Expert: Carolyn Meinel - 4/3/2006

Question
someone stole my  brand new dell notebook
is there anything  a new user has to do    as in interfacing with the network , dell,  or the isp or any other entiity to get hooked up or started, or something that   a thief  or user might do   that would in any way  connect him to the computer in a verfiable or reproducible, traceable  way. so i can go to court and  expose  or determine who the thief is?

what would i  need to know about the thief  , ie his email address or   ssn # or dob or name  of ( a potential suspect) that  would allow this ?

what if  i had access to another  computer that  
the thief used  and accesed his memail  on ?
and  i culd conceivably find his email password (on my 2nd computer that he used with my permission)? r passwords listed  anywhere on my computer files and how would i access?


Answer
I'm sorry to hear of the theft of your laptop. Unfortunately, it is not possible to identify your laptop when the thief uses it online, and illegal for you to use his or her email password.

When you replace your laptop, you can set it up so that if it, too, is stolen, it will help you and the police nab the criminal. There are two companies that will do this for you:

CompuTrace, Absolute Software, http://www.absolute.com Telephone (800) 220-0733. $90 for software and 1 year monitoring service.

CyberAngel, Computer Sentry Software, http://www.sentryinc.com Telephone (800) 501-4344. $80 for software and one year monitoring service.