Prey (software): Difference between revisions
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{{for|the video game|Prey (2006 video game)}} |
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{{Infobox software |
{{Infobox software |
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| name = Prey |
| name = Prey |
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| logo = [[File:Prey Logo |
| logo = [[File:Prey Logo 2020.png|200px]] |
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| logo size = 220px |
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| developer = |
| developer = Prey Inc. |
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| released = {{Start date|2009|03|24}} |
| released = {{Start date|2009|03|24}} |
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| latest release version = 1. |
| latest release version = 1.9.3<ref>[https://preyproject.com/download/ "Latest Release"].</ref> |
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| latest release date = {{Start date|2016|09|2}} |
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| programming language = [[Bash (Unix shell)|Bash]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Objective-C]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[Node.js]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]] |
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| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]] |
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]] |
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| genre = [[ |
| genre = [[Device tracking software]] |
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| license = [[GNU General Public License]]; [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] (Prey Pro) |
| license = [[GNU General Public License]]; [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] (Prey Pro) |
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| ⚫ | |||
| status = Active |
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| ⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
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'''Prey''' is a software and online platform for mobile [[Device tracking software|device tracking]], management, and protection available for laptops, tablets, and mobiles. The software and service is developed by the Chilean company Prey Inc., successor of the funding company Fork Ltd. |
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'''Prey''' is a [[freemium]] web service for tracking and monitoring laptop and desktop computers, smartphones and other electronic devices capable of running software applications, mainly intended to help in cases of theft. The service is hosted by servers on the Internet, to which an open-source [[software agent]] on the tracked computer connects. The host can signal the agent, prompting it to reply with information about its current location, and can trigger various other actions.<ref name=Lifehacker>{{cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/5643460/how-to-track-and-potentially-recover-your-stolen-laptop-or-android-with-prey |title=How to track and (potentially) recover your stolen laptop or Android with Prey |first=Kevin |last=Purdy |date=Sep 21, 2010 |work=Lifehacker }}</ref> The user can log into the Prey site if the tracked device is stolen, and request information about its location. |
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Prey was originally created by the developer Tomás Pollak who together with Carlos Yaconi, the current CEO of the company, founded Fork Ltd. and released the first version of Prey for Linux. |
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Prey runs on most versions of [[Microsoft Windows]] (except [[Windows Mobile]] and [[Windows Phone]]), [[Linux]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[OS X]] and [[iOS]]. The computer version of the Prey agent is written primarily in [[Bash (Unix shell)|Bash]], while the mobile counterparts are written in their native languages, Java and Objective-C.<ref name=Download>{{cite web |url=http://preyproject.com/download/ |title=Prey download page|publisher=Fork Ltd |accessdate=19 October 2016}}; filenames indicate version, e.g. prey-windows-1.4.2-x86.exe</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/track-down-recover-stolen-laptop-the-thief-with-prey/ |title=Track down and recover your stolen laptop with Prey |first=Justin |last=Pot |date=July 15, 2010 |work=MakeUseOf }}</ref> |
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== Functioning == |
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All of the client-side [[Open source software|source code is published]] on [[GitHub]] and distributed under the [[GNU General Public License]]; the server code is proprietary,<ref name=terms>{{cite web |url=http://preyproject.com/terms/ |title=Terms of Service for Prey’s Control Panel |year=2012 |publisher=Fork Ltd.|quote=The Control Panel … application is currently not licensed, and [is] maintained only by Fork. }}</ref> although an open source version is available for public use.<ref name="panel">{{cite web |url=https://github.com/prey/prey-standalone-control-panel |title=Prey Standalone Control Panel |year=2013 |publisher=Fork Ltd. |quote=Simple app to trigger reports for Prey Standalone users. }}</ref> |
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Prey started as an anti-theft software for recovering lost mobile devices which evolved into remote management with device and data protection. The service works through a client, or [[Application software|application]], installed on the devices that are to be protected. |
