Lost or Stolen Camera Security Feature

[Barney Fife]

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[PhyrePhoX]

wait, i had this idea first i can show you by sending you my personal chdk todo list. its in german though
problem is, as soon as sd card is removed, so is chdk.
this could be "hardcoded" into chdk as in "on startup, check the _securemodecheckbox_, if set, read the _securemodemessage_ (from text file). display message until camera shut down OR special keypress.

[Barney Fife]

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[GrAnd]

There is the alternative way - to create a startup logo with such textual information and install it as boot image to the camera. In this case it will be shown every time on camera boot and will not depend on CHDK existence.
Or, even glue a sticker with the address to return.

All these things could help in case you lost the camera. But they are absolutely nothing if the camera is stolen.

[a710is]

coincidentally, for the first time in 7 years, I almost lost a cheap mobile phone  yesterday in a postal office. 
luckily, the worker there was a fair person and she gave it to me.
I keep a software running on my smartphone though that allows me to remotely lock it up by sms and display a message on it like "located by GPS call 0123456".
I guess that changing the logo screen with your contact information would be nice, and in CHDK maybe even have it do something when you start it up that would make a thief discard of it to maybe be found by a fair person. not everybody would know that the software is just loaded on the card.
on bootup it could like simulate a malfunction or it could require some sort of login procedure to work properly (like a key press sequence).
anything that would better the chances of getting the camera back would be useful

[m2tk]

a PIN code?

[Barney Fife]

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[wontolla]

I am confused!

I see two different ideas:

1.- Lost Camera: To somehow include your personal details in the camera so an honourable person can return it to you. But at the same time hide them to a burglar so he can't know where you live and can't attempt to mug you again?

2.- Stolen Camera: To introduce some kind of password so a burglar can't operate the camera making it worthless.

Compromises:
While my phone number in the camera increases the chances to get it back if found by a honest person. I'd hate my details been available to the burglar. (May be I'm too paranoid).

The password would give the robber a nice surprise, but I'd have to enter it every time I turn on the camera. (My be I'm too lazy).

[whim]

I am confused!

so am I .... What's the point of this ?

ex.: burglar -> sees password -> <swears> -> formats card -> smiles ...
or:  burglar -> sees password -> smiles knowingly (aha CHDK compat. cam -> more $$$)

might be useful for honest finder @price of privacy loss

wim

[Racenviper]

Passwords are like locks

Keeps honest people honest

[Barney Fife]

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[Barney Fife]

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[Racenviper]

Sure, you can look at it any way you want. I work the F1 races at Indy. Last summer I lost my phone. Someone found it. Made a call to my mother. I still don't have my phone. I guess the phone call to my mother made it in his mind he tried to return my phone and he kept it, gave it to someone else, or sold it. The main office at the speedway never saw it, but hey it was only a 500 dollar phone.

I also work attorneys everyday. Some of them would rather take coffee then help pay for it. (supported by co-workers not the company)

There is different levels of stealing

5. You're on vacation and accidentally left your camera on the cafe' table. Maybe the next family that sits down ponders their great new find. Until they start it up and see that message. They rethink keeping it and return it.

[PhyrePhoX]

[Barney Fife]

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