Thanks for donation!
MacSlēgs?
MacSlēgs purpose is to get information about a stolen Mac. Passing it to cops or other persuasive individuals could help in theft-recovery.
How it works?
MacSlēgs is Mac OS X system LaunchDaemon, that in a predefinied delay checks Mac status in the server. If the Mac is stolen You have to return to MacSlēgs server (macslegs.tunt.lv) and in Controlpanel activate status- stolen. When the thief connects to internet, MacSlēgs client on Your Mac gets the alert and starts to send information to Your Controlpanel ID at MacSlēgs server. The info includes:
- WAN IP address;
- LAN or WLAN IP address, depends on conection;
- AirPort information (SSID, BSSID), if the Mac is connected wirelessly;
- screen capture (format: JPG, size: resample to width 1280px, compression: 20%);
- iSight photo (format: JPG, size: original).
Do I need it?
Nope if the Mac is a static workstation. Nope if the Mac is a portable... that's been moved once a month. Yes, it could be useful if the Mac travels around day and night, everywhere and always.
How to install?
The first step is registration at MacSlēgs server. Remember Your data, You'll need them to change status! Choose ID and password that differs from Your Mac administrator data. Further it is necessary to download the client side software. Install (Uzstādīt.mpkg, read the manual) and finish the registration process (Reģistrācija.app).
Two versions are available. MacSlēgs is with full functionality, MacSlēgs bez iSight is for Macs without built-in iSight.
Is thief capable of deleting MacSlēgs?
To access, stop, remove MacSlēgs thief must know administrator password. But to avoid that he erases HDD and reinstalls OS, make a firmware password. It is unlikely that the he would pass both barriers. And even You couldn't :) .
Mac should be with autologin function. For me it's been like that from the very beginning. MacSlēgs starts before the login and if Mac is in trusted network zone, then everything works. But the most likely situation is that the thief will try it in a dark corner and using connection the Mac won't recognize. Therefore we need to give him opportunity to access network settings. Autologin won't stop him, but will make this scenario possible.
More at FAQ section.
Price?
Free. I spend my time and money on things that interest me.
However... MacSlēgs takes server resources I just cannot provide You, therefore I asked TupunTuries Inc. for help. Server administration requires work, therefore agreement that the service is available only for registred users at mac.tunt.lv is fair.
Anyways- its all about GNU and freedom... the client and server side code is available for download, so You can build Your own MacSlēgs server.
Warranty?
None.
Note
At the moment MacSlēgs documentation is available only in Latvian. Been busy time, but I'll try to upload the source (client + sever) as fast as I can. Just need to clean up the code, add comments and directions, remove sensual info (paths/db/pw etc) that could hurt the current server. If there's an urgent need, contact me.
Hope it will come in handy and thanks if You consider a donnation!
Regards,
kroko
MacSlēgs © kroko
For photo used isightcapture © Axel Bauer
The idea borrowed from MacLoJack project © Jonathan A. Zdziarski
AirPort, iSight, Mac OSX © Apple Inc.
MacSlēgs server supported by TupunTuries Inc.
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— Jon · 11.06.2008. 19:59 · #
Hey, I was wondering, how I, an non-Lativan speaking Mac user could report my mac stolen once I downloaded the software. How do I navigate the server website to get where I need to?
— kroko · 11.06.2008. 23:56 · #
Hi! Read the note Jon :) Right now MacSlēgs is for Latvian mac-user community only -> the website is Latvian only. I doubt that the hosting service I’m using is willing to open it up for international use and for free (and no way I will agree to make this service shareware).
However I’m planning to open up a demo site in English, so You can register and try it out. Account and all the information would be deleted after i.e. 3 days.
I will post source. If You like the functionality in demo, You can download the source and set up for Yourself, your friends, family, larger group (i.e. Your mac-equipped company). It’s easy. All You need is a “server”. In the beginning when macslēgs was for private use only- for my Mac portables- the server was iMac that I’m writing this post from (as You know OS X client has Apache, CGI/Perl out of box, You need to additionally compile MySQL, DBI, DBD:mysql for MacSlēgs functionality- it’s easy as make && make install . Surely, You should know what You’re doing, security ABC applies always). “Server” can be any *nix box & OS, it’s not OS X binary dependent.
I just don’t have time at the moment, it’s the end of semester and my due-dates have already become do-dates. Hopefully in the beginning of July. And before posting source, I’d like to make some changes to server side code, giving more functionality and ease of use.
— JJ · 13.06.2008. 21:59 · #
I too am interested in seeing this in English as well setting up a server for my personal use. Would you email me when the source is posted?
— JJ · 15.08.2008. 17:50 · #
Any progress on cleaning up and porting over to English?
