LappyTrack Installation |
Before you install LappyTrack:
If you do not have an account with us, the first step is to create one here. Please note that for security reasons, the address you enter at this point is the one which will receive any 'Red Alert' eMails that our servers may send regardless of any changes that you make later in your account's eMail address. Most of your account information is for your own use and all that we really require is the user name, the password, and your data key (as shown below). We recommend that you enter the information in the "Computer details" section so that it will be at your fingertips in case you ever need it.
We have made LappyTrack highly configurable so that each computer can be uniquely protected by its owner. During the installation process you will be asked to specify the directory into which you want it installed as well as the program name it will be assigned. By choosing parameters that blend in with the rest of your software, you can make LappyTrack virtually invisible to anyone seeking to disable it. We are also encouraging computer professionals to join the battle against the rising tide of laptop thefts and you may search the listings on our site for one near you. Undoubtedly many of them will have innovative methods of disguise that they can implement for you at a reasonable cost that will enhance your protection enormously.
A note of caution is appropriate at this point. Laptop theft is far from the only security threat to your laptop, so to prevent the risk of malware infection please do not download the LappyTrack client from any source other than LappyTrack.com.
Finally, you are welcome to test LappyTrack as long and as often as you like but in order to conserve our server resources, we only keep the traces of unsubscribed users for a maximum of a few hours. Also, unsubscribed accounts are deleted after a week for the same reason. If your account is deleted, however, it may not be necessary to reinstall the LappyTrack client on your machine if you are not finished testing it. You can open a new account, paste your new parameters into your old client and it will run as before. After a few iterations, though, we think you will agree that you would be better off subscribing.
The LappyTrack Windows Installer:
In order to avoid permission problems, we suggest installing the client as administrator (right click on the installer and choose "Run as administrator"). During installation you will be asked for several parameters that uniquely identify and disguise LappyTrack on your computer. They will be discussed at length momentarily. The Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 runtime package (see the picture below) is included in our installer for your convenience and requires that you instruct it to either install the package or repair a current installation if you have one. Choose the appropriate option but do not cancel the installation as doing so may have undesirable side effects. You may download the LappyTrack client here.
When you have downloaded the installer, click on "My account" in the menu and leave it there so that your data will be available to copy and paste in a minute. Minimize the browser and double click on your downloaded installer. Click on "Next" and you will be asked for your user name and data key. Restore your browser and you can easily copy and paste that information into the installer (see the pictures below).
Next, enter a program name for your client. This should be something that blends in with the rest of your software. If you are a student, for example, you might choose "HomeworkAssistant", or something more general like "abcEditor". You are free to choose almost any name you wish with the exception of those that are already in use in your system and those containing "*", "'", ":", "<", ">", "?", "\", "|", and space. When you are satisfied with your choice, click "Next" and you will be able to choose the directory for your client.
Again, any valid directory name will work. You may want to use the same name that you chose for your program but LappyTrack does not care and whatever best disguises your installation is the best choice. When you are ready, finish the installation. Remember that when the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 runtime package runs, we have had problems in our lab when canceling the installation, so choose either to install it or repair your current installation.
Finally, close all your windows, restart your computer, and check one last time to make sure you have a new trace. If you do, your lappy is being tracked! Test it for a while and when you're sure you like it, subscribe to have your data saved for a full week as well as the ability to have "Red Alerts" sent to you in case of the unthinkable.
At this point, the only hint that LappyTrack is on your computer is the uninstall icon on your desktop. Assuming you want to keep LappyTrack, the best thing to do is delete it entirely. You could also rename it and hide it somewhere out of harm's way if you like, but it is only a shortcut, so deleting it does not remove the actual uninstaller.
Many of you may have your computers password protected, which is an extremely important defense against malware even if you do not have data that you do not want kept private. Those of you who have not yet protected your computers should consider doing so as soon as possible. The catch is that this password protection prevents LappyTrack from starting until you log in, so if a thief steals your laptop and doesn't know your password, then LappyTrack cannot call for help. Fortunately, the remedy for this is quick and easy, and even has additional benefits, so for those of you whose computers do not have password protection, please take the time to correct that problem.
Assuming that we are dealing with computers whose administrator accounts are password protected, we now want them to boot to an unprivileged account, where even if a stranger gains access, they cannot do any serious damage. Simply create the account in "Control Panel->User Accounts" and make sure not to give it administrative privileges. To boot directly to that account, follow the five simple steps provided by DetectorPRO Magazine here (Ukion did such a nice job on this we wanted to give him a plug). Now, not only does LappyTrack start as soon as your laptop boots, but you have immediate access to a "safe" account without the bother of logging in to your administrative account.
Windows 7 users, due to the User Account Control sub-system, have a slightly more complicated problem. In addition to the unprivileged account, they may have to create a "scheduled task" to start LappyTrack whenever the computer is booted depending on their "User Account Control" settings. With the default settings, LappyTrack will not be granted the privileges it needs to run. Those who have disabled the User Account Control will not notice a problem.