Kensington Laptop Locks Not So Secure 526
eric434 writes "According to a security alert released by Security.Org, the Kensington laptop lock that many of us use and love isn't secure. In fact, it can be opened in 30 seconds after about a minute of practice with a $1 worth of equipment. (A Bic pen, and a pair of scissors. In the interest of giving people some time to stop using the locks, the actual method of opening the lock is left up to the reader.)
To make matters worse, Kensington's 'We'll give you $1500 if someone steals your laptop' guarantee doesn't apply -- because the process of opening the lock doesn't damage the lock or cable." Mind the source, though -- security.org wouldn't mind selling you a book on locks and safes.
Take the cable if you take my laptop... (Score:5, Funny)
How to make the warranty work for you (Score:5, Funny)
After your lock has been cleanly picked, go to your local Home Depot, get a cable cutter and cut the cable yourself. Make sure you make a real mess of it. Then send back to Kensington and claim the $1500.
Re:Take the cable if you take my laptop... (Score:5, Funny)
Modern thieves are picky, they only nick good products that have resale value. Kensington locks are, well, kindly left to you...
Hits me right where I live... (Score:5, Funny)
What if my laptop isn't worth the 1500 ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Take the cable if you take my laptop... (Score:5, Funny)
This is old news... (Score:5, Funny)
And *he* didn't need the scissors.
---anactofgod---
Re:Looking at picture of lock (Score:5, Funny)
You do realize that the DHS protects its laptops with Kensington locks, right? That means you just won free holidays in Cuba.
-- Signed: John A. <ashybaby@dhs.gov>
To Take Advantage Of This Flaw... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What if my laptop isn't worth the 1500 ... (Score:2, Funny)
Who could be doing this?? (Score:4, Funny)
Damn you MacGyver!!
Re:I can attest to this fact. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is old news... (Score:1, Funny)
just some bubble gum and an old shoe.
Re:I have one as a deterant (Score:2, Funny)
Let's see, you stay at Starbucks for hours, you write english like my left foot, and you know police officers get free coffee: you wouldn't happen to be the guy behind the counter would you?
Re:That's a horrible "warranty" .... (Score:3, Funny)
Here on the interweb we like our statistics with links, thanks. And this [my-ass.com] doesn't count.
DMCA to the rescue... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:So what lock to buy (Score:5, Funny)
I don't need a lock for my laptop... (Score:5, Funny)
Problem solved.
Re:So what lock to buy (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Funny lock story from Australia (Score:3, Funny)
Because... metal is the strongest thing on earth, impervious to bending and cutting even in the smallest quantities?
And the cookie at the bottom of this page? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I can attest to this fact. (Score:3, Funny)
Especially if you drive a beater that looks like it couldn't possibly have anything valuable in it, and leave it in a good neighborhood with lots of Jettas and SUVs and expensive crap. (coughLincolnParkcough).
On the other hand, I've sat with the owners and watched their 300k mile, damn near dead, Chevy Nova get stolen from in front of their house. I mean, they wanted it to be stolen, since getting it towed (there were brake problems to the point that they didn't want to drive it, not safe) would have cost as much as a junkyard would have given them, but still, its kinda funny to sit with someone who's *watching* their car get stolen. I love Chicago.
Re:How to make the warranty work for you (Score:2, Funny)
Can't be him. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I have one as a deterant (Score:3, Funny)
Colons are used for structures such as lists, quotations, or supporting comments. You have used it to combine two sentances or two thoughts together. Your only "sentance" of that the paragraph is a run-on.
I have a problem with spelling. You have a problem with syntax. Now, get back to work boss. We don't close until 10.
Re:How to make the warranty work for you (Score:2, Funny)
Re:How to make the warranty work for you (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I can attest to this fact. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I can attest to this fact. (Score:5, Funny)
After having his car stereo stolen, he replaced it and jammed razor blades around the stereo.
It was, of course stolen...and blood was smeared all over the interior...and all the windows were smashed by the pissed off thief...and the tires were slashed...and a good sized dent for good measure.
Don't do this.
Man, all they have to do... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I can attest to this fact. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:1500 dollers (Score:1, Funny)
Running for karma (Score:4, Funny)
That would at least prevent male thieves from stealing the laptop.
Fake Battery Pack? (Score:3, Funny)
How about a fake battery pack which is actually a couple of pounds of high-explosive?
Of course, it carries a risk to the legitimate user who forgets that the fake pack is connected...
Re:Cordless Dremel? (Score:5, Funny)
Man, I don't know where you come from, but ten seconds? You must have either really blunt knives in your town, or titanium spiked butter or something, but damn!
Security Work-around for Kensington lock (Score:3, Funny)
This also serves as a work-around for many short term memeory disorders - answering once and for all the age old question of: crickey, where did I leave my laptop?
Next week we will tackle the problem of leaving valuable files in insecure filing cabinets. (hint: think backpack)
Re:Here's how (Score:4, Funny)
That just sounds like normal lock-picking to me. Here is an article [howstuffworks.com] on the technique that is describing pretty much the same thing on a more traditional yale-style key.
Great. I've just taught serveral thousand geeks how to lock-pick... ;-)
Re:How to make the warranty work for you (Score:1, Funny)
But the cable is secure. There's now way to pick the cable. It's the lock that's worthless.