[kictanet] Q: How are Kenyan telcos helping the police recover stolen laptops?

[Michael Bullut]

*@Alex* + 1


On 17 October 2012 14:32, Alex Comninos <alex.comninos at gmail.com> wrote:

> It can be quite easy to track USB modems (dongles) through the IEMI
> number, like in a cellphone. It is easy to block IEMI numbers and
> punish the criminal by rendering the device useless. Whether
> geolocating the devices through triangulation of GSM reception is
> possible depends on whether this type of tracking is allowed by
> legislation. This would probably need a warrant to prevent abuse.
>
> Detecting a laptop is however virtually impossible. Laptops transmit
> two MAC adresses over networks (the wired and wireless connection)
> that can identify them. However the MAC address can only be detected
> by LANs or wireless networks. Once the device is in a local network
> (LAN) it is behind a router, which has its own MAC address, rendering
> the MAC adress of the laptop undetectable. Thus the telcos can only
> track USB modems and phones, but not laptops. There are simply no
> technological methods available to have telcos cooperate in finding
> laptops.
>
> I would suggest if one is afraid of losing a laptop:
> 1- one insures it
> 2- one encrypts the harddrive (Windows can do this now) as to not have
> sensitive data stolen
> 3- one backs up their data regularly, either to a harddrive, or online
> to the cloud.
>
>
> On 17 October 2012 12:39, Nancy Macharia <n_macharia at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > Muraya,
> > This is a serious concern as we kenyans  save their hard earned income
> to purchase laptops.
> >
> > The amount of agony and disorientation one experiences upon losing not
> just the hardware resource but more importantly the information is enormous.
> >
> > I was a victim of this heinous act and telcos did not appear to be of
> help.
> >
> > I would be delighted to offer ideas towards realising a solution for
> this menace.
> >
> > Nancy
> > Tel: +254727746156Sent from my BlackBerry
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: "S.M. Muraya" <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>
> > Sender: "kictanet"
> >  <kictanet-bounces+n_macharia=yahoo.co.uk at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> > Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:31:04
> > To: <n_macharia at yahoo.co.uk>
> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> > Subject: [kictanet] Q: How are Kenyan telcos helping the police recover
> >         stolen laptops?
> >
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> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
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> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
> >
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
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