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Kensington Laptop Locks Not So Secure
eric434 writes "According to a security alert released by Security.Org, the Kensington laptop lock that many of us use and love isn't secure. In fact, it can be opened in 30 seconds after about a minute of practice with a $1 worth of equipment. (A Bic pen, and a pair of scissors. In the interest of giving people some time to stop using the locks, the actual method of opening the lock is left up to the reader.)
To make matters worse, Kensington's 'We'll give you $1500 if someone steals your laptop' guarantee doesn't apply -- because the process of opening the lock doesn't damage the lock or cable." Mind the source, though -- security.org wouldn't mind selling you a book on locks and safes.
Just because the cable and the lock were not damaged does not mean that the lock and cable actually did the job correctly! Kensington should pay the warranty claim out since it was obviously ineffective in actually securing the device.
If you use this Kensington lock and your laptop gets jacked, use a pair of bolt cutters and damage your cable before filing your claim.
Wouldn't a simple pair of wirecutters do the trick to begin with? I don't think you have to be McGuyver to get through those locks.
"I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
Most laptop locks are insecure.
Back in 2000 I had one of those Kensington motion sensing laptop locks which gave off this ear-piercing noise if anyone moved the device.
Thing was so insecure that I was playing with it in the airport on a business trip one day and I realized all I had to do was to push the pin inwards and it immediately came off.
Sure, the alam went off too, but it still wouldn't have stopped someone from jetting away and stealing the bag or laptop.
Now, I secure both my laptops (work and personal) the old fashioned way. I never let them leave my sight or I lock them in a locker or the trunk of my car.
Physical controls can't beat plain common sense sometimes when it comes to the security of your personal belongings.
Neer leave a laptop bag in the front-seat or rear-seat of your car iwhere it's in plain sight. That's just begging for someone to smash your window and steal it.
Also, don't carry your laptop around in one of those $200 leather laptop cases. I use a backpack. Sure, it was designed for a laptop but it doesn't look like it was. Maybe I have gym shoes and a change of clothes in there, or maybe I have an iBook, iPod, spare battery, Tréo 600, Passport, etc.
Then again, maybe I don't.
They probably use the bic pin to set the pins and the scissors to apply the torque.
Correct.
That method actually works for any/all barrel-type locks, though the better quality ones (e.g. vending machines) will have tighter tolerances and stronger springs making them much more difficult.
Kensington just needs to spend a few more bucks on a higher quality mechanism (preferably with more than 5 pins!! Geez...)
Look, laptop locks are psychological blocks, not physical blocks. If you can't hork a cablelock out of a plastic laptop case in less than 15 seconds you don't deserve to steal that laptop.
They keep honest people honest. They're speedbumps for the pros. Don't leave you leptop alone!
... Well, they are, but any thief intent to steal a laptop-- and who is prepared and has the equiptment ready to do the job-- will probably get away with it. This implies some forethought, though. Ask anyone who's owned a bicycle in NYC... There is no lock that can't be broken.
What locks ARE good for, is deterring the casual thief. Someone who spots a notebook untattended in a library, a cafe, an office, sees that no one around... And grabs it. They're not likely to pick a lock or cut a cable. Since this is far, far more likely-- unless someone is really casing you for the info. on the computer-- it does make sense to use a lock.
The Club may be pretty easy to defeat, but it still takes more time and equipment than stealing any other random car.
I drive a very common and not very valuable car (Ford Focus), and when I put my Club on I don't even bother to lock it. All I'm counting on is a thief noticing it and deciding he'd rather steal the Clubless car next to mine.
It's like the two guys running from the bear. I don't have to outrun the bear, just the other guy. With my car, I don't have to defeat the crook. I just have to be tougher than the car beside mine.
Who said anything about perjury? Your laptop got stolen, didn't it? So go report that your laptop got stolen. Refer my previous post - the coppers couldn't give a flying fire-truck *how* your laptop got stolen, they won't ask, and they *REALLY* don't want to hear about it (they already heard the same story a dozen times today from folks who just *needed* to tell *someone* and assumed that cops cared). Be a good citizen, give the cops the info they need for their statistics, and be on your way. It's easier for everyone that way.
'course if your laptop *didn't* get stolen and you're reporting that it did - well that's a whole different kettle of fish.
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