I'd like to find a good security cable. I wouldn't expect it to stand
up to a determined and well-equipped thief, but I'd like it to be as
secure as possible. I'd hope at least that it couldn't be defeated in a
public place without it being obvious to people around it.

Taking a quick look around, I see cables with integrated
cylindrical-key locks that can apparently be opened with a ball point
pen, like Kensington, and combination locks whose combinations can be
changed, sometimes unintentionally, like Targus. So, I guess I'm
looking for a good anchor and a tough cable that I can secure with a
padlock.

A good fit to the standard security hole would be great, but an
oversize hook, or whatever you call it, wouldn't be a big problem,
since I have a file. If it makes a difference, I'm trying to secure a
Dell Inspiron, the XPS version of a 5500, I think. I can't see, from
the outside, an obvious place to rig a more secure anchor than the
regular security hole, but I'd be open to suggestions on that.

Thanks for any help,
Drew

"Drew Tronvig" <dtronvig******.com> wrote in message
news:1166484012.569633.54980@80g2000cwy.googlegrou ps.com
> I'd like to find a good security cable. I wouldn't expect it to stand
> up to a determined and well-equipped thief, but I'd like it to be as
> secure as possible. I'd hope at least that it couldn't be defeated in
> a public place without it being obvious to people around it.
>
> Taking a quick look around, I see cables with integrated
> cylindrical-key locks that can apparently be opened with a ball point
> pen, like Kensington, and combination locks whose combinations can be
> changed, sometimes unintentionally, like Targus. So, I guess I'm
> looking for a good anchor and a tough cable that I can secure with a
> padlock.
>
> A good fit to the standard security hole would be great, but an
> oversize hook, or whatever you call it, wouldn't be a big problem,
> since I have a file. If it makes a difference, I'm trying to secure a
> Dell Inspiron, the XPS version of a 5500, I think. I can't see, from
> the outside, an obvious place to rig a more secure anchor than the
> regular security hole, but I'd be open to suggestions on that.
>
> Thanks for any help,
> Drew

I don't know what you have in mind Drew, but a metal frame around the
machine which makes it impossible to remove is best in my book. So what
were you thinking of?

--
Bill

Hi Bill,

I'm hoping to keep it essentially the same laptop, but harder for
someone to walk away with. I was pretty much assuming I'd end up with
something that plugs into the standard little security anchor point,
not that it's much of an anchor point. Beyond that, If there's a bit of
clear space inside the case behind a blank area of the case toward the
back, you could potentially rig a more substantial anchor, maybe a
projecting stud, flanged on the inside of the case, with a hole for a
cable outside the case. I figure that's probably unrealistic, but if
anyone's done something like that I'd be open to suggestions.

Thanks,
Drew

On Dec 18, 4:24 pm, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
> "Drew Tronvig" <dtron...******.com> wrote in messagenews:1166484012.569633.54980@80g2000cwy.goo glegroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
> > I'd like to find a good security cable. I wouldn't expect it to stand
> > up to a determined and well-equipped thief, but I'd like it to be as
> > secure as possible. I'd hope at least that it couldn't be defeated in
> > a public place without it being obvious to people around it.
>
> > Taking a quick look around, I see cables with integrated
> > cylindrical-key locks that can apparently be opened with a ball point
> > pen, like Kensington, and combination locks whose combinations can be
> > changed, sometimes unintentionally, like Targus. So, I guess I'm
> > looking for a good anchor and a tough cable that I can secure with a
> > padlock.
>
> > A good fit to the standard security hole would be great, but an
> > oversize hook, or whatever you call it, wouldn't be a big problem,
> > since I have a file. If it makes a difference, I'm trying to secure a
> > Dell Inspiron, the XPS version of a 5500, I think. I can't see, from
> > the outside, an obvious place to rig a more secure anchor than the
> > regular security hole, but I'd be open to suggestions on that.
>
> > Thanks for any help,
> > DrewI don't know what you have in mind Drew, but a metal frame around the
> machine which makes it impossible to remove is best in my book. So what
> were you thinking of?
>
> --
> Bill- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

"Drew Tronvig" <dtronvig******.com> wrote in message
news:1166496594.506863.96150@79g2000cws.googlegrou ps.com
> Hi Bill,
>
> I'm hoping to keep it essentially the same laptop, but harder for
> someone to walk away with. I was pretty much assuming I'd end up with
> something that plugs into the standard little security anchor point,
> not that it's much of an anchor point. Beyond that, If there's a bit
> of clear space inside the case behind a blank area of the case toward
> the back, you could potentially rig a more substantial anchor, maybe a
> projecting stud, flanged on the inside of the case, with a hole for a
> cable outside the case. I figure that's probably unrealistic, but if
> anyone's done something like that I'd be open to suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
> Drew

I hear you Drew, but there is a fork in the road and I need to know if
it is the loss of the laptop you are worried about, or the data might be
accessed by others?

--
Bill

Well, I'm not particularly concerned about anyone having my music files
or any of the other stuff on the machine, but I'd miss the laptop
itself.

Just to clarify, I'm not trying to lock the laptop down permanently in
some particular place. I'm just hoping secure it temporarily in some
public place like the library, so I'll feel better about leaving it
alone for a few minutes. I'm basically looking for a cable that's easy
for me to carry around, set up and reliably remove, but which locks and
attaches well enough that nobody else can disconnect it easily or
inconspicuously.

