MB Air - No Security Slot??

[heatmiser]

I've never used any physical locking device for my computers. Then again, they almost never leave my room. When one does, it's in my backpack or in my hands. Done all right so far.

 

[gescom]

Always good to have a lock if you do have a lappy especially at the office. We had a whole floor raided one night and had more than 11 stolen. Even with security it took months before they realized that the cleaning crew used the garbage cans to stash them past the cameras.

They could've used wire cutters if they were locked but the security sweeps would have left them to take fewer due to the hassle of the wire.

 

[Toe]

there are far too many ways to get rid of the lock, its a waste of time, so I have never used one.
Ive seen all sorts of methods, such as this one using a toilet roll:
http://www.toool.nl/kensington623.wmv
(sorry about the wmv!)

I just tried this on my Kensington lock and could not get it to work. The roll fits the lock, but I can see that I would have to add extra components to the pick to get it to work.

I don't know lock mechanics or lockpicking, so I don't know how easy it is to construct a pick for that sort of lock, but it certainly doesn't seem to be as easy as the video shows.

Can anyone pick their Kensington lock with a toilet paper roll?

Anyone?

 

[Virgil-TB2]

Does anyone even use the security slots on the side of the MB/MBP ?

I know i never have......

Where I work we have tried to use them on the iMacs but they have never worked. You can literally spend a half hour or so playing around with them to get them to seat properly. Basically we gave up. Not sure if it's Apple's implementation of the hole or the cable makers implementation of the lock.

Bottom line for those things is that any decent pair of wire cutters can cut the cable anyhow, and they are no good for fast locking or unlocking. They only really function well in an inside office environment for locking down a large desktop computer.

For the Air, I can't see anywhere that you could put one that would be accessible. The length of the cylinder alone is a probably three times the thickness of the air. On the bright side, you could easily take one of these things into the can with you at Starbucks or whatever.

 

[Virgil-TB2]

I have NEVER seen anyone lock a laptop and the last place I worked had over 13,000 employees. My current location has about 100 and there are dozens of laptops and NO ONE ever locks theirs up. I wonder tho - why don't you take it home with you? Most of the people I know who need laptops for their job need laptops for a reason - they need to have it with them. Do you just have a laptop because your boss doesn't realize that you'd be perfectly well off with an iMac?

I work at a large University and most people have laptops specifically so they can take them home at night and not have to worry about them being stolen. During the day, they rely on the lock on the office door.

All you really have to worry about is leaving your laptop unattended in a public place. The same applies to your wallet, purse, car keys etc. It's not rocket science.

 

[zync]

well, get a kensington lock and combine it with iAlert, and activate the email feature that takes a picture of the user.

i have a friend whose macbook pro was almost stolen from his dorm room. The lock slot was slightly gouged and bent but the lock still held strong.

i major part of these locks is that it is a theft deterrent. The longer you can have someone out with their wire clips the easier they'll be noticed. Plus its kind of easy to spot someone holding a laptop with the lock attached with its cable cut. Just like someone driving in a car with its alarm blaring (iAlert).

You could just hold it vertically, using your hand to hide the lock.

 

[e12a]

You could just hold it vertically, using your hand to hide the lock.

true. What of the iAlertU alarm going off though?

surely in a library type setting everyone will turn to look. I suppose it could be updated because I just tested it under Leopard and it seems like the remote does not work with ialertu like it does in Tiger.

the only way to turn off the alarm once tripped in Leopard is to press/hold the power button, or to pull the battery (which in of itself looks suspicious).

the toilet paper roll trick might work, but there are combination locks instead of those that use keys.

 

[flyinmac]

true. What of the iAlertU alarm going off though?

surely in a library type setting everyone will turn to look. I suppose it could be updated because I just tested it under Leopard and it seems like the remote does not work with ialertu like it does in Tiger.

the only way to turn off the alarm once tripped in Leopard is to press/hold the power button, or to pull the battery (which in of itself looks suspicious).

the toilet paper roll trick might work, but there are combination locks instead of those that use keys.

I consider alarms to be steal me and no-one will care signs.

We have alarms going off everyday all around us. I go to Wal-Mart, and buy a $5 item and pay for it. I walk out the door, and the alarms go off saying "Stop thief". Meanwhile the guy who didn't pay for his $2000 television walks right out without an alarm sounding.

I walk into Wal-Mart with nothing buy the clothes I'm wearing, my keys, and my shoes. And, the alarm goes off when I walk in the door. "Stop Thief".

