Computer identification.

[marwel7]

Am I right in thinking that a computer identifies itself when it logs onto the internet and that if you had the details of a particular computer you could locate it.For example if a computer was stolen when it was used you find it.

[vehelpfulguy]

Well personally I would have to say the answer is no, you have no chance of tracking a computer this way.

When a computer first connects to the interent it does allocate something called an IP (interent protocol) address.

This is a string of numbers, sort of like a phone number, an example may be: 192.155.1.101

The problem is that the IP address changes depening on things like which ISP you use and so on.

I would be interested to hear if others think there is a way of doing this, but I do not think it is possible.

[vehelpfulguy]

I had heard about software that you install on your computer and it "connects" every time the computer is used. This can help track a computer.

I did a search for "tracking stolen computers" and found a few sites, like those below.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11183-0.html? forumID=9&threadID=169496&start=0

http://www.pcthiefcatcher.co.uk/

http://www.geek.com/stolen-pcs-disabled-over-i nternet/

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.ph p?id=37918

[Ethel]

There is software that can supposedly do this:

http://www.alamopc.org/pcalamode/reviews/archi ve2/rev009901.htm

http://www.pcthiefcatcher.co.uk/

http://www.geek.com/stolen-pcs-disabled-over-i nternet/

[Ethel]

Snap!

[vehelpfulguy]

Not sure if you have had a computer stolen, but if so the following suggestions may help in future:

Most (all?) computers allow you to put a password on the hardware (in something called the BIOS). This password is required even before Windows is loaded so it stops people even using the PC.

Make sure you backup regularly. I know it can be a pain, but I back up all my personal files to CD or DVD on a regular basis.

If my computer was stolen there is very little on there that I could not recover.

If I download digital photos from my camera I ALWAYS back them up to CD or DVD (in fact 2 copies) before I delete them from the camera.

As a minimum, consider getting an external hard disk and copying all you personal files to that. Then remove the external drive and lock it away somewhere.

Then if your computer is stolen you at least have copies of your important files.

[vehelpfulguy]

>Snap!

Do you think we were twins separated at birth !

[Oneeyedvic]

A bios password is no use if the computer gets stolen - all you need to do is take the battery out of the motherboard and the board will reset.

It is really only useful if you want other people who may share the computer to not use it.

[SlackAlice]

There are a few mobo's that will remember a BIOS password even if you remove the cmos battery, but there a dying breed.

[marwel7]

Thanks,that was interesting.I haven't had a computer stolen I was just interested in whether that could happen.