Tracking Lost or Stolen Devices

Lost your iPad? Someone steal your iPhone? Can’t find your laptop? Misplaced your Android phone? You can call your phone and hope it rings, but maybe it’s on vibrate, or miles away. If your car gets broken into and your laptop goes missing, what do you do?

There are plenty of software programs that can track your device, using location data such as GPS and IP addresses to pinpoint it on a Google map. Some services can even activate the laptop’s webcam to take snapshots of a thief!

Prey Project works on MacBooks, Windows, and Android to keep track of your phone or laptop at all times and to help you find it if it ever gets lost or stolen. It’s lightweight, open source software, and free for anyone to use.

Find My iPhone is a free application that can be enabled on your iPhone or iPad. You’ll need a MobileMe or iCloud account to sign in from your iPhone, iPad, or any computer, to display your device’s approximate location on a fullscreen map. Find My iPhone also allows you to send a message to whoever may have found the phone, and if you’re near your phone but can’t find it, Find My iPhone can override your vibrate setting and emit an alarm. In a worst-case scenario, this application can remotely wipe your phone’s data to help prevent identity theft.

Robert Siciliano, personal security expert contributor to Just Ask Gemalto, discusses hackers hacking hotels on CNBC. Disclosures