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PortugaLopes

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2008
2
0
For many years now, I have been travelling with PowerBooks and have left them in hotel rooms locked up (attached to something non-removable or too heavy/big to remove), with a Kensignton-type device made by Belkin and featuring a combination lock (not a key). Never had a problem. That's why I said the little socket is essential, as we are talking about a computer that has been made to take around (not to sit on desk at home - at least, primarily).
 

thegman1234

macrumors 6502
Nov 10, 2007
321
0
Long Island
...nor would anyone leave a laptop in a public area unattended, locked or not. That would be asking for trouble and stupid....

Dude have you read the thread? A few people have already stated how they use the lock in public places such as coffee shops so they can leave their laptop unattended.
 

foltzie

macrumors member
Dec 20, 2006
48
0

Phil A.

Moderator emeritus
Apr 2, 2006
5,800
3,100
Shropshire, UK
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

although I don't use them myself, leaving the slot off could be a big problem for some people and if you absolutely have to have a security cable, you need a different computer. The only reason I can think of for it's absence is that there's nowhere to physically fit it on the chassis
 

EagerDragon

macrumors 68020
Jun 27, 2006
2,098
0
MA, USA
This picture shows that the Apple store is using some kind of security device on them. Probably using the USB port, cant be sure.
http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=100096&d=1201747515

Thats certainly interesting.

It could simply set off an alarm if pulled from the port, but that would get annoying, very quickly, if it wasnt further secured in the laptop. Otherwise anyone could set the alarm of by being slightly curious.

Yes, it must be difficult to remove otherwise it would be going off everytime someone picks it up to check the weight.

Maybe they used superglue, LOL.

Maybe some one can get a close up picture of the device?
 

DejanV

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2008
3
0
It is very much possible to unlock the stupid kensington with a peace of paper

For the THIRD time in this one thread, let me say that this is not a proven hack and is probably a hoax.

I have yet to find one instance of someone validating that method of picking a Kensington lock. None.

Additionally, I have tried it, and it looks like a hoax. My Kensington lock has a notch in the top. There is no way a round key without a notch can activate the lock. So the only way that trick even possibly could work with any Kensington lock I have seen would be if he added a hard metal tab to the TP roll.

So yet again... I am pretty sure that is a hoax. TRY IT and tell me otherwise.

Well, I don't want to offend anyone, but this locks are really useless...

As you can see from previous comments, there is more than one person capable of unlocking them in this forum.

This lock presents a safety feature for the people who does not steal thing usually, but if they have a chance they do (like when a kleptomaniac see a non-locked pc). (or maybe not even those kind of people... lol)

Otherwise it is useless...

Try it yourself, take your business card, roll it up, stick it in the round hole of the lock, then just turn.... its simple as that... (in Europe this lock costs more than 40€ ! ! !)

Cheers
 

Toe

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Mar 25, 2002
1,101
2
Try it yourself, take your business card, roll it up, stick it in the round hole of the lock, then just turn.... its simple as that... (in Europe this lock costs more than 40€ ! ! !)

I have tried it and I do not think it is possible with a Kensington lock.

And are you saying that every single vending machine in the world can be robbed with a business card? I find it difficult to believe, given the prevalence of unattended vending machines with the same lock mechanism.

This deserves a new thread:
Can YOU pick a KENSINGTON lock?
 

Ishan

macrumors newbie
Jul 9, 2000
7
0
Why worry?

I work in an extremely secure government facility. Laptops-whether they're yours or government-issue–are left out in plain view all the time. If you bring your own laptop into the building, it has to be signed in and out every time you leave, and the laptop is associated with your picture ID/fingerprint. If somebody else tries to leave with it, they are "detained indefinitely." The security folks carry M-16s. You don't argue with them. They have no sense of humor. Nothing ever gets stolen. I should have my MBA in a week, as I think, half my department of about 200 people. The MBA is going to be very popular in some corporate situations, although I agree my work situation may be a bit more secure than others.
 

DejanV

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2008
3
0
I will show you how to unlock it...

I have tried it and I do not think it is possible with a Kensington lock.

And are you saying that every single vending machine in the world can be robbed with a business card? I find it difficult to believe, given the prevalence of unattended vending machines with the same lock mechanism.

