Hi all. I recently purchased a Macbook Air and found that it does not have a Kensington Lock slot. How can I physically secure my laptop to the desk? I have heard of USB alarms. Do they work? Is there anyway I can attach a Kensington Lock to my Air without damaging it? What about the Maclock? I heard that they are not really useful. Some of you may suggest that I be careful and take it with me everywhere. But I am in an environment where I cannot do so. What choices do I have? Thanks.
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Macbook Air Anti Theft Solutions?
- Thread starter chanyitian
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I have just ordered this http://macbracket.com/
Will let you know how it works, but it does look great
I have just ordered this http://macbracket.com/
Will let you know how it works, but it does look great
That thingie is just straight-down hideous !!!
I'd rather have my notebook stolen than having to carry around / use something like that
... couldn't help not replying after clicking your link... Sorry.
I have just ordered this http://macbracket.com/
Will let you know how it works, but it does look great
Please let me know how it works. It looks like an affordable solution to me. I may actually buy this one.
I'm curious as to what environment you're in that doesn't allow you to take it with you.
this is exactly what i was thinking. Where do you work or who do you work with that makes you feel like you need this?
So you guys never go to the bathroom while at work at a customer sites, or public environments? Seriously guys, I refuse to take my MBA to the toilet, and I definitely come across work locations where you cannot leave any laptop behind unsecured, let alone an MBA ...
... so that you as the rightful owner would not be able to take it away either? That would turn it into one seriously expensive desktop ;-)
... or starting to pull at pens, belt buckles, watches and whatever else made of iron that happens to be in the direct vicinity ....
So you guys never go to the bathroom while at work at a customer sites, or public environments? Seriously guys, I refuse to take my MBA to the toilet, and I definitely come across work locations where you cannot leave any laptop behind unsecured, let alone an MBA ...
i work with criminals and still would leave it behind haha.
I put everything in the car then walk back to pick up some small stuff which I can put in my pockets, go to toilet and then leave. Or something similar like that.So you guys never go to the bathroom while at work at a customer sites, or public environments? Seriously guys, I refuse to take my MBA to the toilet, and I definitely come across work locations where you cannot leave any laptop behind unsecured, let alone an MBA ...
I now have a different job where this is no problem at all. We're a close team and we can leave our stuff (even money) laying around without anybody stealing it. They did have thefts before but those all occurred in the old building with big windows and after working hours.
So yes you can leave an MBA around unsecured, no problem at all but it requires the right environment and the right people. Since not everybody has that I can imagine the need for a security measure like some locks. The only problem is that there isn't always something you can hook the lock up to. Most sites where I've been to this was the case so a lock would have been quite waste of money anyway.
People seem to forget that a Kensington lock is only useful when you can hook it to something. Also, Kensington locks are quite flawed because they are easy to open or cut (it is a very thin steel cable), especially the older ones (all you need is a piece of cardboard). Tables can also be lifted up. That is why I put it in the car or have somebody I trust watch my stuff when I'm away for a little while. I'd look for other things and spent money on that. The Kensington stuff is just too easy to avoid/unlock/cut. Biggest question: what other stuff beside Kensington is there?
One of the members of the Dutch lockpicking organisation Toool has a video about Kensington locks where he demonstrates how to unlock them: Unlock Kensington locks (YouTube). This seems to be the older lock but he explains other methods briefly but it is the suggestions on YouTube you should take a look at. Locks aren't all that safe (bumpkeys and such).
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It sounds like you purchased the wrong notebook as there's no sensible after-market solution available. As security is a main priority can't you send it back and buy something that does have the Kensington Lock?
I don't think that is a logical comparison. I leave an apple keyboard at my desk, but i would not leave $70 just sitting there. Not relevant.
Kensington locks are not meant to prevent theft, just to make the thought of doing so as unappealing as possible. If someone wants your MBA badly enough that person will not mind doing a bit of damage either in order to get it. If it means however that snatching it away takes more than say 30-60 seconds and involves activities that would at least look suspicious to anyone passing by, a laptop usually becomes a little bit less appealing to steal.
Aside from that, there's Kensington locks and Kensington locks. Stay away from Kensington codelocks and stay away from the older Kensington ones. Besides this video dates from 2006, and I can tell you, Kensington locks have changed and improved dramatically over the years.
It is a shame however that I am starting to read less positive evaluations of the MacBracket. The MacBracket would make it possible to use a regular Kensington lock with a Macbook Air. However if it indeed is liable to scratch a MacBook air, than I will return it immediately upon receipt grrmmpphh ....
So you guys never go to the bathroom while at work at a customer sites, or public environments? Seriously guys, I refuse to take my MBA to the toilet, and I definitely come across work locations where you cannot leave any laptop behind unsecured, let alone an MBA ...
If I was working in an environment that I didn't trust I could leave my MBA sitting for a few minutes, then I would pack it into my briefcase or backpack and take that with me to the bathroom.
Not quite. They are meant to prevent it up to a certain level because you are chaining it to something so somebody can't take it away. That is the entire idea which works to some extend. People forget that there is no real solution and no complete way of preventing theft. The use of a Kensington lock involves doing lots of research before buying one and properly using it. I've seen people hook it up to a table which is fine but not if the table can be easily lifted. The same goes for the steel wire cord, there are many videos on YouTube that show what happens when you have a proper cutter tool (it takes 2 secs).
There are many other things that go wrong and where the lock does not work. If you want it to work this requires an array of measures starting with the user having a certain mindset about security. The most easiest is not having things in plain sight, a thief would then need to go look for it which means extra time. Next is to put it somewhere that you can lock. Opening the lock means extra time. Not letting everybody in is another. And so on and so on. Same can be applied to bikes. There are lots of people who put the chain through the front wheel. Yet their bike gets stolen because they simply undo the wheel and take off. Undoing the front wheel takes quite some time. They are able to do that because nobody finds it suspicious. Time plays no role in this story. That same thing applies for notebooks as well. A Dutch university did some investigation about this and were able to retrieve most notebooks they handed out. Time never ever played any role in the story. Things like social engineering did. That's why you need that mindset.
Doesn't it have any felt to prevent scratching? It would suck if it didn't. You probably can't add it later on because of the tight fit.
Highly Relevant
You could leave a $70 iron anvil behind and most wont bother with it.
But a THOUSAND dollars and above. Crime of opportunity and the ability of the criminal to convert it into quick cash.
Not to many keyboards showing up at pawn shops and fences.
First of all, this kind of defeats the purpose of a Magsafe adapter. Trip over the cord, and your computer goes flying.
Secondly, wouldn't the thief just unplug the computer and take the computer + cord?