It would be usefull, if the program was running on an embedded computer within the laptop, combined with a GSM-modem. Do you think one could fit that onto a mini-PCIe card, together with a very small rechargeable battery?

Some stupid thieves will power-on the laptop, yes.

But most machines will quickly be disassembled and the parts sold separately.

It doesn't look un-promising, but a semi-serious solution would install itself as an untraceable kernel-module (a rootkit, basically) and not rely on things like the system's task-scheduler.

Alternatively, you can also get anti-theft tags like here: http://www.stop-network.net/

But who would want to ruin he spotless surface of a 2500CHF MacBookPro? with such a sticker?

My heart would break ;-)

The reality is: if your data on the laptop is worth something, it's usually worth much more than the hardware itself.

So you just encrypt the harddrive (completely) and replace the laptop.  

Well, aren't you the voice of doom and gloom?

Disassembly for parts is not as lucrative as the whole unit. Many parts are just not sellable and most parts have really lost value since the laptop was purchased. 

Also, in many cases, thieves are more interested in the data: passwords, credit card numbers, bank login information, travel dates, etc. So, yes, they would be turning it on and using the system.

Encrypt the entire hard disk? Sure, possible, but realistically people don't / won't do it. I mean, come on, people don't back up their data on a regular basis, either.

I dunno. Free software which will help me recover my laptop in the case that it's stolen. Five second installation. Zero need to do anything else. I like it.

Please do keep us updated. The program looks interesting but not when its a spyware

NOT LOOKING GOOD. HAD A QUICK LOOK AT A COUPLE OF SITES. DO NOT HAVE TIME TO GO FURTHER. DO NOT INSTALL THIS SOFTWARE.

Hopefully someone else can go into more depth with an explaination.

@justdoit and @verbier: instead of some vague posts full of scary statements, can you please post some specific information or send it to me? I can't find anything that redirects to sleego.com (which, by they way, redirects to google.com) and Norton says the site is safe, 100%. What sites did you look at? What did they say? Why shouldn't someone install the software?

Pardon my bias, but you sound like textbook Microsoft in the late 90s, early 00s. FUD - Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Say something vague but scary and then don't back it up. People will stay away from it.

I found this software while reading an article online after doing a google search for "recover stolen laptop". The links I see are from: softpedia.com, geekwithlaptop.com, techpp.com, lifehacker.com, and networkworld.com among others.

I've installed it. I'm a computer professional for over 25 years. I'll never claim to be right all the time, and if I'm wrong here, I'll be the first to admit it. But, until then, I rest easier knowing that if my computer is stolen, I have something I can do besides throw up my hands and say "Oh, well."

@justdoit: if you clicked on the link I provided and it went to sleego.com, then I would hazard a guess that *your* computer has some kind of problem. Furthermore, you said it was not stopping, whereas when I go to sleego.com, it immediately redirects to google.com. Sounds like you have something that's redirecting your links to other sites, because the link works on the several computers that I've tried, both Mac and Windows. 

If I count the time since i first got a computer, then it's more than 25 years, but I was talking professionally, of course.

I work with individual's computer professionally. Nine times out of ten, the Administrator password is blank, so anyone stealing the laptop will have no problems getting in. And even if there is a password, there are ways to reset the password which I'm sure they'll know.

Yes, perhaps geekwithlaptop.com doesn't sound professional, but that doesn't mean it is. lifehacker.com is well known for its technology reviews, news, tips, and more. techpp.com is one that I haven't come across before, but on the surface, it seems reasonable. I am willing to be corrected on that. But, listing those sites was done for one reason: to show that The Prey Project has gotten some positive press from a broad cross-section of sites, both professional and hobbyist. And no where (until today on glocals!) did I hear anything about spyware, malware, etc. And, as I said, Norton (which you mentioned) gave it a clean bill of health, as noted in the link I gave above.

I never claimed you said or implied that one should throw up one's hands and say "oh, well." I merely stated that I have something I can do besides do that. Yesterday, if someone had stolen my computer, that would have been my own option.

I stand by my original posting. I also point to my earlier posting asking you and verbier for something tangible instead of insinuations. You told me you had problems, but that doesn't mean it's the software.

Oh, one last point: it's not often that someone trying to distribute any kind of malware distributes it as free and open source. Its 'true' nature would be immediately available for everyone to see.

Peace.

Here's a review of the Prey Project on softpedia.com.

Back to my original message:

This is GREAT software which might help you recover a stolen laptop. It's free and open-source, easy to install and there's no reason you shouldn't consider using it.