Is a Security box for Macbook and a lock a good way to secure it ?

[XPcentric]

I've been told that securing your Macbook (Aluminium 2008/09) only with a laptop lock is not enough, some say the cable can be cut, but if I bought an 8mm cable, maybe the Macbook could still get stolen by getting damaged in the place where the lock is attached to Macbook.

So I was thinking about buying a security box such as Masterlock MLK7149D, drill a hole near the edge so the box can shut properly and pass the security cable and keep the laptop inside. If I made a knot inside the box with the cable, than even if the box was pulled, all the force would be against the knot, leaving the Macbook undamaged.

I don't plan to leave my Macbook on a public street, but I want to expose this method to public scrutiny.

 

[macs4nw]

I've been told that securing your Macbook (Aluminium 2008/09) only with a laptop lock is not enough, some say the cable can be cut, but if I bought an 8mm cable, maybe the Macbook could still get stolen by getting damaged in the place where the lock is attached to Macbook.

So I was thinking about buying a security box such as Masterlock MLK7149D, drill a hole near the edge so the box can shut properly and pass the security cable and keep the laptop inside. If I made a knot inside the box with the cable, than even if the box was pulled, all the force would be against the knot, leaving the Macbook undamaged.

I don't plan to leave my Macbook on a public street, but I want to expose this method to public scrutiny.

I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but that Masterlock security box can be fairly easily pried open with a crow bar. Without knowing where you are planning to leave your MacBook, all that security items such as Kensington Locks or lockboxes are meant to do is deter the the casual, opportunistic thief, or at least significantly slow them down.

Your best defense is vigilance and common sense as nothing short of a vault, a concrete bunker, armed guards or a pack of vicious dogs parked in front of it, will stop a determined thief.

 

[XPcentric]

I got it!
Believe it or not, its the data I'm interesting to protect most. So I have to encrypt and backup all that I dont want to loose.

 

[Weaselboy]

I got it!
Believe it or not, its the data I'm interesting to protect most. So I have to encrypt and backup all that I dont want to loose.

If you machine is on this list, you could upgrade to Mavericks for free and use the included Filevault 2 full disk encryption to encrypt the entire disk. You can also encrypt your Time Machine backups. At least this way if someone steals your Macbook, they are not going to get your data.

Filevault is very transparent on your Macbook and won't change the way you use the machine at all.

(Filevault actually was introduced starting with Lion. I only mentioned Mavs since it is a free upgrade.)

 

[mvmanolov]

i am using FV2 and its great, no noticeable slowdowns its seamless.

I also have a firmware password on just to really **** with any thief..

 

[alphaod]

FileVault 2 is all you need.

Make sure you use an SSD since the performance penalty if less noticeable.

Also make sure you have a strong password.

That's all you really need.

 

[XPcentric]

because its about security, I want to add one more thing:

I hope that Prey Anti Theft Track will work with FV on. Basically I keep a Guest account available and when thief logs in, the hidden program can connect to a remote server and transmit the IP regularly.
( @mvmanolov - the computer can't boot up when using a firmware password)

http://preyproject.com/

 

[Weaselboy]

because its about security, I want to add one more thing:

I hope that Prey Anti Theft Track will work with FV on. Basically I keep a Guest account available and when thief logs in, the hidden program can connect to a remote server and transmit the IP regularly.
( @mvmanolov - the computer can't boot up when using a firmware password)

http://preyproject.com/

Read this over. Yes, Prey will work with FV2 on, but by setting up a guest account that allows login (and hence opening the encrypted "vault"), you are bypassing the security of FV2 and giving the thief access to your encrypted files.

I would just stick with FV2, and turn on Apple iCloud's Find my Mac tracking. Very similar to Prey. FV2 is tightly integrated with the FV2 system.