Physical Security for your MacBook Pros? (Kensington Slots, etc)

[smirking]

We haven't seen Kensington slots in Apple laptops in many years and despite the increased girth of the just announced new M1 MBPs, it's still probably never going to get thick enough to accommodate a Kensington slot ever again. While laptop tethers were little more than speed bumps for anyone who was actually out to steal your laptop, I still miss having them. It at least made me feel better about leaving my laptop in my hotel room for short periods of time.

Those of you who've made use of Kensington slots to tie down your laptops before, what have you been doing since? Anyone know how thick a laptop would have to get before the return of a security slot would even be feasible?

As for myself, I've been using a slash proof Pac-safe wire mesh bag with a cable lock to secure my laptop if I need to leave it behind. I put my MBP in a sleeve and put it in the bag and tether the bag it to hotel furniture.

 

[ajcgn]

I have a 2011 15 MBP that I haven’t been worried about anyone stealing for a long time.
Will follow this thread, as I ordered the 16 MBP, and that was one of the first worries that came to mind

 

[smirking]

I have a 2011 15 MBP that I haven’t been worried about anyone stealing for a long time.
Will follow this thread, as I ordered the 16 MBP, and that was one of the first worries that came to mind

I think you just came up with a genius solution. For real laptop security, hollow out the oldest Unibody MBP you can find, slide your brand new M1 MBP into it and just leave it out wherever you damn well please.

 

[Slartibart]

We haven't seen Kensington slots in Apple laptops in many years and despite the increased girth of the just announced new M1 MBPs, it's still probably never going to get thick enough to accommodate a Kensington slot ever again. While laptop tethers were little more than speed bumps for anyone who was actually out to steal your laptop, I still miss having them. It at least made me feel better about leaving my laptop in my hotel room for short periods of time.

Those of you who've made use of Kensington slots to tie down your laptops before, what have you been doing since? Anyone know how thick a laptop would have to get before the return of a security slot would even be feasible?

As for myself, I've been using a slash proof Pac-safe wire mesh bag with a cable lock to secure my laptop if I need to leave it behind. I put my MBP in a sleeve and put it in the bag and tether the bag it to hotel furniture.

you mean these Kensington locks? ???

 

[smirking]

I have a 2011 15 MBP that I haven’t been worried about anyone stealing for a long time.
Will follow this thread, as I ordered the 16 MBP, and that was one of the first worries that came to mind

BTW, this is what I'm currently using:

55L anti-theft backpack & bag protector

Featuring our patented 360 degree eXomesh locking system, the Pacsafe is an adjustable high-tensile stainless steel locking device, designed to cover and protect a variety of bags and packs from tampering.

pacsafe.com

The laptop goes in a backpack first and then into the wire mesh security bag that gets tethered to something stationary.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

I think you just came up with a genius solution. For real laptop security, hollow out the oldest Unibody MBP you can find, slide your brand new M1 MBP into it and just leave it out wherever you damn well please.

Damn!!! I still have an old 2009 17" MBP lying around. Wow, now I finally have a use for it ha ha. Only problem.... I'll need to put the screws in and out of the back of it each time I need my laptop ha!

 

[jav6454]

We haven't seen Kensington slots in Apple laptops in many years and despite the increased girth of the just announced new M1 MBPs, it's still probably never going to get thick enough to accommodate a Kensington slot ever again. While laptop tethers were little more than speed bumps for anyone who was actually out to steal your laptop, I still miss having them. It at least made me feel better about leaving my laptop in my hotel room for short periods of time.

Those of you who've made use of Kensington slots to tie down your laptops before, what have you been doing since? Anyone know how thick a laptop would have to get before the return of a security slot would even be feasible?

As for myself, I've been using a slash proof Pac-safe wire mesh bag with a cable lock to secure my laptop if I need to leave it behind. I put my MBP in a sleeve and put it in the bag and tether the bag it to hotel furniture.

I never found a use for those safety locks. I always take my Mac everywhere with me if I am working somewhere public.

 

[smirking]

I never found a use for those safety locks. I always take my Mac everywhere with me if I am working somewhere public.

I'd never leave a laptop sitting on a table in public unattended. I'm talking about hotels rooms and semi-public spaces like a conference hall that's not open to the public, but isn't exactly private either.

I mostly used them to tether my laptop in hotel rooms so that if by chance some random person were able to get into my room when I left for dinner, they'd at least need a set of heavy wire cutters to swipe my computer. Also, I don't want to be carrying my laptop with me if I'm walking around at 11pm while away in another city.

What I do now is I have a Pac-Safe wire mesh bag. It's about as secure/insecure as a Kensington lock slot, but it's a lot more effort to use so if I'm only leaving the room for 30 minutes, I probably wouldn't bother to use it.

 

[jav6454]

I haven't found myself in said situations. However, I also haven't heard coworkers loosing laptops in such settings.

 

[MikeDr206]

There are aftermarket options to give you Kensington lock compatibility.

Locks For Your Mac | Smart, Secure Design | Maclocks

Explore Maclocks’ security cables and locks for your Mac. Our products suit a wide range of industries and devices while protecting your business. Buy now.

www.maclocks.com

 

[barkomatic]

What places and hotels are you visiting where you feel your laptop isn't secure in your hotel room? Unless they have your password and your Apple ID most Apple devices aren't worth the trouble to steal. I'd be much more concerned about cameras, cash and jewels but most hotels have safes for that stuff as you probably know.

I'd just check in to make sure any insurance you may already have would cover a theft.

 

[smirking]

What places and hotels are you visiting where you feel your laptop isn't secure in your hotel room?

The kind of places I have to stay tend to be the nicer budget motels or quirky local hotels.

Especially with the quirky local hotels, you have no idea how lax their security or hiring practices are. I've been given keys to an occupied room before and sometimes their cleaning staff leaves the door to your room wide open for half an hour while they're taking care of the laundry load down the hall.

Cleaning staffs are always overworked and trying to cover too many rooms. I've seen cleaning staffs walk away from occupied rooms with the cart in the doorway for extended periods of time even in nice hotels.

I'd be much more concerned about cameras, cash and jewels but most hotels have safes for that stuff as you probably know ...I'd just check in to make sure any insurance you may already have would cover a theft.

A lot of places don't have in-room safes or they have ones that won't fit a larger laptop.

I'm not too worried about the monetary aspect. The deal here is that being relieved of my laptop for any given reason in the middle of a trip would be a very serious problem for me. I simply need to bring that chance as close to zero as I can.

 

[KaliYoni]

What places and hotels are you visiting where you feel your laptop isn't secure in your hotel room?

I'll add:

• Often in developing countries
• Hotels/motels where rooms are entered from the exterior, not an interior hallway
• Any place that doesn't use programmable key cards for room access
• The sort of properties James Bond frequents–staff will let you into any room as long as you're carrying a basket of fruit or a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses.