Computer Security & Viruses/Computer and Skype

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Expert: - 5/21/2007


Question
Someone stole my dell computer and skype phone (among a million other things) is there any way to trace the person if they use my skype phone?

Melissa

Answer
Unfortunately, no.

When you replace your computer, you can install a product that, if it is ever stolen, and if the thief is not very bright, and if the "fence" who buys it from the thief is not very bright, then your computer will can home as soon as it gets connected to the Internet. Then, if you can get law enforcement in that area to care enough to get a search warrant to repossess your computer, and if they care enough to return your computer instead of holding it for years as evidence, you will get it back.

Those are a lot of ifs, sad to say.  

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Carolyn Meinel

Expertise

I cover Windows, Linux, TCP/IP and Ethernet security questions. I do not cover Mac, smart phones, or other networking issues.

Experience

Books by Carolyn Meinel: wrote a chapter for The Hacking of America book (see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567204600/happyhacker) My article Code Red for the Web for Scientific American was reprinted in the book Best American Science Writing 2002 (see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060936509/happyhacker). My book The Happy Hacker: A Guide to Mostly Harmless Hacking is now in 4th edition with a Japanese edition (see http://happyhacker.org/hhbook/).

Organizations
IEEE, AAAS

Publications
See a list with some online links at http://cmeinel.com

Education/Credentials
MS, Industrial Engineering, The University of Arizona Took a course in computer forensics at the University of Texas at Austin/

Past/Present Clients
DARPA, SAIC, Palmer Labs

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