About PC PhoneHome

Software > Security > PC PhoneHome > About PC PhoneHome

What should I do if my laptop is stolen?

If you have installed PC PhoneHome on a machine and that machine is stolen, you should notify Columbia Public Safety immediately, even if the theft did not occur on campus. Make sure you mention that PC PhoneHome is installed. Public Safety contact information is available at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/publicsafety/contactus.html

You do not need to contact Brigadoon Security Group. Columbia Public Safety will notify them of the theft reported, and will speak with Columbia University IT Security if more information is required.

Once Brigadoon has been notified, they will contact law enforcement in the area that your machine has been seen since the theft and provide technical assistance to help them recover the machine. Once law enforcement officials have recovered it, they will turn it over to Columbia Public Safety.

The process is much easier if you can present Public Safety with some information about the machine at the time of the report. Knowing the MAC address of network cards and the serial number of the machine can expedite the process of getting your computer back returned.

For more information about determining MAC addresses, visit http://www.columbia.edu/acis/security/articles/data/ipmac.html.

Recovered machines will be presented to Public Safety's Morningside office where owners can reclaim them.