobile devices like the Blackberry, Windows Mobile and GadgetTrak for the iPhone and iPod touch is now available in Apple’s App Store.

Regardless of which one I choose I am convinced that these security services for our laptops and mobile devices are needed. I do understand nothing is guaranteed to get my laptop back but I would at least like the peace of mind that if I ever lose or get it stolen again their is a chance that someone would be brought to justice for taking what was not theirs.

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