[ale] Laptop Security Trick

[Bob Toxen]

On Sat, Oct 08, 2005 at 08:46:34AM -0400, Robert L. Harris wrote:
> Very nice.  I'll be doing this today.
Might I suggest:

  1. Put an encrypted file system on the laptop to protect your
     confidential information.

  2. Borrow an engraver from your library or police department and
     engrave your name, driver's license, and phone number on it.

  3. The splash screen is a fine idea for the rare case of a stupid
     thief and honest pawn shop.  I used to take great pleasure in
     writing "Stolen from Bob Toxen" on the bottom of my office
     chairs.  When I accused someone of stealing one from my office
     and the guy said "Prove it," it was very satisfying.

     Putting that on the splash screen too may help.

Bob Toxen
bob at verysecurelinux.com               [Please use for email to me]
http://www.verysecurelinux.com        [Network&Linux/Unix security consulting]
http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [My book:"Real World Linux Security 2/e"]
Quality Linux & UNIX security and SysAdmin & software consulting since 1990.

"Microsoft: Unsafe at any clock speed!"
   -- Bob Toxen 10/03/2002

> Thus spake Mike Harrison (meuon at geeklabs.com):

> > 
> >   Although it won't help you with a competent thief,
> > I had my truck broken into and my laptop stolen 
> > a while ago...
> > 
> >   20 minutes afterwards, I get a call from a
> > pawn shop down the road.. seems a lady 
> > tried pawning it with the story "it belongs
> > to my brother". During power-up, 
> > my face with a phone# and address popped up
> > from /boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
> > 
> >   The pudgy baldish white guy in the pic
> > did not look like he could be related. 
> > He spun the laptop around to show her the 
> > boot splash screen, and she ran. 
> > 
> > -Which reminds me I need to do that to my machines again.. 
> > and you may want to as well.
> > 
> > I'll save you the googling how to make the image:
> > 
> > http://www.tldp.org/LDP/LG/current/jayanth.html
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Ale at ale.org
> > http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale

> :wq!
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Robert L. Harris                     | GPG Key ID: E344DA3B

> DISCLAIMER:
>       These are MY OPINIONS             "We can't solve problems by using
>        ALONE.  I speak for                the same kind of thinking we used
>        no-one else.                         when we created them."
>                                           - Einstein