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A bit off topic, but making it less likely you'll lose your laptop to begin with is important. Here are some ideas. Most laptop have a special slot that accep

A bit off topic, but making it less likely you'll lose your laptop to begin with is important. Here are some ideas. Most laptop have a special slot that accepts a cable lock. I make use of it whenever I'm in a coffee shop and have to leave the machine for more than a moment. I loop it through bag straps and my jacket too. You want to look hard to deal with. Its also a good idea to make sure your laptop requires a password after closing the lid or whatever it is that you do when you walk away from your machine. And say hello to people around you and be helpful. They'll more likely to watch your back. And as always, make sure no one can see what your keying in. To that end, it may help to use characters that are close together. And yes, I know I'm a bit paranoid :-)

iuguy 16y ago
In some cases you can use a pair of pruning shears to cut the plastic on the kensington lock slot, then take the laptop. It's usually plastic (although some laptops do use high tension steel these days)
- edanm 16y ago
  I don't think anyone expects the lock to thwart a dedicated attacker. But the most common case of laptop stealing is someone wanting a new laptop, not your specifically. Your laptop just has to look harder to steal.
  - stretchwithme 16y ago
    exactly. You just need to change getaway time from 5 seconds to 20 and the thief looks for an easier target. Like running from the bear a little faster than your fellow campers.
- dorianj 16y ago
  Plastic MacBooks have the k-lock reinforced by metal, not exactly sure what part they connect to but it's solid. MBPs are metal, hence a stronger k-lock. So a thief would have to mess up the computer pretty badly to steal it.
  - stretchwithme 16y ago
    On my macbook, it was actually possible to insert the cable into the lock and rotate it so its only under the plastic, which makes it very easy to break, I imagine. One needs to be careful to go all the way in. like so many things in life :-)

iuguy 16y ago

In some cases you can use a pair of pruning shears to cut the plastic on the kensington lock slot, then take the laptop. It's usually plastic (although some laptops do use high tension steel these days)

edanm 16y ago
I don't think anyone expects the lock to thwart a dedicated attacker. But the most common case of laptop stealing is someone wanting a new laptop, not your specifically. Your laptop just has to look harder to steal.
- stretchwithme 16y ago
  exactly. You just need to change getaway time from 5 seconds to 20 and the thief looks for an easier target. Like running from the bear a little faster than your fellow campers.
dorianj 16y ago
Plastic MacBooks have the k-lock reinforced by metal, not exactly sure what part they connect to but it's solid. MBPs are metal, hence a stronger k-lock. So a thief would have to mess up the computer pretty badly to steal it.
- stretchwithme 16y ago
  On my macbook, it was actually possible to insert the cable into the lock and rotate it so its only under the plastic, which makes it very easy to break, I imagine. One needs to be careful to go all the way in. like so many things in life :-)