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When the device is connected to the Internet after Prey has been asked for information (typically after theft), the Prey server asks the software agent to send location information, which is made available to the registered user. |
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==Company== |
==Company== |
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Prey Inc. is a private software development company. Currently, it operates offices in San Francisco and in [[Santiago de chile|Santiago de Chile]]. |
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Fork Ltd.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forkhq.com/ |title=Fork |accessdate=19 December 2015 }}</ref> is a privately held software company with offices in the US, Chile and Hong Kong. It was founded in 2009 by CEO Tomás Pollak and COO Carlos Yaconi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forkhq.com/about.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110151421/http://forkhq.com/about.html|archivedate=10 November 2014|title=About our company|date=2014 |publisher=Fork Ltd}}</ref> |
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== |
=== Features === |
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The main feature in the platform is location tracking for any of the supported devices, with active monitoring of device movement. The service also has automatic reactions to location triggers, such as unwanted movements, that trigger security actions instantly when the event is detected. |
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If a device is to be located, usually because it has been stolen and will be used by unauthorised users, the owner logs into the Prey site and reports it as missing. The Prey server then attempts to contact the device when it connects to the Internet, asks it for location information, and can send user-requested commands, e.g., to lock the device. |
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*Provides a set of features that give the user remote security capabilities in case of theft or loss. |
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*Remotely recover or wipe information from a lost or stolen devices. |
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*Tools that streamline management processes and maintain a device inventory for global monitoring. |
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*Evidence generation tool for device recovery. |
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==Source code== |
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On devices such as smartphones with built-in [[GPS]] (satellite positioning) capability, the GPS location is used.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.preyproject.com/articles/39-how-to-enable-geolocation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125758/https://help.preyproject.com/articles/39-how-to-enable-geolocation|archivedate=2 April 2015| title=How to enable Geolocation|date=May 6, 2014}}</ref> |
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The source code in Prey's agents, or applications, is [[open source]] code under the GNU General Public License (GPLv3). The online platform's code and infrastructure are private and property of Prey Inc. |
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For a computer unable to connect to GPS, either without a receiver or indoors, if it has a Wifi interface the device scans for Wifi hotspots (it does not need to connect to any of them), and uses [[Wi-Fi positioning system|WiFi positioning]] by means of the Google Location API to obtain location information<ref>{{cite web |url=https://preyproject.com/blog/2010/03/prey-0-3-7-now-locate-your-computer |title=Prey 0.3.7: Now, locate your computer – Prey|date= |author= |accessdate= 4 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-google-and-everyone-else-gets-wi-fi-location-data/ |title=How Google--and everyone else--gets Wi-Fi location data |newspaper=ZDNet |date=16 November 2011 |author=Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols |accessdate= 4 December 2015}}</ref> |
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On devices with neither GPS nor WiFi, such as most desktop and some laptop computers, Prey provides the location of the Internet server the device is connected to; this may be far from the computer, and of little use. |
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It is also possible to command actions such as switching on a device's camera to view the user.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://expertvagabond.com/prey-project/ |title=Prey Project: How To Recover A Stolen Computer • Expert Vagabond |newspaper=Expertvagabond.com |date= 2012 |first=Matthew|last=Karsten |accessdate= 4 December 2015}}</ref> |
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==Versions== |
==Versions== |
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The first version of the agent was released for Linux and Mac OS X in March 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in April 2009.<ref name=Bootlog>{{cite web |url=http://bootlog.org/blog/2009/03/prey-stolen-laptop-tracking-script |title=Prey: Y rastrea tu computador robado (Prey: |
