For any solution I would recommend examining two things.=0A=0A1. How often=
does a laptop have to be stolen for any paid service to pay for itself? T=
his same equation should also be applied to laptop insurance paid by the sc=
hool. Self-funding laptop replacement can be a very viable option (given t=
otal cost savings over security and/or insurance), but you should keep accu=
rate enough records to revisit that decision every 3-5 years.=0A=0A2. Even=
if it is free, if you have a program that allows students or teachers to t=
ake laptops home I would be leery of any product that automatically takes p=
ictures, and even of one where the school can activate that feature post-th=
eft. It is open to abuse and misuse by tech staff and could possibly lead =
to a range of issue for the school or tech staff who have access to the cap=
tured images. A recent op-ed in the Washington Post, while not exactly ana=
logous, will lend some insight into the risk schools run with images of stu=
dents in particular.=0Ahttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article=
/2009/04/17/AR2009041702663.html=0A=0A =0A_J____________________________=0A=
Jason at jasonpj@yahoo.com=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=
=0AFrom: Gail Braddock <lgbraddock@gmail.com>=0ATo: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU=
=0ASent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 3:58:43 PM=0ASubject: Laptop Security softw=
are=0A=0AFolks, you always come up with good solutions.=0A=0AThis is my fir=
st time to jump in with a question.=0AI am the Tech Specialist fro St. Geor=
ge's Independent School, Memphis, TN=0ALast year at Lausanne's Laptop Insti=
tute someone told me about a website=0Athat had an open source solution tha=
t you could use for security purposes. I=0Ahave misplaced that note.=0A=0AI=
am looking for software that could be installed that would help locate a=
=0Astolen computer. I need it as we begin to image computers for next year.=
=0A=0AIt actually could not be deleted by a thief that lifted a computer an=
d would=0Atake a picture with the built-in camera if needed. Then, It would=
send it=0Aback information to the owner.=0A=0AYou seem to be a good source=
of good open source solutions....so...=0A=0AHave you run across a solution=
that would work on a Mac that is Open source?=0ASince we are an urban camp=
us we have had some laptops walk right out of the=0Abuilding!=0AThanks,=0AG=
ail Braddock=0ATech Specialist=0ASt. George's Independent School=0A3749 Kim=
ball=0AMemphis, TN 38111=0Awww.sgis.org=0A--=0A=0A[ For info on ISED-L see =
http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]=0ASubmissions to ISED-L are released under a cr=
eative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.=0ARSS Fee=
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