Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 61 posts

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#11

Post by johnchristopher »

Pro_bity wrote: post #7

Two choices IMO, 1) if you can afford it, replace the laptop. 2) If you can't afford it, then take up a collection from the attendees. As for adverse incentives, you should always presume that people are honest and good. However, to cover yourself (and it is a good idea anyways), make them fill out a police report. Keep a copy on file for yourself. This would give any would be profiteer pause, as there are real conse…

I like the collecting idea, especially if you couple it with a message to raise awareness.

Something like a little talk about HDD encryption, kensington locks, hidden softwares calling home, webcam taking pictures every 10 seconds and destroyed after a while unless asked to, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#12

Post by mindslight »

shawnreilly wrote: post #4

I've never been to a PennApps Hackathon, but from what you describe (1000+ people), I'd imagine that it's pretty much impossible for event organizers to prevent this. I think the key here is the 'left unattended' part of the scenario. The solution would be to tell the teams not to leave the equipment unattended. It's unfortunate, but a reality of life (even at a Hackathon with a great community); There are bad people…

> The solution would be to tell the teams not to leave the equipment unattended

Please no. Don't contribute to this cover-your-ass culture of information clutter by disclaiming the obvious with braindead notices that nobody is expected to read. It's common sense to maintain responsibility for your stuff to the extent you'd like to avoid having it mucked with through malice or ignorance.

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#13

Post by mjhea0 »

Pro_bity wrote: post #7

Two choices IMO, 1) if you can afford it, replace the laptop. 2) If you can't afford it, then take up a collection from the attendees. As for adverse incentives, you should always presume that people are honest and good. However, to cover yourself (and it is a good idea anyways), make them fill out a police report. Keep a copy on file for yourself. This would give any would be profiteer pause, as there are real conse…

I like the collection idea as well. However, I'd also lend them my laptop so they can still participate.

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#15

Post by Pro_bity »

mjhea0 wrote: post #13
Pro_bity wrote: post #7

Two choices IMO, 1) if you can afford it, replace the laptop. 2) If you can't afford it, then take up a collection from the attendees. As for adverse incentives, you should always presume that people are honest and good. However, to cover yourself (and it is a good idea anyways), make them fill out a police report. Keep a copy on file for yourself. This would give any would be profiteer pause, as there are real conse…

I like the collection idea as well. However, I'd also lend them my laptop so they can still participate.

Agreed

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#18

Post by radley »

mindslight wrote: post #12
shawnreilly wrote: post #4

I've never been to a PennApps Hackathon, but from what you describe (1000+ people), I'd imagine that it's pretty much impossible for event organizers to prevent this. I think the key here is the 'left unattended' part of the scenario. The solution would be to tell the teams not to leave the equipment unattended. It's unfortunate, but a reality of life (even at a Hackathon with a great community); There are bad people…

> The solution would be to tell the teams not to leave the equipment unattended Please no. Don't contribute to this cover-your-ass culture of information clutter by disclaiming the obvious with braindead notices that nobody is expected to read. It's common sense to maintain responsibility for your stuff to the extent you'd like to avoid having it mucked with through malice or ignorance.

Most hackakthons are at the pro level, so it's industry peers and security for this is never a concern.

When you have 1000 students in a hackathon, then yeah it's a good idea to point out the difference.

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#19

Post by educating »

The appropriate response is to as much as possible help them contact the authorities and/or to keep a lookout for the laptop and the thief. But, you also have a hackathon to run, so you cannot inconvenience others just because someone was thoughless enough not to take their laptop with them when they went to the bathroom without someone they trust watching it for them.

Re: Ask HN: Running a hackathon and someone's laptop got stolen, what should we do?

#20

Post by ChuckMcM »

ddebernardy wrote: post #3

Cameras...

I agree, Storage isn't that much of an issue these days and six web cams around the place feeding into portable USB drives is pretty simple to set up with a RasPi these days. Then you have the chance of adding a face to the police report as well.
Post reply on HN