The first version of the agent was released originally for Linux and Mac OS X in March 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in April 2009.<ref name=Bootlog>{{cite web |url=http://bootlog.org/blog/2009/03/prey-stolen-laptop-tracking-script |title=Prey: Y rastrea tu computador robado (Prey: track your stolen computer) |first=Tomás |last=Pollak |date=Apr 14, 2009 |work=Bootlog |access-date=19 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208184850/http://bootlog.org/blog/2009/03/prey-stolen-laptop-tracking-script |archive-date=2015-12-08 |url-status=live }}</ref> Currently, Prey is available for laptops, tablets and mobiles in the macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS operating systems. |
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Prey provides Wi-Fi auto-connect, data securing, screenshot grabbing, webcam image capturing, hardware scanning, screen locking, remote messaging, and sonic-alarm triggering.<ref name=DownloadSquad>{{cite web |url=http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/prey-mac-windows-linux-tracks-stolen-laptops-android-smartphones-for-free/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506233416/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/prey-mac-windows-linux-tracks-stolen-laptops-android-smartphones-for-free/|archivedate=6 May 2014|title=Prey tracks stolen Windows, Mac or Linux laptops, or Android smartphones, for free |first=Lee |last=Mathews |date=Oct 28, 2010 |work=Switched }}</ref> Each feature is managed as a module that can be activated on demand. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{unreliable sources|date=February 2013}} |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{official website| |
* {{official website|https://preyproject.com}} |
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* [http://www.maestrosdelweb.com/editorial/el-apasionado-tomas-pollak-de-bootlog Interview with Tomás Pollak] |
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* {{github|prey}} |
* {{github|prey}} |
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* [http://whatismyipaddress.com/w3c-geolocation WhatIsMyIP W3C Browser Geolocation] Site that returns computer location from WiFi if available, otherwise Internet Service provider location (not Prey, but the same method that Prey uses) |
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[[Category:Cross-platform free software]] |
[[Category:Cross-platform free software]] |
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[[Category:Free security software]] |
[[Category:Free security software]] |
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[[Category:Free and open-source Android software]] |
[[Category:Free and open-source Android software]] |
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[[Category:Location-based software]] |
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[[Category:Theft]] |
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[[Category:Security software]] |
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[[Category:2009 software]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:15, 24 February 2024
 | |
| Developer(s) | Prey Inc. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | March 24, 2009 |
| Stable release | 1.9.3[1]
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| Operating system | Windows, Linux, OS X, Android, iOS |
| Type | Device tracking software |
| License | GNU General Public License; proprietary (Prey Pro) |
| Website | preyproject |
Prey is a software and online platform for mobile device tracking, management, and protection available for laptops, tablets, and mobiles. The software and service is developed by the Chilean company Prey Inc., successor of the funding company Fork Ltd.
Prey was originally created by the developer Tomás Pollak who together with Carlos Yaconi, the current CEO of the company, founded Fork Ltd. and released the first version of Prey for Linux.
Functioning
[edit]Prey started as an anti-theft software for recovering lost mobile devices which evolved into remote management with device and data protection. The service works through a client, or application, installed on the devices that are to be protected.
Company
[edit]Prey Inc. is a private software development company. Currently, it operates offices in San Francisco and in Santiago de Chile.
Features
[edit]The main feature in the platform is location tracking for any of the supported devices, with active monitoring of device movement. The service also has automatic reactions to location triggers, such as unwanted movements, that trigger security actions instantly when the event is detected.
- Provides a set of features that give the user remote security capabilities in case of theft or loss.
- Remotely recover or wipe information from a lost or stolen devices.
- Tools that streamline management processes and maintain a device inventory for global monitoring.
- Evidence generation tool for device recovery.
Source code
[edit]The source code in Prey's agents, or applications, is open source code under the GNU General Public License (GPLv3). The online platform's code and infrastructure are private and property of Prey Inc.
Versions
[edit]The first version of the agent was released originally for Linux and Mac OS X in March 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in April 2009.[2] Currently, Prey is available for laptops, tablets and mobiles in the macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS operating systems.
References
[edit]- ^ "Latest Release".
- ^ Pollak, Tomás (Apr 14, 2009). "Prey: Y rastrea tu computador robado (Prey: track your stolen computer)". Bootlog. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
External links
[edit]