[52145] in Cypherpunks
Re:LACC: PC Phones Home?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mark M.)
Thu Mar 14 17:25:01 1996
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 17:18:42 -0500 (EST)
From: "Mark M." <markm@voicenet.com>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
In-Reply-To: <v02140b01ad6d4363168b@[199.2.22.124]>
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On Wed, 13 Mar 1996, Jim McCoy wrote:
> A few questions:
>
> 1- How does the PC know where it is?
> 2- How does the PC know it has been stolen?
>
> Since this is a software product I am assuming that the answer to #1
> is the use of CallerID on the line when the software calls, which is
> defeated by the use of line blocking by the thief. The obvious answer
> to #2 seems to me to have the system call the CompuTrace office at
> odd intervals to see if it has been reported stolen yet...
If the company uses an 800-number, than ANI can be used to identify the
caller. ANI information cannot be blocked with *67 or line blocking.
>
> Obvious solution for potential thieves: wipe the disks and reinstall
> an OS once you steal a PC. This should be done anyway to remove any
> bits of data which might identify the original owner.
If the software installs itself on the master boot record, than reformatting
the disk would not get rid of the program.
- --Mark
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