Wi-Fi 'Finders' Helping Thieves Locate and Steal Laptops

We don't recommend leaving your laptop in the car for any reason, but, if you must, make sure you turn off the Wi-Fi signal first. According to Network World, thieves are using devices meant to locate Wi-Fi networks to detect laptops and steal them. Apparently, just closing the screen won't prevent your laptop from being detected, either. Wi- Fi disconnection must be done manually, as it can take as long as a half-hour for a laptop to go into sleep mode.

The Wi-Fi "finders" that crooks use are often cheap and easily accessible. For less than $20, a start-up thief can purchase a ballpoint pen with a built-in Wi-Fi detector. Of course, the cheaper models aren't as accurate when locating the signals. (Using one in a full parking lot would be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.) But for $50, you could purchase this Wi-Fi finder (pictured), which makes finding a laptop stuffed in the trunk of a car easy as pie.

What's our advice? Keep those laptops close at hand and make sure you only turn on the Wi-Fi signal when you'll be using it. [From: Network World]

Leaked intelligence documents:Facebook,Comcast, Microsoft

Leaked intelligence documents: Here's what Facebook and Comcast will tell the police about you!!!

Leaked Microsoft intelligence document: Here's what Microsoft will reveal to police about you

FTC: Identity Theft Is No. 1 Consumer Complaint

Are you really you? It’s hard to say.

That’s because identity theft was the top consumer complaint for 2009, the Federal Trade Commission reported Wednesday.

It was also the top complaint from the year before, although 5 percent fewer consumers reported it in 2009, the commission said.

Overall, of the 1.3 million complaints the agency received last year, 21 percent were for identity theft. Debt collection agencies ranked second, with 9 percent of complaints, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book released Wednesday.

Credit card fraud was the top complaint when it comes to identity theft, followed by fraud related to government benefits, utilities, phones and loans.

The FTC did not verify the complaints lodged with it. It said 72 percent of those reporting identity theft also notified a police department.

The complete 101-page report (.pdf) is available here.

By David Kravets