ThinkPad protection...

[nsuperman86]

What are the best laptop locks, especially one that will be of use in a dorm?

I have heard that many are easily accesable and useless, so I am in the market for a decent priced, but effective laptop lock.

Thanks.

[dmcgibbo]

for what application? a laptop lock is useless for actual theft prevention but it serves as a theft deterrence - "steal one of the other laptops before this one with a cable lock" type of security. a recent article showed how to easily break into kensington locks and the targus defcon and they they recommended one certain type of lock and brand that i never heard of and can't remember.

here is the site of the "bad" locks but keep in mind the source is a website that sells security stuff and wants your business
http://www.security.org/dial-90/sl-new.htm

IMO they are all defeated easily but it's better to have a cable lock that needs a bolt cutter or a deft thief than leaving it free for the taking by anyone. good luck!



here are some scary facts...
1.6 million laptops stolen in the USA in the last 3 years. Worldwide statistics are similar.

The FBI reports only 3% of stolen computers are ever recovered!

53% of computer theft occurs while mobile, rendering cables and locks useless.

Mobile computers are 65.3% of all stolen computing devices.

[nsuperman86]

Thanks for the detailed post. I plan on getting the lock for my Mini-Dock that I just ordered over eBay, as a deterrent of course. I am hoping the Mini-Dock protects the ThinkPad though, considering that I will probably leave it locked in most of the time.