laptop * walking-off *

[john east]

Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather trusting by
nature and also absent minded; i can just see it *walking-off* in no time at
all, especially at the coffe shop.

One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious answer,
but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable to. Any other
suggestions please ?

[The Other Mike]

On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:48:14 +0100, "john east" <po...@mail.invalid>
wrote:

"steel cables" aka a Kensington lock...as secure as a piece of
cardboard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQIJpOhV4c


--

[Richard]

Maybe something like this?
http://www.szprice.com/products/Wireless-Electronic-Anti-Loss-Anti-Theft-Alarm-Keychain_2234.html

[Tim Downie]

Laptops are so emminently stealable that your best (and only) security is
vigilence. If the "someone" paid for it with their own money I would
suggest that after it's been stolen they might well be slightly less
trusting and absent minded.


Tim

[Davey]

A colleague at work had his Kensington-secured laptop stolen. They
just cut the cable with wire-cutters and left it dangling there.
--
Davey.

[Tim Lamb]

In message <jn8jvf$cj3$1...@dont-email.me>, Tim Downie
<timdow...@yahoo.co.uk> writes

I don't have one:-)

However, with the built in battery and speaker and perhaps a mercury
tilt switch, an audible *movement alarm* should not be beyond the brains
of this group.

regards

--
Tim Lamb

[Tim Downie]

It would need to be armed and disarmed and someone absent minded probably
isn't going to remember to do that. Even if they *are* reminded by the
thing going off then their trusting nature will ensure that they don't
bother arming it in the first place.

I found from experience with my children at least, if you want them to look
after something, make them buy it themselves. Mobile phones & laptops
gifted to them will have a very short life otherwise.

Tim
>
> regards

[The Other Mike]

Fit a cheap lithium battery from a Chinese seller on Ebay. Then when
the laptop gets stolen it burns their house down.

--

[Martin Brown]

There is malware (aka security software) that does an ET phone home
action when the stolen PC is next connected to the internet.

The steel cable only really works to stop opportunist thieves of the
sort that got our technical directors PC - smash and grab through an
external ground floor window. It wasn't chained down so that was it.

The laptop can still end up knackered even with a Kensington lock as the
thief will give it a damn good pull and then drop it before running off.
Had this happen once in a front office in Belgium - someone came in off
the street distracted the secretary and then tried to run off with her
laptop. It didn't bounce particularly well :(

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[js.b1]

On Apr 25, 10:48 am, "john east" <po...@mail.invalid> wrote:
> One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious answer,
> but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable to.   Any other
> suggestions please ?

Sadly, no use.

The best solution is to buy a cheap second hand ex-lease laptop if you
do not need the latest & greatest Apple.
- An example would be a Thinkpad X60 or X61 or T61 or T400 or T500
with fingerprint reader.
- Second hand prices are X60 £150, X61 £165, T61 £189, T400 £240, T500
£299 (from some online shopping TV channel).
- Avoid any Thinkpad with ATI or nVidia and go with Intel onboard
graphics - reason being solder/chip problems which a BGA solder reflow
only temporarily fixes.

Fingerprint Readers, BIOS & hard drive password security on Thinkpads
tends to make them a little less disposable (can still be stripped for
parts). I recall some Dell have similar, but transferring the warranty
on a Dell is usually impossible - whereas any factory warranty on a
Thinkpad is with the machine.

Likewise fitting an obviously non-UK keyboard, makes it visually less
appealing.

Laptops with onboard camera can have a photo & phone home software app
BTW, a better solution if you have an £800-1700 Apple.

[Desk Rabbit]

ROFL! Completely and utterly useless.

Unclip device. Walk away with laptop.

Thanks for reminding Usenet why taking advice about computing from you
is pointless.

[Adrian C]

On 25/04/2012 10:48, john east wrote:

Suggest fingerprint scanner for login, Dropbox for data synchronisation
(don't keep data ONLY on the machine), and tracking software like
preyproject (http://preyproject.com/). Get it securely marked with
SmartWater, and visibly label accordingly.

As an above paranonia, go for whole hard drive encryption and implement
both hard drive and bios passwords. Encorage network application access
via VPN.

Steel cable is good. Accompany the laptop with a ferocious dog* and
attach it to that, when away from the table.

