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Root
Authored by: JohnnyMnemonic on Jan 27, '02 10:58:15AM

Would it be better to create it as the root user, so the operation performs in the background no matter who's logged in?



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cron
Authored by: marmoset on Jan 27, '02 11:03:50AM

With cron, the user doesn't need to be logged in
for the cron job to execute.



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cron
Authored by: professor on Jan 27, '02 06:13:43PM

The biggest disadvantage of this script is that it assumes that the computer is connected to the internet when the cron job runs. Unless the robber has a cable/DSL connection (sounds unlikely), that is false.

More to the point, unless the robber knows the password to a valid account on the system, it is unlikely he is going to be able to boot into OSX. If he can boot into OS9, then your script is bypassed.

If you have set an open-firmware password, then he won't be able to bypass booting into OSX (without some fairly radical, and not well-known, measures -- removing a DIMM, resetting the PRAM, . . .).

I find it hard to think of a scenario in which the robber can actually use the machine and still be running OSX (so that your cron job still runs).



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Guest access for thieves...
Authored by: gabidanon on Jan 31, '02 12:30:33PM

If you have a guest account that doesn't require a password, I think that a thief will be able to use Mac OS X and connect to the internet. The only problem is that in that case he will only be able to use the accounts that you have already defined, so even if he wants to change to his own ISP he won't be able to.
So the only thing you'll get is the IP from your own ISP.



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