Apple Mac HQ

One of the worst feelings you can get as a laptop owner is coming back to your laptop to find it missing. I can’t imagine the feeling in your gut when you find out your Mac is gone. One Mac software developer is trying to increase the chances of recovering your stolen laptop using some of the built-in features of your Mac.

Undercover is a unique piece of software created to get your beloved Mac back in your hands. If your laptop is stolen, you contact Orbicule, the developer of Undercover, to start the recovery process. Once your laptop is reported stolen, the Mac begins to transmit various pieces of information back to Orbicule’s servers. This information includes IP addresses, screenshots of the desktop, and pictures using your iSight camera. This information is given to local law enforcement agencies to help with the recovery process. If all else fails, the software will simulate a hardware failure in an effort to urge the thief to bring the laptop into an authorized Apple service provider. At that point, Undercover will display a message alerting the service provider that the laptop is stolen along with some additional information.

The Undercover website has a few successful recovery stories posted here. If your Mac is stolen and not recovered, Orbicule will even refund your purchase of Undercover. If you would like a FREE household license (up to 5 Macs) of Undercover 2.0, visit MacApper and leave a comment on this post with an idea of a feature you would like to see in Undercover. Good luck!