* - microchipped, of course...

--
Adrian C

[Adrian C]

On 25/04/2012 14:34, Evan Platt wrote:

> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:32:11 +0100, Adrian C<em...@here.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> Suggest fingerprint scanner for login, Dropbox for data synchronisation
>> (don't keep data ONLY on the machine), and tracking software like
>> preyproject (http://preyproject.com/). Get it securely marked with
>> SmartWater, and visibly label accordingly.
>>
>> As an above paranonia, go for whole hard drive encryption and implement
>> both hard drive and bios passwords. Encorage network application access
>> via VPN.
>>
>> Steel cable is good. Accompany the laptop with a ferocious dog* and
>> attach it to that, when away from the table.
>

> All suggestions are great, but none will prevent the laptop from
> growing legs and being stolen.

Then use your imagination. Paint it with a material that looks like
someone has just thrown up on it.

It's not only growing legs that is the problem. Mugging is a problem as
well. In both cases the crime does not stop there, hence the advice.

I'm pretty discrete carrying around technology for work, I don't have a
dog however.

--
Adrian C

[§ñühwö£f]

Easy peasy; replace the 2nd battery with C4 and set the lappy to ignite
it after the screen saver with password has a 3rd failed login attempt.

HAND

--
http://www.skepticalscience.com/
http://stopbeck.com|www.snuhwolf.9f.com|www.eyeonpalin.org
_____ ____ ____ __ /\_/\ __ _ ______ _____
/ __/ |/ / / / / // // . . \\ \ |\ | / __ \ \ \ __\
_\ \/ / /_/ / _ / \ / \ \| \| \ \_\ \ \__\ _\
/___/_/|_/\____/_//_/ \_@_/ \__|\__|\____/\____\_\

[Buffalo]

I think the above would be great for a reminder that you just left it and
started walking away.
Buffalo

[The Natural Philosopher]

Give it to your girlfriend. That behaviour (a reminder that you just
left it and started walking away) is hardwired into the BIOS.

> Buffalo
>
>


--
To people who know nothing, anything is possible.
To people who know too much, it is a sad fact
that they know how little is really possible -
and how hard it is to achieve it.

[Richard]

Oh dear.
I could of course have a rant about your reply and apparent lack of
comprehension, but I won't. Had you bothered to assimilate the information
provided in the sentence "Maybe something like this?" you might have been
able to understand that 'something like' means something similar to, but not
exactly 'this'.
Carry on ROFL, at least you're cleaning the floor rather than being
absolutely useless.

[bit rot ���]

john east brought next idea :

> Someone has just had to buy a new laptop,

<...>
I thought you posted 'laptop wanking off' and I double checked to see
if I had left my webcam on by mistake again!
<blush>

[Paul D Smith]

Look up the "Prey Project". Won't stop it getting stolen but you might get
it back.

Paul DS

"john east" <po...@mail.invalid> wrote in message
news:jn8h92$u64$1...@dont-email.me...

[jgharston]

Parko wrote:
> Welding the lappy to a 1/2 inch thick steel plate should do the trick.
> Then chain it to yer mate's leg.

I was going to suggest attaching it to his genitals ;)

JGH

[Mike Easter]

posted to 24hshd only

john east wrote:
> Someone has just had to buy a new laptop,

What kind of someone? Age, sex, habits and behaviors involving taking a
LT with them.

> but they are rather trusting by nature and also absent minded; i can
> just see it *walking-off* in no time at all, especially at the coffe
> shop.

So you picture this undefined person putting the LT down and leaving it
unattended in a coffee shop? I can't imagine that. Maybe the person
needs a keeper, not the LT.

> One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious
> answer, but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable
> to. Any other suggestions please ?

That isn't an obvious answer depending on the natural behaviors of the
subject or the environment of the insecurity.

If you are going to ask a security related question, you have to first
define the nature of the insecurity accurately.




--
Mike Easter

[Owain]

would have to be a very good mate!

Owain

[Rod Speed]

"Tim Lamb" <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:JTO8BkGl...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk...

Even better with an RFID surgically implanted in the owner and the system
designed to howl at the top of its lungs if gets touched by other than the
owner.