Sure, I'm stealing something into the store

OK, whatever...

That happens at many large stores, clothing stores, and other places around town.

The other day I walked into the GAP, and walking in as a line, my wife set off the alarm, I set of the alarm, my daughter set off the alarm, my other daughter set off the alarm, the lady behind me set off the alarm, and the lady behind her set off the alarm.

Same thing happened on the way out.

I returned some things to the store the other night. Set off alarms going in.

Stop thief, stop thief...

I walk out to my car on any given night, and several car alarms are going off. The wind blew against them or something. And, I don't bother to look anymore because there's always a car alarm going off. Someone might be stealing it, but I'm not going to bother checking (and no-one I know would either).

And, suppose that someone actually does look to see where the alarm is coming from, like you or I am going to lay down our life to protect someone else's car or computer.

So, we slow them down a bit. Big deal. All you end-up with is one guy shot, and the car is still missing. But, most likely, I could wander over there and see that the wind set it off (big waste of time).

Really, it's gotten to the point to where if I were going to steal a car, I'd go look for the one with the alarm. I could guarantee you that I'd set that alarm off, and I could spend an hour disabling the alarm and starting the car and no-one would even bother to look. If anything, they'd specifically avoid looking and provide me a free pass.

Alarms are just so common, and so frequently set off for the wrong reason, that people will first assume it's nothing. Who'd bother even looking up from their paper to see why some computer is making noise. They'd just be glad when the guy finally got the annoying thing out of range of their ears.

 

[anirban]

Really? I would consider a new school. If you have to chain something down where you live, you shouldn't be living there.

Hahah, but seriously, ask any student in any university. If they have any sense, they will tell you that they lock their laptops down when they leave the room to take a shower or what not.

 

[zync]

Hahah, but seriously, ask any student in any university. If they have any sense, they will tell you that they lock their laptops down when they leave the room to take a shower or what not.

No one I ever knew at my university did it, but I guess some do. I've never run into anyone that did. Many of my friends lived in dorms. I guess it depends upon where you go.

true. What of the iAlertU alarm going off though?

surely in a library type setting everyone will turn to look. I suppose it could be updated because I just tested it under Leopard and it seems like the remote does not work with ialertu like it does in Tiger.

the only way to turn off the alarm once tripped in Leopard is to press/hold the power button, or to pull the battery (which in of itself looks suspicious).

the toilet paper roll trick might work, but there are combination locks instead of those that use keys.

I didn't say that wouldn't work

I consider alarms to be steal me and no-one will care signs.

We have alarms going off everyday all around us. I go to Wal-Mart, and buy a $5 item and pay for it. I walk out the door, and the alarms go off saying "Stop thief". Meanwhile the guy who didn't pay for his $2000 television walks right out without an alarm sounding.

I walk into Wal-Mart with nothing buy the clothes I'm wearing, my keys, and my shoes. And, the alarm goes off when I walk in the door. "Stop Thief".

Sure, I'm stealing something into the store

OK, whatever...

That happens at many large stores, clothing stores, and other places around town.

The other day I walked into the GAP, and walking in as a line, my wife set off the alarm, I set of the alarm, my daughter set off the alarm, my other daughter set off the alarm, the lady behind me set off the alarm, and the lady behind her set off the alarm.

Same thing happened on the way out.

I returned some things to the store the other night. Set off alarms going in.

Stop thief, stop thief...

I walk out to my car on any given night, and several car alarms are going off. The wind blew against them or something. And, I don't bother to look anymore because there's always a car alarm going off. Someone might be stealing it, but I'm not going to bother checking (and no-one I know would either).

And, suppose that someone actually does look to see where the alarm is coming from, like you or I am going to lay down our life to protect someone else's car or computer.

So, we slow them down a bit. Big deal. All you end-up with is one guy shot, and the car is still missing. But, most likely, I could wander over there and see that the wind set it off (big waste of time).

Really, it's gotten to the point to where if I were going to steal a car, I'd go look for the one with the alarm. I could guarantee you that I'd set that alarm off, and I could spend an hour disabling the alarm and starting the car and no-one would even bother to look. If anything, they'd specifically avoid looking and provide me a free pass.

Alarms are just so common, and so frequently set off for the wrong reason, that people will first assume it's nothing. Who'd bother even looking up from their paper to see why some computer is making noise. They'd just be glad when the guy finally got the annoying thing out of range of their ears.

