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GadgetTrak

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GadgetTrak
Developer(s)GadgetTrak Inc.
Initial releaseFebruary 24, 2007 (2007-02-24)
Written inObjective-C, C++, Java. .NET,Linux
Operating systemWindows, OS X, Android, iOS
TypeLaptop & mobile tracking software
LicenseCommercial
Websitegadgettrak.com

GadgetTrak is a company based in Portland, Oregon that develops theft recovery and data protection software under the same name.[1] [2] The company was founded in February of 2007 by Ken Westin [3] with the launch of the the first theft recovery product for USB mass storage devices, that tracked stolen devices including iPods, flash drives, digital cameras and other devices when connected to a computer[4] . [5][6] . The company was issued a patent for the technology on February 24, 2009 (US patent 7496201, Ken Westin, "Portable host-pluggable appliance tracking system", published 2009-02-24, issued 2009-02-24, assigned to WestinTech DBA GadgetTrak ). GadgetTrak's technology was featured during a special segment by Dateline on iPod theft where they tracked stolen iPods and confronted the thieves[7] . A customized version of the technology was embedded in FLIR thermal imaging cameras as part of an exclusive three year licensing deal under the name ThermaTrak[8] utilized for both theft recovery as well as export controls.

Laptop Software

The company launched it's first original laptop software solution for Macs that utilizes the web camera to capture a photo of a thief, as well as the utilization of Wi-Fi positioning to provide location within 10-20 meters[9]. Shortly after the product launch there were a number of stolen laptop recoveries using the software, the first being in Brooklyn, New York where a stolen iMac was tracked to a tattoo parlor where police recovered the stolen computer along with other stolen property[10] . In April 2009 the company launched a Windows version of their laptop software further expanding their product offering[11] .

Mobile Software

The company launched its first mobile security software in October of 2008[12] , targeted towards Blackberry and Windows mobile devices and later expanded to Apple's iPhone when the store opened later that year, a year and a half before Apple launched Find My iPhone[13]. The company launched its third version of GadgetTrak Mobile Security in 2012 at CES, the new solution provides a web based control panel to activate tracking, remotely wipe data from the device, encrypt and backup data as well as enterprise group management, as well as support for Android devices[14] . Just after launch the software was put to test by a string of Sprint stores that installed the software on their demo units, one store in a mall in Tigard, Oregon had several devices stolen and with the help of GadgetTrak was able to recover the devices and apprehend the thieves[15] .

Highlighted Recoveries

GadgetTrak is an innovator in the theft recovery and data protection space and has had many "firsts" with regards to devices that have been recovered and methods used.

  • June 2007 ( Newmarket, ON) First known recovery of a stolen iPod ever using tracking technology[16] followed by others[17]
  • February 2008 (Dallas, TX) First known recovery of a stolen USB flash drive using tracking technology[18]
  • November 2008 (Anchorage, AK) First known recovery of a stolen cell phone using tracking technology[19]
  • June 2009 (Edmund, OK) First recovery of a stolen phone recovered even after SIM card removed [20]
  • August 2009 (Brooklyn, NY )First recovery of a stolen computer utilizing Wi-Fi positioning and web camera hardware[21] [22]
  • September 2009 (Oakland, CA) A business was broken into and multiple laptops stolen, one had GadgetTrak installed that led police to a house where multiple stolen laptops were discovered as well as methamphetamine [23]
  • November 2009 (Portland, OR - Missouri) GadgetTrak tracked a stolen laptop from Portland, OR to Missouri unveiling an organized theft ring that was fencing stolen property between the two states to avoid detection [24] [25]
  • January 2010 (Springfield, OR) GadgetTrak software leads police to burglary suspect recovering a stolen laptop and family jewelry [26]
  • February 2010 (Portland, OR) After a series of repeated break-ins and computer thefts in Portland area schools, one school district install GadgetTrak on several "bait" devices, within a week the school was robbed again luckily including the laptops that had the software on them. GadgetTrak and police tracked a stolen laptop to Vancouver, WA and ended up arresting 6 people involved in the theft ring. [27] [28]
  • January 2011 (Moraga, CA) Laptop stolen from a St. Mary's College student recovered by police after several weeks of tracking reports from GadgetTrak [29] [30][31]