[Rod Speed]

"Tim Downie" <timdow...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:jn8nd1$uak$1...@dont-email.me...

> Tim Lamb wrote:
>> In message <jn8jvf$cj3$1...@dont-email.me>, Tim Downie
>> <timdow...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>>> john east wrote:
>>>> Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather
>>>> trusting by nature and also absent minded; i can just see it
>>>> *walking-off* in no time at all, especially at the coffe shop.
>>>>
>>>> One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious
>>>> answer, but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable
>>>> to. Any other suggestions please ?
>>>
>>> Laptops are so emminently stealable that your best (and only)
>>> security is vigilence. If the "someone" paid for it with their own
>>> money I would suggest that after it's been stolen they might well be
>>> slightly less trusting and absent minded.
>>
>> I don't have one:-)
>>
>> However, with the built in battery and speaker and perhaps a mercury
>> tilt switch, an audible *movement alarm* should not be beyond the
>> brains of this group.

> It would need to be armed and disarmed and someone absent minded probably
> isn't going to remember to do that.

Sure, but an occasional false alarm is just a nuisance,
particularly if it starts shrieking with a quiet warning
beep with time to disarm it before it really starts howling.

And with an auto arm on the lack of activity for a while.

> Even if they *are* reminded by the thing going off then their trusting
> nature will ensure that they don't bother arming it in the first place.

Easily fixed by an auto arm on a lack of activity so they cant not bother.

> I found from experience with my children at least, if you want them to
> look after something, make them buy it themselves.

Doesn’t work so well with adults and laptops and isnt even
possible with work laptops anyway.

> Mobile phones & laptops gifted to them will have a very short life
> otherwise.

Sure, but adults work differently on that stuff.

[Rod Speed]

js.b1 <js...@ntlworld.com> wrote

> john east <po...@mail.invalid> wrote

>> One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems
>> an obvious answer, but there is not always somewhere handy
>> to connect the cable to. Any other suggestions please ?

> Sadly, no use.

That's not right with the ones with a decent high security lock.

> The best solution is to buy a cheap second hand ex-lease
> laptop if you do not need the latest & greatest Apple.

Nope, a much better solution is to make it much harder to steal
with a decent high security cable lock and a decent audio alarm
if someone other than the owner tries to make off with it.

> - An example would be a Thinkpad X60 or X61 or T61 or T400 or T500
> with fingerprint reader.
> - Second hand prices are X60 £150, X61 £165, T61 £189, T400 £240, T500
> £299 (from some online shopping TV channel).
> - Avoid any Thinkpad with ATI or nVidia and go with Intel onboard
> graphics - reason being solder/chip problems which a BGA solder reflow
> only temporarily fixes.

> Fingerprint Readers, BIOS & hard drive password security on Thinkpads
> tends to make them a little less disposable (can still be stripped for
> parts). I recall some Dell have similar, but transferring the warranty
> on a Dell is usually impossible - whereas any factory warranty on a
> Thinkpad is with the machine.

> Likewise fitting an obviously non-UK keyboard, makes it visually less
> appealing.

The thief wont necessarily notice that before he's grabbed it tho.

> Laptops with onboard camera can have a photo & phone home software app
> BTW,

But have fun finding anyone who can pick who the thief is from the photo.

> a better solution if you have an £800-1700 Apple.

Nope, its better to go the cable and audio alarm route and have that
software too.

[Rod Speed]

"Evan Platt" <ev...@theobvious.espphotography.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:dbvfp7p3c2ekco6hc...@4ax.com...

> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:32:11 +0100, Adrian C <em...@here.invalid>
> wrote:
>

>>Suggest fingerprint scanner for login, Dropbox for data synchronisation
>>(don't keep data ONLY on the machine), and tracking software like
>>preyproject (http://preyproject.com/). Get it securely marked with
>>SmartWater, and visibly label accordingly.
>>
>>As an above paranonia, go for whole hard drive encryption and implement
>>both hard drive and bios passwords. Encorage network application access
>>via VPN.
>>
>>Steel cable is good. Accompany the laptop with a ferocious dog* and
>>attach it to that, when away from the table.
>

> All suggestions are great, but none will prevent the laptop from
> growing legs and being stolen.

The cable and dog does.

