AppSumo Prey Email
Emails
Nov 28, 2017
I walked in my apartment ... and my iMac was gone
I should've used Prey ...
I walked into my apartment on a Friday afternoon in May 2012 ... and everything seemed slightly off. Some cabinets were open and all my furniture was moved around a tiny bit.
This set off my Spidey Sense.
I immediately noticed the giant 27" iMac normally sitting on my desk was gone. I STILL didn't fully think I'd been robbed yet. "Maybe a friend is playing a prank on me?"
But then I went to my bedroom where my Macbook Air sits charging under my bed. "THAT MOTHERF*CKER IS GONE TOO!"
This is when I realized I'd actually been robbed.
My heart rate went up. My "wanting-to-punch-someone" rate went up.
I felt helpless & violated (I know that sounds kinda wussy, but "violated" is exactly how I felt).
First — I called the police and reported my computers missing. They said some officers will be over shortly.
Secondly — I rushed to the AppSumo office (fortunately it's 3 blocks away from me) and screamed at someone to let me use a laptop, and immediately started to change all my account passwords. Facebook, Gmail, banking accounts, Amazon account, server access passwords ... it was a pain in the ass.
Thirdly — The police showed up pretty quick, and asked if I had the serial numbers to the computers I owned. I did.
Those bastards even stole the BOXES my computers came in!
They also asked if I had tracking software on my computers. I didn't.
Probably because I'm an idiot and never thought someone would steal my computers.
"5.5 million computers were stolen in the USA from 2007 to 2010."
Perhaps I should've read that BEFORE I got jacked!
After things settled down it hit me: Electronics like mine are THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK that a casual thief could steal!
In about 20 seconds: They stole a $2,000+ 27" iMac and my $1,500+ MacBook Air.
They waltzed out the door with more than $3,000 worth of equipment, and a lot of personal information.
... But that was the problem. My computers were UNTRACEABLE because I had no tracking software on them.
I Googled around for "Best Tracking Software", and even asked for a theft-prevention recommendation at the Apple Store (I was re-buying a new MacBook Air for more than $1,800).
Apple recommended the LoJack software ... but I read bad reviews across the internet and wasn't fully impressed.
The other option I saw was the Prey Project.
Two friends I consider tech gurus also highly recommended Prey, so I went with that.
It has a free version of their tracking software you can install ... which took me about 10 seconds.
I then logged into my Prey account and "tested" if it worked. IT DID! The update showed a screenshot of my screen, snapped a picture of my ugly face, and gave me the exact coordinates of the router I was connected to. It was enough to track me down to the individual apartment unit.
It sent all this information to my email every 15 minutes ... however with the upgraded Prey plans, you can make it update on demand (you're MUCH more likely to catch a thief this way).
Since this was the free version of Prey, I couldn't use the "Prey Active" features which would allow me to F*ck with the person who stole my computer:
- You can lock the computer down completely so no one can use it until a password is entered.
- You can make the computer (or phone/tablet) give off a loud siren sound so you can hear it.
- You can send the thief a personal message, and even change the device to say, "STOLEN PROPERTY, CALL 713-301-1546. REWARD" (or whatever you want).
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- Send scarily-accurate location updates.
- Track which programs the thief has running.
- Snap pictures of the thief with the devices built in camera.
- Track which files have been accessed or changed on your system.
- Grab screenshots of what the thief is doing on your computer (usually checking Facebook or Gmail ... so you can see their private info too)..
- Anyone who uses their computer to earn a living.
- Anyone who works out of coffee shops a lot.
- GREAT for families and small businesses.
- Anyone who travels a lot and works from hotels & other remote locations.
Analyzed by SwipeBotSwipeBot
Image Description
The image shows a webpage from AppSumo featuring a compelling story about a stolen iMac and the solution using Prey tracking software. It's visually engaging with a clear headline and sections that guide the reader through the narrative and offer.
Positive Aspects
The image effectively captures the reader's attention with its bold headline and structured layout. It reinforces the urgency and personal nature of the story, making the offer for Prey software compelling and relatable. The clear call-to-action buttons and pricing details are easy to spot, enhancing user engagement.
Key Takeaways
- Theft can happen unexpectedly, and having tracking software like Prey can be essential.
- Prey offers powerful features like location tracking, device locking, and remote messaging to help recover stolen devices.
- The AppSumo deal provides a significant discount on Prey's Home Plan, making it affordable to protect multiple devices.
- Installing tracking software on all devices is crucial for anyone who frequently uses electronics for work or travel.
- Prey is compatible with various devices, including Macs, PCs, and smartphones.
Additional Insights
Getting robbed is a nightmare, but turning that frustration into a lesson is gold! Imagine the satisfaction of sending a message to the thief’s screen—“Hey, I see you!” It’s like a digital superhero moment. Also, the peace of mind knowing your device can scream for help is worth every penny. Keep your gadgets safe, folks!