This deserves a new thread:
Can YOU pick a KENSINGTON lock?

Hello,

Just give me a day or two to make a small video showing you how to unlock a Kensington if you don't believe this guy (on the video).

(I have a lots of work these days and cannot show you right now... but still I asure you, it is really easy... I saw it on youtube and did not believe at first... then I tried it and I unlocked it... )

Until then see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQIJpOhV4c

(I use the same method...)

Cheers
 

Toe

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Mar 25, 2002
1,101
2
This post in the related thread clears it up somewhat.

Even within Kensington, not all locks are the same. See their security ratings for info.

In other words, if you spend $45 on one of their locks, you have a minor deterrent. If you spend $55, you have a somewhat better deterrent. :rolleyes:
 

perkelation

macrumors newbie
Feb 7, 2008
2
0
Santa Cruz, CA
Doesn't Matter

It's doesn't matter whether or not it has the security slot.

Dude have you read the thread? A few people have already stated how they use the lock in public places such as coffee shops so they can leave their laptop unattended.

I've seen laptops ripped off of those locks... Broken plastic, bent metal.

It may prevent a casual klepto from walking away with your machine, but no lock is going to prevent anyone who really wants your laptop from taking it. Don't underestimate brute force in this situation.

Frankly, I never use my lock, after what I've seen.
 

retro83

macrumors member
Feb 3, 2008
57
0
I work in an academic institution, in a shared office. There are times where I'm out of the office but students can still get in. I feel better if my MacBook is locked.

I've seen people simply pull Macbooks from the lock. It is a visual deterrent only as far as I'm concerned.
 

tom1971

macrumors 6502a
May 15, 2007
670
0
A solution to lock down your MBA

Hi all,

I just found this website and I pre-ordered their security bracket.
It is certainly not a cheap as this solution, but it seems to be thought trough rather than something you come up with in your own workshop.

I will post a review once I received the bracket.
 

Scottsdale

Suspended
Sep 19, 2008
4,473
283
U.S.A.
Hi all,

I just found this website and I pre-ordered their security bracket.
It is certainly not a cheap as this solution, but it seems to be thought trough rather than something you come up with in your own workshop.

I will post a review once I received the bracket.

Talk about waking a thread from the DEAD... Good thing you have been a member for a few years. Otherwise it would seem you're behind selling this thing.

Personally, I wouldn't put that on the hinge of my MBA. They are already weak enough, it seems this would VOID any warranty or AppleCare completely. And as long as locking, the Kensington Locks are junk and can be twisted and broken within a few seconds.

Better off just hiding the MBA. When I travel, I put the MBA in my garment bag while it's in the hotel room. Nobody is going to find it there hanging in the closet in a bag. I would trust that more than a Kensington Lock. As long as damaging the hinge potentially, might as well use a real chain and bullet proof lock attached to the device rather than a Kensington. Of course, that would be difficult to explain going through airport security.
 

tom1971

macrumors 6502a
May 15, 2007
670
0
Talk about waking a thread from the DEAD... Good thing you have been a member for a few years. Otherwise it would seem you're behind selling this thing.

Personally, I wouldn't put that on the hinge of my MBA. They are already weak enough, it seems this would VOID any warranty or AppleCare completely. And as long as locking, the Kensington Locks are junk and can be twisted and broken within a few seconds.

Better off just hiding the MBA. When I travel, I put the MBA in my garment bag while it's in the hotel room. Nobody is going to find it there hanging in the closet in a bag. I would trust that more than a Kensington Lock. As long as damaging the hinge potentially, might as well use a real chain and bullet proof lock attached to the device rather than a Kensington. Of course, that would be difficult to explain going through airport security.

The problem is not hiding / securing the MBA in the hotel. I would never ever leave a computer in the hotel only secured with a Kensington. The better alternative is always to lock it away in a safe (or hide).
But when working on it on a desk at a customer site, I prefer to have a deterrent rather than nothing.

This to me is the best solution someone has come up with. There is another website http://www.applelocks.com/ that supposedly sells locks for the MBA, but they could not even give me a price for their product and it seems the only thing they have is an animation. After sending almost a dozen emails to them over months, I have given up.
 
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