Most of this is true. I think people would look twice at someone stealing a computer, and it's not that someone is going to stop them, it's that someone notices. Also, my car alarm doesn't happen to go off in the wind thank you.

 

[e12a]

I consider alarms to be steal me and no-one will care signs.

We have alarms going off everyday all around us. I go to Wal-Mart, and buy a $5 item and pay for it. I walk out the door, and the alarms go off saying "Stop thief". Meanwhile the guy who didn't pay for his $2000 television walks right out without an alarm sounding.

I walk into Wal-Mart with nothing buy the clothes I'm wearing, my keys, and my shoes. And, the alarm goes off when I walk in the door. "Stop Thief".

Sure, I'm stealing something into the store

OK, whatever...

That happens at many large stores, clothing stores, and other places around town.

The other day I walked into the GAP, and walking in as a line, my wife set off the alarm, I set of the alarm, my daughter set off the alarm, my other daughter set off the alarm, the lady behind me set off the alarm, and the lady behind her set off the alarm.

Same thing happened on the way out.

I returned some things to the store the other night. Set off alarms going in.

Stop thief, stop thief...

I walk out to my car on any given night, and several car alarms are going off. The wind blew against them or something. And, I don't bother to look anymore because there's always a car alarm going off. Someone might be stealing it, but I'm not going to bother checking (and no-one I know would either).

And, suppose that someone actually does look to see where the alarm is coming from, like you or I am going to lay down our life to protect someone else's car or computer.

So, we slow them down a bit. Big deal. All you end-up with is one guy shot, and the car is still missing. But, most likely, I could wander over there and see that the wind set it off (big waste of time).

Really, it's gotten to the point to where if I were going to steal a car, I'd go look for the one with the alarm. I could guarantee you that I'd set that alarm off, and I could spend an hour disabling the alarm and starting the car and no-one would even bother to look. If anything, they'd specifically avoid looking and provide me a free pass.

Alarms are just so common, and so frequently set off for the wrong reason, that people will first assume it's nothing. Who'd bother even looking up from their paper to see why some computer is making noise. They'd just be glad when the guy finally got the annoying thing out of range of their ears.

woah woah, okay lets stop and analyze this. Sure, walking out and triggering the alarm for say grocery shopping is easy..People could care less that you're walking out with a $1.50 stick of gum. Lets take that to the electronics store, say Best Buy, where they have people checking receipts, etc. AND lets take into consideration you're walking out with a laptop, which isn't easily concealed. Say you're taking the demo laptop that's out on the shelf. First of all that's already connected to an alarm via USB or other methods. I am positively sure you're going to get attention from BB employees or any other electronics store. Try walking out with an iphone, macbook pro, or a macbook at an Apple Store. They're not even locked down per say.

and back to the library scenario. Unless you're computing and studying next to the exit where the "walk out with a book without checking out" alarms are, then you're bound to take attention. which would lead to:
1. if you haven't cut the cable yet, you're going to walk away because people are eying you.
2. If you have cut the cable, you're not going to start to walk with it.
3. This is all assuming the thief knows how to disable iAlertU. Once he hears the alarm he could fruitlessly type on the keyboard (both keyboard, mouse, volume controls are disabled) and fumble with it hoping to disable it, while the alarm is blaring away.

 

[zephyrnoid]

This might work

 

[fratrow]

Apple Remote

That kind of sucks. I also noticed that it does NOT have the Apple Remote, which I think would be pretty annoying since it is catered toward on the go people and business people that would want that for Keynote Presentations.

Actually, the Apple Remote is available in the BTO section for $19... So... you can still use it for keynote...

 

[LizKat]

Put a "Protected by Smith & Wesson" sticker on it and stop worrying.

Or scan in your carry permit and make a screensaver out of it.

You do have a permit, right?

 

[hippo206]

I think you're just meant to hide it in a manila envelope.

That if funny, lmfao

 

[dibara2003]

I can imagine it now... "thousands of manila envelopes go missing nation-wide"

 

[0098386]

Oh dear oh dear. I relied on a really good lock back at university, had my Powerbook running lots of videos on some display for a gallery showing.

Good thing was if the machine got stolen I would have been a proud owner of a new MBP, but alas the security lock saved the day

 

[PeckhamBog]

That's why if you can hook a cable to your laptop you should get the Defcon!!!

Hey - what's the matter with ya? [With all due respect, no offense intended].

I looks at the link and it sezs, "Easily attaches to ... notebooks equipped with a security lock slot'.

