Lock up Macs to prevent theft? How?

[amin]

Hi all, waiting for shipment on Mac Pro and 20" cinema display along with an iMac for someone else in the office. Do the cinema display and iMac have standard notebook lock ports with which I can use something like the Kensington micro lock? Do I even need to lock up the heavy Mac Pro? I work in a research lab in an urban hospital where many laptops are stolen, so given the expense of this computer I'd feel better with it locked down. How could I do this?

 

[pianoman]

If you take a look at the pictures on Apple's website, there doesn't seem to be one on the Mac Pro. I'm pretty sure the ACDs don't have one either.

I suppose you could use the "handles" on the top of the Mac Pro to feed a lock cable through and then tie it around using another secure port. I don't really know how this would work, but those handle-type loopy things could play a part.

Apple computers are notorious for being easy to transport, even the PowerMacs/Mac Pros. While I've never heard of anyone stealing one, it is definitely not out of the realm of possibility. If you are careful and safe and lock up your office, you should be ok, but there's always a chance something could go missing.

 

[iMeowbot]

Apple displays do have Kensington slots on the back panel.

None of these things really work if the thief has enough time and there aren't other interesting bits of hardware around that are easier to take. A decoy (a dead but good-looking G4 cabinet would do) might help if your office space is open to the public.

 

[amin]

Thanks both of you for the suggestions. My office is not open to the public and is generally locked, but enough people come through to clean, etc to make me paranoid. I understand these locks can be cut, but there are a ton of G5 Macs on my floor that are not locked up, so I think having any lock on mine will make them the less likely choice for a casual theif. Do the iMacs have the slots for Kensington locks on the back?

 

[miles01110]

Thanks both of you for the suggestions. My office is not open to the public and is generally locked, but enough people come through to clean, etc to make me paranoid. I understand these locks can be cut, but there are a ton of G5 Macs on my floor that are not locked up, so I think having any lock on mine will make them the less likely choice for a casual theif. Do the iMacs have the slots for Kensington locks on the back?

I don't believe so. However, you could use the hole that you string cables through to lock it up.

 

[iMeowbot]

Do the iMacs have the slots for Kensington locks on the back?

Yes, it's right in the middle back, just like on the displays.

iSlab manual (PDF, p. 26) and displays design page so you can see what these critters look like.

 

[Mr. Mister]

The Mac Pro has a little loop that comes through the door latch that you can put a lock through thus you could probably also put a cable through.

 

[ftaok]

so I think having any lock on mine will make them the less likely choice for a casual theif.

Or maybe the fact that your Mac is the only one that's locked up would make it a more tempting target. Kinda like it's shouting, "Hey, look at me, I'm more important than the other Macs. Steal me!"

 

[JBot]

Or maybe the fact that your Mac is the only one that's locked up would make it a more tempting target. Kinda like it's shouting, "Hey, look at me, I'm more important than the other Macs. Steal me!"

Worst.reasoning.ever.
people who steal are looking for an easy ready to go object to lift.
Have you ever just thought of buying one of the desks with a lockable cabinet, than have the cables feed through the back panel. If you had a door swing open style, it would make all the front panels still accessable.
For the monitor, i havent seen an acd, but i have a sony lcd, which has a panel covering th inputs. I could lock that panel to the monitor, than the only way to lift it is unplug it, by pulling it. That should be a big enough deterant.

Finally, what hospital are you working in that doesnt have security cameras? As well as theft insurance?

 

[devmage]

I always considered the weight of the recent Power Macs, and Mac Pros the best anti theft deterent

 

[Lau]

If you don't mind defacing them (slightly) you can buy a kit that has small metal pads that you glue on to the back of your screen/tower/whatever you like, and you glue one to the floor or desk, and then run a cable through them.

It would be a lot more secure than the thin cable with the Kensington locks, I think. It's the way I've seen a lot of colleges and shops secure theirs. I'll have a google and see if I can find em.

Edit: This sort of thing, although I have seen classier and smaller silver pads, which would match your kit (and obviously, you can glue them on the bottom or the back where they won't show).

 

[amin]

Finally, what hospital are you working in that doesnt have security cameras? As well as theft insurance?

I work at Johns Hopkins in a research lab. Theft insurance won't get my data back. Our lab does not have security cameras within, but the hallways are covered. I guess I'm just being extra cautious. I'm going to use this lock to string together my Mac Pro (through the "feet"), desk, and cinema display. It has an extra lock, which is nice because I can add my Powerbook to the chain when I bring it to work.

If you don't mind defacing them (slightly) you can buy a kit that has small metal pads that you glue on to the back of your screen/tower/whatever you like, and you glue one to the floor or desk, and then run a cable through them.

It would be a lot more secure than the thin cable with the Kensington locks, I think. It's the way I've seen a lot of colleges and shops secure theirs. I'll have a google and see if I can find em.

Edit: This sort of thing, although I have seen classier and smaller silver pads, which would match your kit (and obviously, you can glue them on the bottom or the back where they won't show).

Thanks. I looked at those and don't want to risk the slight defacement at this time.