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Answer» My HP desktop computer recently got stolen.
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what I should do next?
Even when filing a police report, I understand that I will more than likely not be able to retrieve my computer. However, I did have personal information as well as possibly credit information. Is this a case of possible identity theft?
Does anyone have any recommendations on where I could find some information on the next steps I should take (like a website)?
Any help will be appreciated. If your computer was stolen...and has not been recovered...hopefuly you have some idea what personal information was on it.
Having it stolen...yes...now there is a high probability of identity theft.
Here's a good read.Do you know the ip address of your old computer ?? I'm curios Spero-T.. what exactly would knowing the IP the computer used to have accomplish?Correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't the IP change if you plug it into another router?
Also, even if you knew the IP, how would you locate it?
There are programs that can do that but they are very expensive.WAN IPs are ISP and connection based.
If I hook my computer directly up to my modem, it will be assigned my WAN IP. This is the IP other computers need to know in order to communicate with me. (If you got a router the WAN IP is usually assigned to the router.) If I then took my computer to a mate's place and hooked it up to his modem, it would be assigned his WAN IP, not mine.Sorry deerpark... I throught the ip was SPECIFIC to each pc meaning we could trace it, using a war dailer i beleive it is called.Actually, the mac address is the thing that stays the same, and even that can be spoofed.
There's probably some programs on sourceforge.net that can search networks by mac address, but it would take forever on the internet. And if it is behind a firewall, there's even less hope.
I wonder if there are any programs on it that MIGHT give clues for its whereabouts?btw...
The only definition of war dialer I know is to configure a computer with a dialup modem to automatically call a range of telephone numbers listening for another modem. This method was used by hackers in the pre WWW ERA to find systems to "explore".
The closest modern equivalent would probably be wifi wardriving.Aaaa ok fair enough, looked into a bit when i was a kid i just remeber that.... thanks Quote from: Spero-T on October 05, 2007, 09:21:50 AM looked into a bit when i was a kid
You mean you're not one now? Although kittykat appears to have gone missing this is what you should do in this situation:
Notify all Credit Card co.s what has transpired. Request the accounts be closed and new ones created.
Same as above with bank accounts, Department Store accounts etc.
File a report with the State also...similar to the local Police report.
This should be done immediately.
And Travel Here...Thank you all for your help and your suggestions.
I really appreciate it. You're welcome...and good luck!Yes, to put it bluntly, you are probably, and most likely, quite literally, screwed. i doubt someones going to steal an HP now-a-days without wanting steal the identity of the owner. my advice to you is, when you get your new computer, burn all the info to CD's, and put them in a lock box, next, find a very STURDY stud in the wall of your home, and mount that box to it, that, or mount it to a concrete floor. the noise it would take to remove it would surely ATTRACT attention. also, cancel any credit cards that may have been stored on it, its a hassle, but its better than finding a $100,000 house boat on the card
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