[Rod Speed]

"Adrian C" <em...@here.invalid> wrote in message
news:9vqe6c...@mid.individual.net...

Not really feasible if you want to use it in the coffee shop etc tho.

> I don't have a dog however.

That's certainly going to work if it's a fucking great ferocious dog.

Corse that may not go down too well in the coffee shop.

Mine always felt he could help himself to what anyone
was eating except me. That might not go down too well
in the coffee shop either.

[Rod Speed]

G. Morgan <seal...@osama-is-dead.net> wrote
> Adrian C wrote

>> Steel cable is good.

> No match against my Klein linesman pliers.

You can get hardened cable that will fuck those.

>> Accompany the laptop with a ferocious dog*
>> and attach it to that, when away from the table.

Which will prevent you from using your pliers on even
a standard cable.

>>* - microchipped, of course...

> Of course!

[Rod Speed]

"Tim Streater" <timst...@greenbee.net> wrote in message
news:timstreater-1A10...@news.individual.net...
> In article <dbvfp7p3c2ekco6hc...@4ax.com>,

> Evan Platt <ev...@theobvious.espphotography.com.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:32:11 +0100, Adrian C <em...@here.invalid>
>> wrote:
>>

>> >Suggest fingerprint scanner for login, Dropbox for data synchronisation
>> >(don't keep data ONLY on the machine), and tracking software like
>> >preyproject (http://preyproject.com/). Get it securely marked with
>> >SmartWater, and visibly label accordingly.
>> >
>> >As an above paranonia, go for whole hard drive encryption and implement
>> >both hard drive and bios passwords. Encorage network application access
>> >via VPN.
>> >
>> >Steel cable is good. Accompany the laptop with a ferocious dog* and
>> >attach it to that, when away from the table.
>>

>> All suggestions are great, but none will prevent the laptop from
>> growing legs and being stolen.
>

> Some people are congenitally hopeless. My SiL takes CDs off the deck and
> just puts them in the nearest empty CD case - so you can never find any CD
> you want to play. A woman I was speaking to at lunch was heating some wax
> on the stove to use while tie-dying, went upstairs and forgot about the
> wax. Result: BOOM!
>
> The above are examples of the lesser- and greater-trouble you can get into
> if you are a flake of one sort or another. I don't know what to do about
> it,

In some cases you can make it harder to fuck up or make the
consequences not so serious when the worst flakes fuck up.

> as such people are *immune* to injections of common-sense.

Sure, and we are also seeing more and more end up with various
levels of forgetfulness and even a severe fading of their mental
capacity as they age too. Apparently there are some people that
just cant comprehend switches that you push to turn off and push
to turn on.

[Rod Speed]

"Tim Streater" <timst...@greenbee.net> wrote in message

news:timstreater-FC69...@news.individual.net...
> In article <jn8nd1$uak$1...@dont-email.me>,

> "Tim Downie" <timdow...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Tim Lamb wrote:
>> > In message <jn8jvf$cj3$1...@dont-email.me>, Tim Downie
>> > <timdow...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>> >> john east wrote:
>> >>> Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather
>> >>> trusting by nature and also absent minded; i can just see it
>> >>> *walking-off* in no time at all, especially at the coffe shop.
>> >>>

>> >>> One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious
>> >>> answer, but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable
>> >>> to. Any other suggestions please ?
>> >>

>> >> Laptops are so emminently stealable that your best (and only)
>> >> security is vigilence. If the "someone" paid for it with their own
>> >> money I would suggest that after it's been stolen they might well be
>> >> slightly less trusting and absent minded.
>> >
>> > I don't have one:-)
>> >
>> > However, with the built in battery and speaker and perhaps a mercury
>> > tilt switch, an audible *movement alarm* should not be beyond the
>> > brains of this group.
>>
>> It would need to be armed and disarmed and someone absent minded probably

>> isn't going to remember to do that. Even if they *are* reminded by the

>> thing going off then their trusting nature will ensure that they don't
>> bother arming it in the first place.
>>

>> I found from experience with my children at least, if you want them to

>> look after something, make them buy it themselves. Mobile phones &

>> laptops gifted to them will have a very short life otherwise.
>

> Best advice so far.