Have you lost the thread?

 

[mustang_dvs]

Those cables never struck me as being very secure...

I mean, what if the person who wants to take the laptop has a wielding torch or BFG? Heck, I'm sure you can just yank on it and it would come right out.

It doesn't even take that much -- I've seen kensington locks picked with the end of a Bic stic pen, or cut with a $5 wire stripper.

Yeah, doesn't it fit inside that little pocket within your normal sized pocket. I always wondered what the pocket was for...

The little pocket is a throw-back to the days when men carried their watches in their pocket -- it's a pocket watch pocket.

I think we're focusing far too much on corporate: almost every college student I know uses a Kensington lock for their MBP/MB. This could (potentially) shut out a very large potential group.

Most of the students that I knew that relied on the Kensington lock whilst leaving their laptops unattended lost their laptops. They're worthless.

I can't imagine this lock being much of a deterrent. A lock is only as strong as its weakest component; I imagine a few twists of the locking mechanism would snap it from the laptop housing.

The internal tab for the locking mechanism is relatively thin metal -- in most cases, it's the RF-shielding material.

To some degree your comments are valid but in an office environment it would look very strange for someone to be walking around with a wire cutter. Not only that, it would surely make significant noise for someone to actually cut through the wire. Besides, I sit in a very visible location so my colleagues would surely notice anyone attempting to steal my laptop.

It's very quiet to snip a wire, and unless you have x-ray vision, I think you'd be hard pressed to notice a pocket knife or pair of needle-nose pliers.

Anyone?

I've seen it done with a cardboard paper towel roll, though it's easier to use the blunt end of a white bic stic pen.

---

I'm always amazed at how willing people are to trust a $2,000+ investment to a $20 lock. The easiest way to prevent laptop theft is to not leave your laptop unattended.

Demonstrations:
Classic 'toilet paper' unlock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90hz3d8Tfi0

Tubular Lock pick (very specialized):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOMrkKhDZV4&feature=related

Screwdriver (~15 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXtwUzWfPc&feature=related

Lock tensile strength demo (~3 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge6sh4srzbI&feature=related

Kensington combination lock defeat (~3 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2WYUtrcRqw&feature=related

Kryponite bic stic tubular lock defeat:
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/09/64987

 

[Don't panic]

no problem,
just use this

the round base will nicely fit over the apple logo on top. then you just need a bag of spare ones to glue on chairs, tables beds, depending on where you go.

 

[Toe]

Demonstrations:
Classic 'toilet paper' unlock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90hz3d8Tfi0

Tubular Lock pick (very specialized):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOMrkKhDZV4&feature=related

Screwdriver (~15 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXtwUzWfPc&feature=related

Lock tensile strength demo (~3 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge6sh4srzbI&feature=related

Kensington combination lock defeat (~3 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2WYUtrcRqw&feature=related

Kryponite bic stic tubular lock defeat:
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/09/64987

Sure these videos exist, but I see no confirmation from anyone else on the internet that they were able to duplicate the results shown in the videos.

The toiletpaper roll trick does not seem workable at all on my Kensington lock. The screwdriver one looks like it's being done on an old-style lock. The others seem equally unproven.

I'm not saying it's not possible to break a Kensington lock, but... can anyone here confirm it? Can you even find someone on the net saying, "Yeah, I was able to do what they show in that video?"

 

[dubhe]

If you lived anywhere in my state, you'd be pretty well off with AT&T these days. Unless, of course, you're in my office. There's a close tower in that area that is CDMA and the building is brick. Right outside it's wonderful. Don't they sell repeaters that you can put on external surfaces to get signals inside?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1829799

 

[sishaw]

Does anyone even use the security slots on the side of the MB/MBP ?

I know i never have......

Sure. To lock it in public.

 

[thegman1234]

Everyone who owns a MBP/MB in my college uses the security slot to lock their laptops down in the dorms. I would consider students to be careless if they did not do so...

I must be a careless student then.

I know not one person who uses the lock. I've considered it, but the lock is expensive, plus I take my MBP to nearly every class so it's rarely in my room without me there.

When no one is in my dorm room the door is locked, my roommate wouldn't let someone just come in and take it, and most of my classes are small, so if I leave the room it's really not threatened. Plus, I'm a graphic design major so almost everyone in the class has one already anyway haha.

 

[chicagostars]

what's the issue?

I wonder if some who bemoan the absence of a security slot on the MBAir are just looking for something to criticize.