Thanks,
Drew

On Dec 18, 6:49 pm, "Drew Tronvig" <dtron...******.com> wrote:
> Hi Bill,
>
> I'm hoping to keep it essentially the same laptop, but harder for
> someone to walk away with. I was pretty much assuming I'd end up with
> something that plugs into the standard little security anchor point,
> not that it's much of an anchor point. Beyond that, If there's a bit of
> clear space inside the case behind a blank area of the case toward the
> back, you could potentially rig a more substantial anchor, maybe a
> projecting stud, flanged on the inside of the case, with a hole for a
> cable outside the case. I figure that's probably unrealistic, but if
> anyone's done something like that I'd be open to suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
> Drew
>
> On Dec 18, 4:24 pm, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
>
>
>
> > "Drew Tronvig" <dtron...******.com> wrote in messagenews:1166484012.569633.54980@80g2000cwy.goo glegroups.com
>
> > > I'd like to find a good security cable. I wouldn't expect it to stand
> > > up to a determined and well-equipped thief, but I'd like it to be as
> > > secure as possible. I'd hope at least that it couldn't be defeated in
> > > a public place without it being obvious to people around it.
>
> > > Taking a quick look around, I see cables with integrated
> > > cylindrical-key locks that can apparently be opened with a ball point
> > > pen, like Kensington, and combination locks whose combinations can be
> > > changed, sometimes unintentionally, like Targus. So, I guess I'm
> > > looking for a good anchor and a tough cable that I can secure with a
> > > padlock.
>
> > > A good fit to the standard security hole would be great, but an
> > > oversize hook, or whatever you call it, wouldn't be a big problem,
> > > since I have a file. If it makes a difference, I'm trying to secure a
> > > Dell Inspiron, the XPS version of a 5500, I think. I can't see, from
> > > the outside, an obvious place to rig a more secure anchor than the
> > > regular security hole, but I'd be open to suggestions on that.
>
> > > Thanks for any help,
> > > DrewI don't know what you have in mind Drew, but a metal frame around the
> > machine which makes it impossible to remove is best in my book. So what
> > were you thinking of?
>
> > --
> > Bill- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Drew Tronvig wrote:
>
> Well, I'm not particularly concerned about anyone having my music files
> or any of the other stuff on the machine, but I'd miss the laptop
> itself.
>
> Just to clarify, I'm not trying to lock the laptop down permanently in
> some particular place. I'm just hoping secure it temporarily in some
> public place like the library, so I'll feel better about leaving it
> alone for a few minutes. I'm basically looking for a cable that's easy
> for me to carry around, set up and reliably remove, but which locks and
> attaches well enough that nobody else can disconnect it easily or
> inconspicuously.
>
> <snip>

Why take chances? Take it with you. IT'S A LAPTOP!!!

Notan

"Drew Tronvig" <dtronvig******.com> wrote in message
news:1166498994.941169.203130@48g2000cwx.googlegro ups.com...
> Well, I'm not particularly concerned about anyone having my music files
> or any of the other stuff on the machine, but I'd miss the laptop
> itself.
>
> Just to clarify, I'm not trying to lock the laptop down permanently in
> some particular place. I'm just hoping secure it temporarily in some
> public place like the library, so I'll feel better about leaving it
> alone for a few minutes. I'm basically looking for a cable that's easy
> for me to carry around, set up and reliably remove, but which locks and
> attaches well enough that nobody else can disconnect it easily or
> inconspicuously.
>
> Thanks,
> Drew


A pair of bolt cutters carried in a backpack, and your laptop is gone in the
blink of an eye. I would *NEVER* leave my laptops unattended in *ANY*
public place for *ANY* length of time whatsoever. Even with security
cables, it takes only 2 or 3 seconds to cut it loose and be away with it.

*NEVER* *EVER* leave it alone; even for 30 seconds.

Honu.

"Drew Tronvig" <dtronvig******.com> wrote in message
news:1166484012.569633.54980@80g2000cwy.googlegrou ps.com...
> I'd like to find a good security cable. I wouldn't expect it to stand
> up to a determined and well-equipped thief, but I'd like it to be as
> secure as possible. I'd hope at least that it couldn't be defeated in a
> public place without it being obvious to people around it.
>
> Taking a quick look around, I see cables with integrated
> cylindrical-key locks that can apparently be opened with a ball point
> pen, like Kensington,

That is the AFA lock. They can only be opened by a ball point pen if the
manufacturer decides to leave most of the pins out of the lock. A rather
famous manufacturer of cycle locks decided to do just this in order to save
some money and ended up with a lock with only a couple of pins (thus a ball
point pen (or other softish tubular material) was all that was required).
Kensington have not saved quite so much money in this fashion, but their
locks are not of the highest security standards.

For info on the lock see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubular_pin_tumbler_lock

The AFA lock is considered one of the more difficult locks to pick, at least
by an amateur. However, like any lock a skilled lock picker will have
little difficulty in opening this type of lock. Lock picks can be obtained
from:

<http://froogle.google.com/froogle?price1=&price2=&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&price=bet ween&q=tubular+lock+pick&btnG=Search+Froogle>