my emergency

[tismehi]

my laptop was stolen from my car today.

i use windows livemail logins and passwords are saved.

What can i do now?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi tismehi, The first thing is to go to all those websites and change those passwords, secondly have you used the laptop for any bank work? If so Ring your bank and inform them so that also new passwords can be arranged and also cards canceled.

In other words do a complete restart with anything password connected.

As far as other personal details are concerned if they are in the laptop, be careful about making sure you lock up when leaving home for a while.

I assume you have informed the police about this loss?

They can be helpful in giving advice about any other personal security issues.

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi tismehi,

 

I am very sorry to hear that you have lost your laptop to a low-life !

 

If you used this machine for email - your address book will have details of all of your contacts and a long list of received / sent emails.

You may wish to write to the important contacts and inform them if there is anything of a sensitive nature there and to warn them that they may receive unwanted mail.

 

You could also be insured for the loss.

Check with your car policy and your contents policy.

If the laptop was on show it is unlikely that you will be covered.

 

If you replace the lost machine I would advise using a password to enter Windows.

It does not guarantee that another thief would not gain access but is does make it awkward.

[tismehi]

thanks guys for the advice.

 

i'm ok with police, insurance and the like.

 

i have contacted the bank and asked for new details to be issued etc.

 

its the email thats now my biggest concern.

 

is there a way how i could change something from another machine so the scumbag thief is not able to receive the any mail from now on?

 

also for now i wish to change how i'm notified about new free pc help updates. how can i enter a new email address and delete the existing one from this forum?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, I would send a PM to Randy on the issue of forum and E Mail notification.

As to the external E Mail I would follow Kens advice and let everyone know what has happened. The next is dependant on your E mail client. IE Hotmail for example you can change password there to prevent the scum using it in your name, the same should apply if using any server based system such as the one provided by your ISP.

Nev.

[KenB]

If the email account is ISP based then I doubt that he will be able to receive mail in your name.

The email address is directly linked to your phone number.

If it has the ISP in the address xxx@tiscali.co.uk for instance, then that email address is tied to tiscali and cannot be used from any other ISP.

 

I found this:

LocatePC, Free Theft Recovery Software for your PC

It claims to assist you in locating a stolen PC - for free - by sending you the IP Address and other info.

The police could use this to locate the address of the thief.

I am assuming that this is not for a trial period - may be worth looking at.

 

There is similar software out there - use google.

 

You could also install LogMeIn on the new laptop.

This gives you remote access when the machine is switched on and connected to the net.

It would be possible to discover the IP Address of the machine at its new location if it was stolen.

From this the police can track down the thief.

 

You could also seriously mess-up the machine if you had a mind to.

( You would need to access the machine when the thief was not present ).

[RandyL]

Hi tismehi.

 

To change your FPCH email address and password look at the top of any page. Right next to your avatar just underneath your welcome message use Click here to edit profile. Once in your User Control Panel just look on the left and click Edit Email and Password.

 

You said you were using windows livemail. If you mean Windows Live Hotmail then it's a web based email service and all you have to do is go to it from any computer and edit your details on the mail website.

 

Good luck.

[Tootech]

is there a way how i could change something from another machine so the scumbag thief is not able to receive the any mail from now on?

 

Once you access all of your accounts from another computer, and change the passwords your old computer won't be able to send and receive email any more.

[RandyL]

That's true Tootech. Even if he was using an email client like Outlook once the password is changed Outlook can't connect to the server from his stolen computer. That would apply to any email service.

 

Thanks for pointing that out.

[tismehi]

cheers all for your quick replies.

 

i have changed my passwords on various forums, banking, ebay, paypal and of course, email.

 

just for good measure i also forwarded all my hotmail inbox mail to my yahoo inbox. i then deleted them all from the original inbox so they can no longer be read by the thieves.

 

i also swiftly texted my family and friends not to use my hotmail account. although i suppose i should now be advising them it is now ok.

 

the laptop itself is only a machine and can be easily replaced. its the stuff on it thats the concern. but that is all gone now.

 

also yesterday i was working with years and years of scanned photos, so all the sd memory cards where all the photos were in the laptop bag and are gone too. no back ups.

 

i also had a photocopy of various certificates and my passport as i was working with them too yesterday. all lost. this i suppose could lead to attempted identity cloning later. but i'm unsure what i can now do about this.

 

as regards the laptop, i will buy a replacement very quickly. i'll probably use the likes of currys who have always offered me 12 mths interest free credit, something which excites me.

i'll probably be on a budget of about 450 pounds, (i seem to have lost the pound sign and the 'at' sign too), so i would welcome any suggestions of reliably branded laptops.

 

i don't feel it is worth bothering claiming on my car insurance as my excess is 425 pounds and obviously i would loose my no claims discount the next years.

[KenB]

Regarding your passport details -

You may find this link useful