Kensington Lock

M

Mooproxy

Active member
I'm planning to take my new Vortex IV to university with me, and naturally want some protection against theft. My model has a kensington lock slot, however as I'm completely unfamiliar with these locks I thought I'd ask for some advice. When looking for kensington locks I find products varying in price from £3 up to around £25 or sometimes even £50. I don't know what sort of price I should expect to pay, and while I don't want a cheap knock-off I also don't want to pay £20 more than I need to.
Could someone please give me advice as to where would be the best place to order one from? Also, would you recommend going for a combination lock or a keyed lock? I don't know which could be easier to fool/pick or if it makes no difference.
 
A

amoshi

Gold Level Poster
I thought of getting a Kensington lock but I'm not sure anymore. Videos like the one below worry me. I don't want to have a false sense of security, anyway I'm looking forward to this thread.
[video=youtube;t6wRhrWl_2M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6wRhrWl_2M[/video]
 
M

Mooproxy

Active member
amoshi said:
I thought of getting a Kensington lock but I'm not sure anymore. Videos like the one below worry me. I don't want to have a false sense of security, anyway I'm looking forward to this thread.
[video=youtube;t6wRhrWl_2M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6wRhrWl_2M[/video]
Click to expand...

Well that is slightly worrying, but hopefully people will figure that if a large chunk of the case is missing, the laptop is probably stolen, so it would be difficult to sell. I mean it's as much of a deterrent as a security feature I guess.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
I'd say it's more of a deterrent. Locks don't stop people who are determined to steal but they will deter petty thefts from people looking for an easy steal. I got mine from groupon and use it at work. It's nothing too fancy really.

As for advice if you are trying to leave your laptop somewhere it might get stolen, I'd lock it up in a locker or something rather than leave it in plain sight with a Kensington lock. This kind of lock will NOT stop a determined their no matter how much it costs.
 
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M

Mooproxy

Active member
I'm planning on avoiding leaving it somewhere conspicuous, but so far I don't know if my room will have a lock, and I can't take it with me 24/7, so it's worth having either way.
My main concern is where to get it - if it comes to someone trying to force it, I don't want a cheap and crappy cable, but then I don't want to spend an extra £20 if it won't make a difference either way.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
I would still consider that if someone wants it, then it doesn't matter how much you pay for it, they WILL get it.

I'd always assume your room will have a lock, unless your sharing a flat in which case the 'house' will have a lock and its only your house mates you should need to worry about.

You'd be better off getting a small safe to put it in when you're not in the house imo. You can at least secure that to something or put it 'out of sight' (in a cupboard/under bed etc.)
 
Androcles

Androcles

Rising Star
Don't bother with Kensington locks, they're not secure in any way shape or form, mall you need is a thin screwdriver and you can prise them out, I've had to do it with laptops at work multiple times because someone's changed the codes and left without telling anybody the new code.
 
G

grimsbymatt

Enthusiast
A Kensington lock would stop an opportunist thief or persuade them to steal another laptop in a room full of desks with laptops on, but if someone's gone to the effort of breaking into your room/house, it won't stop them getting it.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
100% agree with this, its definitely worth it as a deterrent in my opinion. But regardless of how much you pay or how flash the lock is, it wont stop a determined thief. They will get in regardless.
 
mantadog

mantadog

Superhero Level Poster
It will at least stop someone just walking off with it. That's what they're designed to do really, given enough time you can steal anything from anywhere.

Same reason people keep valuables in a safe, not because safes are impossible to steal from, but because they make it harder. Given a couple of hours you can get into even the best safe, it just means an opportunist thief cant steal the stuff.

I'd definitely get one just to stop people casually picking it up and disappearing.
 
nathanjrb

nathanjrb

Prolific Poster
Probably no too useful for you, but on my desktop I have this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/universal-security-cable-lock-a86fb

Which is pretty decent and far better than any Kensington. The truth is, plastic chassis are just that - plastic, and force will rip out the lock. The best way to secure it is some form of securing it to the desk - probably more hassle than it's worth! Kensington is alright as a deterrent I guess.

EDIT, actually it says it will work with Kensington locks too - but the way I have it set up, it is actually bolted onto the PC where the case panel screw would usually fit.
 
M

Mooproxy

Active member
Right, so given that it's more of a deterrent than anything else, I guess there's no harm in just getting the cheapest option available.
 
keynes

keynes

Multiverse Poster
nathanjrb said:
In case someone breaks into my flat and wants to steal it? :/
Click to expand...

If I break in I pour water on it.

My solution was to use a mah-has-eev case which weighs a lot. Still not fool proof though.
Click to expand...
You could replace the PSU with a heavy brick every time you going away.

Right, so given that it's more of a deterrent than anything else, I guess there's no harm in just getting the cheapest option available.
Click to expand...
It is a deterrent but don't get the cheapest one. A good lock is going to make it more difficult (maybe not impossible) but should take longer to get it
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
keynes said:
You could replace the PSU with a heavy brick every time you going away.
Click to expand...

Thought about that... but there is no need, it already weighs a lot.

For the OP though,

I'd agree with Keynes in that I wouldn't get the cheapest one I could find, but I wouldn't be spending £50 on it either. I guess it depends on the price of the laptop and your value on the deterrent it provides.
 
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