By now most of the mobile users are aware of IEMI number, the unique identity number, of their handsets. But not many perhaps know of similar identity numbers for their laptops and personal computers. If you too are in that list, you'd better know it, now.
For, there are chances of recovering the lost, stolen laptops and PCs if you have stored MAC ID (Media Access Control ID) or physical address of the device. It, however, is not the same as the IP address.
Quick Heal Technologies, an anti-virus solutions company, has launched a service that would help the users find the location of the lost or stolen laptops. This service, however, works on the premise that majority of the lost, stolen laptops would soon be connected to the Internet. The company is offering it for free.
How it works
“People need to register with a portal called www.trackmylaptop.net, key in the physical address number. When the stolen or lost laptops are connected to the Internet, we can trace the IP location using the physical address number. We have developed a solution for this,” Mr Kailash Katkar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Heal Technologies, told newspersons here today.
“Chances of stolen, lost laptops getting connected to Internet are very high. We will track the location and leave it to the cyber cops to nail the offender,” he said.
How to get MAC Id
Go to Start menu and type cmd in ‘Run' box. This leads to a window where you need to type ipconfig/all. You will get several numbers, including the physical address number. Or, one can ask the laptop vendor to indicate the number. Note down the number and enter it to your profile at the portal.
While Quick Heal opens the service for all, users of its anti-virus solution need not fill in the MAC Ids as it would automatically pick up such details. It claims it has 50 lakh customers in India.
All-India database
The company said it was going to develop a nation-wide database of lost, stolen laptops.
“We are giving cyber police of different States separate login accounts. They can get access to the database for the missing computers. Also, this database will be handy for those who are buying second hand products,” he said.
“We are in the process of launching the service in all the States. Simultaneously, we will also talk to cyber police to make the effort more fruitful,” he said.