Notebook security...

Hi. I just have a strange question that i always wanted to know about. Why are there notebook locks when all a thief has to do is break off a piece of plastic from the lock hole on the laptop??? It feels very flimsy....

 

It's really not as flimsy as it sounds. Usually there's some metal under the plastic. And it's more a deterrent than a permanent lock. It's easy to pick up an unlocked laptop and pretend it's yours. It's much harder to do that with one that's locked. All any lock does is keep an honest person honest.

 

Ideally, the locks clip directly to the laptop's internal frame. But in practice, its not always that way.

 

ohh ic. I guess I really should use my lock. Thanks for the advice.

 

Coulden't you use some sort of small saw or dremel or something to chew away?

Yeah, locks only keep out those who woulden't be likely to steal it anyway. Although, my brothers and friends like to get on my aim/myspace accounts... this would be a help XD

 

Some of the locks from Kensington are very hard to cut and i know for sure that there is one that is impossible to cut

 

You are telling me that there is a notebook lock that is impossible to cut? Is that the one made out of unobtainium? My point is that any notebook lock can be cut... pretty easily. Imagine taking an angle grinder, or bolt cutters, or a sawzall, or for some cables, you could even use tin snips or a hacksaw... or a dremel... or freeze it with liquid nitrogen and break it... or tell the janitor that you lost your key and prove that it's your notebook by typing in the bios password (which you just set.) and have him cut it for you.

Or pick the lock, which will probably be faster and easier.

The typical keyed lock with pins (I forget the fancy term) is usually super-easy to pick with a $2 set of lockpicks, and combination locks are easy too, if you know what you're doing, and some can be opened with shims.

My point in telling you all this is that anyone can get at your notebook. Anyone... Notebook locks are more to remind people that they shouldn't.

However, those notebook locks that you see at CompUSA etc look pretty durable.

So buy a notebook lock, still keep your notebook near you, and get an insurance policy. (For $30 a year I got one from state farm for my V6J... it has a $250 deductable, and covers any sort of damage or theft.) No more worries for me...

BTW, I'm not a criminal or thief of any sort, I've just always been intrigued by locks, security, etc.

Cyrus

 

lol r u sure about not being a thief? Yeah i think i'l just keep my laptop with me allll the time.

 

and I've been always intrigued with picking locks

 

yes there are videos of locks being picked in under a minute, and there are videos of cables being snapped. the bottom line is, it's a deterrent. Mine has an alarm that sounds if the cable is cut and a blinking LED to tell potential theives "this notebook is protected". boo hoo, so what? all i have to do is pull the battery out before i cut the cable, or just pick it. bottom line, it's a deterrent, a laptop without a lock is much more tempting and easier to take than one without it, and if you'll be gone that long in a place that sketchy, then take it with you.

btw picking locks is fun, especially with the older ones that have less cyllenders.

Also, what's the resale value on a laptop that has a huge ripped plastic hole with metal shards sticking out from the chassis where the lock hole used to be?

 

This is the main point for the OP.

Most people who steal a laptop do so because they can carry it easily, and sell it easily. They generally aren't stealing it for personal use.

A laptop with a busted hole in the side of it won't be able to be sold easily, or for very much.

By the way, I would believe most laptop thefts are thefts of opportunity.

There was a vdeo on YouTube a few days ago. The video was from a security camera, viewing inside an electronics store.

You see this older gentleman walking past the store. He stops, and looks in the window, and sees some laptops.

He enters the store, wanders around, walks up to the laptop in the window display, picks it up, checks it out, then puts it down.

He starts to walk to the exist, stops, returns to the laptop, and simply closes the lid, then, again, starts to walk away. He stops... looks back, returns to the laptop, looks around, then grabs it and sticks it inside his jacket.

He again looks around, sees all of the employees busy and not noticing him, and casually stolls out of the store.... with the laptop under his jacket!

While this took place in an electronics store, I assure you it duplicates how many laptops get stolen... easy opportunity, the thief looking for witnesses, not seeing any, and grabbing it.

If he had to bring his bolt cutters, or chain saw, he never would have stolen that laptop.

 

have you ever seen laptop parts sold on eBay for cheap?

guess where most of them came from...

so a hole in the side of the laptop is an annoyance rather than crippling blow.
Same goes for a locked BIOS.

However I do agree that a notebook lock is better than no lock. It's like any other lock/alarm or software protection mechanisms. All can be bypassed if someone sufficiently skilled/knowledgable wants to get it done.

 

as long as people dont bank on a lock being the ultimate protection, there won't be any disappointment. i did see the video of the guy stealing 2 laptops from a store, it was unbelievable.