References

  1. ^ "About Company". GadgetTrak. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  2. ^ David, Becker. "Anti-Theft Widget for iPods". Wired. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  3. ^ Bertoni, Steven. "Most Stolen Electronics". Forbes. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Bob. "iPod crime wave? Yes, and more". NBC News.
  5. ^ Adam, Pash (2/26/2007). "Recover stolen gadgets with GadgetTheft". Life Hacker. Retrieved 2 September 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Darren, Murph. "GadgetTrak hunts down stolen gadgetry for free". Engadget. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  7. ^ Hansen, Chris. "Dateline Takes On iPod Thieves". Dateline NBC. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  8. ^ "FLIR Systems Launches ThermaTrak(TM) 'Find' Service to Recover Lost, Stolen or Missing Infrared Cameras". Thomas Net. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  9. ^ Steven, Sande. "TUAW Review: MacTrak Theft Recovery Software". TUAW. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  10. ^ Charlie, Sorrel. "Tracking Software Rescues Stolen iMac after Two Weeks". Wired. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  11. ^ Rick, Turoczy. "Windows laptop and netbook owners can rest easier: GadgetTrak launches PC-Trak". Silicon Florist. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  12. ^ "GadgetTrak Inc. Launches GadgetTrak® Mobile Security - The Most Advanced Anti-Theft and Data Protection for Smart Phones". PR Web. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  13. ^ Glenn, Fleishman. "Find Your Lost iPhone or iPod touch with iPhone OS 3.0". Tidbits. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  14. ^ France, Jasmine. "CES: GadgetTrak offers mobile theft protection". CNET. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  15. ^ Teachout, Ed. "Tigard police used tracker on stolen cellphones". KGW News. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  16. ^ Westin, Ken. "iPod Theft Recovery – Newmarket Ontario". GadgetTrak. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  17. ^ Westin, Ken. "Another Successful GadgetTrak iPod Recovery: Dublin, Ohio". GadgetTrak. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  18. ^ "Another GadgetTrak Recovery – Stolen 32GB Flash Drive Recovered". GadgetTrak. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  19. ^ "GadgetTrak Mobile Security Catches Phone Thief". GadgetTrak.
  20. ^ "GadgetTrak Recovers Stolen AT&T Tilt for Customer – Edmond Oklahoma". GadgetTrak. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  21. ^ Nosowitz, Dan. "GadgetTrak Security System Catches iMac Thief With Startling Precision". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  22. ^ Deleon, Nicholas. "Look, GadgetTrak caught an evil iMac thief in Brooklyn!". Techcrunch. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  23. ^ "GadgetTrak Cracks Theft Ring – Oakland, California". GadgetTrak.
  24. ^ Goldman |, Jeff. "ActiveTrak Targets the Enterprise". eSecurity Planet.
  25. ^ "GadgetTrak Tracks & Recovers Stolen Macbook from Portland to Missouri". GadgetTrak.
  26. ^ "Stealthy Laptop Software Catches Photos of Thieves". KEZI News.
  27. ^ "GadgetTrak Unveils Theft Ring Targetting Portland Schools". GadgetTrak.
  28. ^ "Gadget snaps photo of school laptop theft suspect". KGW News.
  29. ^ Bertolucci, Jeff. "Laptop Thieves Punk'd! Six Amazing Recovery Stories". PC World.
  30. ^ Pool, Bob. "Wireless technology may lead police to stolen camera". LA Times.
  31. ^ {{cite web|title=GadgetTrak Laptop Recovery – Richmond, CA|url=http://gadgettrak.com/blog/2011/05/gadgettrak-laptop-recovery-richmond-ca/%7CpublisherCBS 5 San Francisco}
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