Laptop Lockdown 19 years, 8 months ago by Martey Dodoo

From Slashdot comes the news that Kensington laptop locks may not be all they crack up to be (pun intended). Seriously, the author ("Marc") of the security alert claims that the lock can be breached without the use of force in less than a minute using common objects. However, the language is used in the alert seems a bit alarmist, and "Security Laboratories" does not seem to enforce very scientific means of experimentation:

All versions of this lock have not been tested. Therefore, no representation is made with regard to the security of other like models, or different manufacturing runs of this device. Only one model of this lock was tested. [Emphasis mine] Reader is responsible for determining the security of this product. Security alert is valid as of the date of issue, and may not apply to subsequent models.

I was thinking about buying one of these cables (all Dell computers come equipped with Kensington security slots; mine is at the lower right corner of the machine, near the Windows XP and Intel Pentium 4 with Hyperthreading stickers; I created an image of it, but The GIMP crashed right before saving it). Of course, my laptop will probably be in my room if it is locked with a Kensington cable. I doubt any potential thief would go through the trouble of lugging my nine pound laptop down four flights of stairs, especially if forced to choose between it and my roommate's laptop.