Laptops have always been a tempting object (target) for thieves. Having a laptop stolen is a double-dose of disaster, since not only are you confronted with the fact that your (at least) $1000 laptop is now gone, perhaps forever, but you also have to deal with the possibility of data theft. A little bit of cautiousness and preventive forethought can save you and your laptop from being theft victims.

According to the FBI, losses due to laptop theft totaled more than $6.7 million dollars in 2005. The Computer Security Institute/FBI Computer Crime & Security Survey found the average theft of a laptop to cost a company $89,000. Wikipedia

Listed Below are the Six Best Laptop Tracking Softwares (Five Shareware and One Freeware).

1. GadgetTrak – Search and Destroy (Windows)

GadgetTrak® Search & Destroy utilizes a data destruction algorithm that complies with US Department of Defense clearing and sanitizing standard DOD 5220.22-M to ensure that data is thoroughly and irrecoverable destroyed. GadgetTrak® Search & Destroy will enable users to destroy data on Windows systems including: Desktop Files, Document, Email, Cookies, Temporary Files, Chat History, Photos etc. All these information except the GadgetTrak software will be left alone in order to help you recover your equipment.

GadgetTrak provides accurate tracking results including the laptop’s public and private IP addresses, as well as host names. By providing the information to law enforcement, the tracking results enable identification of the thief’s name, phone number and address. This is obviously not a freeware – 1 Year License costs $39.95 and 3 Year License costs $69.95.

2. MacTrak: Advanced Anti-Theft (MAC OS X)

MacTrak is most advanced laptop theft recovery solution for Apple Systems. This is how it works: After you login to your MacTrak.me account and activate tracking. The next time your Mac connects to the Internet the software will activate and start sending you emails with the specific location and network environment of the system, as well as use the camera to take a photo of who is using the system every 30 minutes. No additional password prompts appear and the thief is unaware the software is tracking them. Below is an Image that shows a example screenshot.

3. Cyber Angel

Cyber Angel uses a unique ALERT, LOCK, and LOCATE technology to detect unauthorized access of a client’s computer and silently reports the intrusion to The CyberAngel® Security Monitoring Center. The CyberAngel® with Wi-Trac was designed with stealthiness in mind, and offers maximum protection while being invisible to that unauthorized user, making it virtually impossible to defeat. Once activated, It will Alert Users and The CyberAngel in Real-Time during unauthorized access attempts, lock vital information and applications with smart encryption technology and Locate notify and recover using the latest in exclusive tracking and recovery technology.  A single copy of The CyberAngel® with Wi-Trac for a 1 Year license would be $69.95, where as a 150 unit 1 Year License would cost $38.65 per computer protected.

4. Backstopp

Backstopp enables organisations and individuals to perform a remote deletion of data files on any lost or stolen PC, Laptop, PDA or Mobile phone utilizing either the GSM (mobile) network, Internet or RFID. As soon as you find out that your laptop has been stolen-simply log on to your BackStopp web console to securely delete all data on the device using US Department of Defence standards. Once your data is secured a detailed report will show what data was destroyed, the device’s last known location and even a photo of the crook. What If you don’t have any internet connection or another system? You will receive a SMS alert when your investment leaves the workplace just reply to the alert and all your data will be erased.

Watch the Demo Video

5. LoJack

LoJack – All you need to do is to install this application. When your computer is connected to the Internet, the Computrace Agent software silently and securely the company’s monitoring center. Absolute Software works with computer manufacturers to pre-install a portion of the agent in the BIOS. The BIOS-based Computrace Agent has the ability to survive operating re-installations, hard-drive reformats, and hard drive replacements.

6. Adeona (Windows, Mac and Linux)

Adeona is the first Open Source system for tracking the location of your lost or stolen laptop that does not rely on a proprietary, central service. This means that you can install Adeona on your laptop and go — there’s no need to rely on a single third party. Adeona uses state-of-the-art cryptographic mechanisms to ensure that the owner is the only party that can use the system to reveal the locations visited by a device. Adeona uses a community-based remote storage facility, ensuring retrievability of recent location updates.

Download and Install