Backup Anytime

Backupanytime stolen laptop retrieval service through I.P. address

Our focus is specifically online data backup. Consequently we assist with data retrieval on a regular basis. We did not however expect to become involved in the retrieval of stolen laptops or workstations. Stolen laptop and computer recovery is however something which we and other quality online backup providers can assist clients with. How so?
Each time your computer backs up it reports it’s I.P. address to one of our servers. Our system allows your computer to backup from anywhere. This is essential so you can backup from any location. In the event of your computer being stolen and subsequently connecting to the Internet (Most stolen systems go online within a week of being stolen and without being formatted) it will report it’s I.P. address to our servers. The I.P. address is generally a temporary number assigned by the broadband service provider through which the system connects.

How can this be used to track the system location?
Surely any efforts to track the system geographically through an I.P. address will come up with vague results. Yes and no. There are many I.P. trace tools online. Most of them will provide a broad and not necessarily accurate geographic location. Thinking outside the box however allows a more efficient method to be used.

Given that any attempt to equate an I.P. address to a geographic or postal address is prone to failure, this is what we can do. When your system is stolen you contact us. If and when the system goes on line in its’ normal state it will connect to us to backup. We will then be able to obtain the I.P. address. Next we go online and using subscription, commercial I.P. utility membership we type the I.P. address and check the results. The results we acquire are not so much based around the location of the stolen system but more so  the broadband provider being used to connect the system to the Internet. Next we need to get the broadband provider to hand over information regarding which client of theirs had the said I.P. address at the time it connected to our servers. Will they have this information? Almost certainly. Indeed they are required by law to retain it for specific periods. Are they likely to hand this information out? They operate under the data protection act and are prevented therefore from handing over their client information (which they are ironically required to retain) outside of exceptional circumstances. These exceptional circumstances usually involve law enforcement so our client (the person who owns the stolen laptop or PC) needs to go to the Gardai or police depending on your jurisdiction.

This may sound more complex and less likely to succeed than it actually is so lets put it in to a procedural list.

1. Backupanytime client laptop or computer is stolen.  (Laptops are always at high risk of theft)
2. Client reports theft to backupanytime. (Simple approved contact phone call)
3. Backupanytime get I.P. if system connects in normal state. (statistics say very likely)
4. Backupanytime check which broadband company the I.P. address relates to. (not complex)
5. Client provides this information to law enforcement. (Just call in to station with I.D. and info we provide)
6. Law enforcement request name and actual address from broadband provider.
7. Law enforcement make arrest and search warrant decisions.

We do not currently have a test situation and given data protection legislation we are unlikely to be able to report the results any real scenario in detail on the backupanytime blog. We will however report the basics without personally identifiable information.

In the interim we will be advising clients to be aware of this and that they should report stolen systems to us in a timely manner.

Testing of 100 sample I.P. addresses in the UK and Ireland gave rise to results of 100% actual broadband provider identification from I.P. address. We have spoken informally with three Irish Broadband providers and they are in agreement with our procedure list. We will communicate with more in the UK and Ireland and intend to draw up a chart of the responses of broadband providers and any amendment in the procedure list or process as befits them.