security solution

hey, i have an inspiron e1405 that i'm taking to college with me. i was wondering what kind of a lock to get for security...the targus locks i see at best buy say that they work with any laptop that has a 'lock slot'....does the e1405 have this? if so, where can i find it? and if not, what should i use?

 

Why would you worry about getting a lock? There isn't a single laptop lock out there that can't be easily ripped off the notebook.

Oh, and If your notebook has a hole on the side of it, with a lock symbol with a K in it, then yes, you can use the lock.

 

You might consider Computrace

 

The lock slot is smaller than a tic tac and doesn't necessarily have a K by it.

The locks aren't meant to be "rip proof". And don't you think someone ripping a laptop from a table would be noticed? That's the purpose of them, to provide visual and slight physical deterance.

any lock is better than no lock. Also, by ripping it from the lock, one might damage the frame or internal components, which would, of course, lower its sale value or make it visibly identifiable as a stolen notebook.

Computrace and other programs like LoJack also help, however, they only record the last ip used and can be easily removed by formatting the HD. Most thieves aren't that tech savvy so its a good idea if you don't mind paying for it.

 

Don't forget to enable the boot, hd and admin passwords. This would help slow them down in case it is stolen. My E1705 has computrac built into the bios so wiping out the hd wouldn't help them. I think?

 

A laptop with a big chunk missing out of the side where its been ripped off of the security lock is unlikely to be sold on very easily lol

 

Actually, computrace is extremely extremely hard to remove from the computer. Once enabled in the BIOS is remains enabled and there is no way for you to DISABLE it. Once installed on your system, is it virtually impossible to remove. For instance, if you tried to reformat the HD, once the bios sees its not on the system it automatically reinstalls itself. Same things happens if you tried to add a new harddrive. The only way to completely remove it would be to replace the motherboard and the hard drive. By then the system would basically be worth nothing.

 

i would prefer avoid having my notebook stolen in the first place. therefore, i say the lock is a great idea. i've seen them for 10 bux AR on bensbargains.net in the last couple weeks. keep an eye out and you'll get a good deal.

all you want is the thief to pass your notebook over. if you lock your notebook up and then leave it for 30 mins, you deserve to lose it. the lock is just for when you have to go to the bathroom at the library or starbucks and you don't want to pack it up for such a short trip.

use a lock when necessary, don't be dumb, and you won't get your notebook stolen.

 

I also have enabled the Admin entrance passwords on my E1705 - its very useful because if someone does steal your notebook, they won't be able to enter your computer's software at all in any way, shape, or form. You can enable it through the BIOS by pressing F12 (or F8, I can't remember right now ) upon start up.

 

You can flash the bios and get rid of the computrace.

 

I dont mean to sound like a know-it all, just like to inform those who "might" less educated about certain products. I work in Dell's Security Department, Computrace can only be ridded from the system by removing both the hard drive and the motherboard.

Flashing the BIOS will simply not remove it from the system. The program has a self healing feature which enables it to reinstall its self if it has been tampered with. The enable/disable state of the persistence module is not stored in the flashable part of the BIOS.

Anyhow, most thieves, like mentioned before simply wouldnt have the knowledge to disassemble a system and remove it.

 

Didn't know that...thx... and yea.... most thieves just want to play thei pirated music on it and won't think about formatting much less flashing anything.