Nope, that individual appears to have bought it themselves.

[Rod Speed]

"jgharston" <j...@arcade.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:c0cc5d24-9bc7-444f...@i2g2000vbd.googlegroups.com...

Phil the Greek should be able to help with that, he's allegedly into that
sort of thing.

[Aardvark]

Him and Prince Albert, eh?



--
"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved
in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee".
-John Donne (1572-1631)

[Rod Speed]

Aardvark <aard...@aardvark.uk.tc> wrote

> Rod Speed wrote
>> jgharston <j...@arcade.demon.co.uk> wrote

>>> Parko wrote

>>>> Welding the lappy to a 1/2 inch thick steel plate should do the trick.
>>>> Then chain it to yer mate's leg.

>>> I was going to suggest attaching it to his genitals ;)

>> Phil the Greek should be able to help with that,
>> he's allegedly into that sort of thing.

> Him and Prince Albert, eh?

Yep.

Better be quick tho, I doubt Phil will be around for much longer.

Liz should well outlast him, like Vicky with with Alberty.

Wonder if Liz will have it off with the gardener too ?

[Desk Rabbit]

Nice backpedal. Let me know when your using that device in the cafe, I
could do with another laptop.

[Desk Rabbit]

On 25/04/2012 14:18, Evan Platt wrote:

> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:42:19 +0100, Desk Rabbit<m...@example.com>
> wrote:
>
>> ROFL! Completely and utterly useless.
>>
>> Unclip device. Walk away with laptop.
>>
>> Thanks for reminding Usenet why taking advice about computing from you
>> is pointless.
>

> Wrong richard :)

Similar type of advice though ;-)

[Rod Speed]

"Huge" <Hu...@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote in message
news:9vshhl...@mid.individual.net...
> On 2012-04-26, anyone <6p9i...@3GfxD9na5RILelsqVlk0Lb.PnQ> wrote:
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:55:12 +0100, The Other Mike wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:48:14 +0100, "john east" <po...@mail.invalid>

>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather trusting
>>>>by nature and also absent minded; i can just see it *walking-off* in no
>>>>time at all, especially at the coffe shop.
>>>>
>>>>One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious
>>>>answer, but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable to.
>>>> Any other suggestions please ?
>>>

>>> "steel cables" aka a Kensington lock...as secure as a piece of cardboard
>>>
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQIJpOhV4c
>>
>> yes, if you're dumb enough to buy any of the cheap knock-offs.

> Err, no.

Fraid so.

> They're all crap.

Nope.

> What do you expect if you attach a plastic laptop case to a steel cable?

That it works fine in public areas like coffee shops and hospitals etc.

[Richard]

It's not a backpedal. It's the simple truth. Either you're too proud to
admit that you suffer from premature ejaculation of responses, or you're
just a shit stirrer. Whichever, I won't waste any more time with you.

[BartC]

"john east" <po...@mail.invalid> wrote in message
news:jn8h92$u64$1...@dont-email.me...

> Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather trusting by
> nature and also absent minded; i can just see it *walking-off* in no time
> at all, especially at the coffe shop.

How would you trust someone who's absent minded and trusting to take any
security precautions?

Assuming this someone is female, does she also leave her handbag with
valuables unattended? If not, then attach the laptop to the handbag in any
manner which makes it easier to take the laptop with her than to disconnect.

--
Bartc

[gri...@gmail.com]

On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:32:49 +0100, "Tim Downie"
<timdow...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>I found from experience with my children at least, if you want them to look
>after something, make them buy it themselves. Mobile phones & laptops
>gifted to them will have a very short life otherwise.

+11 With knobs on.
Old advice but still very true.

[Jules Richardson]

Oh come on - studies have shown that 53% of coffee shop visitors have a
large pair of bolt cutters concealed about their person, "just in case".

TBH though, I think the sort of person who is careless enough to leave
their laptop unattended is also the sort of person to forget to attach a
steel security cable to anything.

Does anyone offer 'no questions asked' theft insurance for laptops (i.e.
where they'll still pay out even if someone does something stupid such as
leave it in a public place with a big 'steal me' sign on the top)? Maybe
that would be the best approach (even if it does nothing to protect the
data)

cheers

Jules

[Desk Rabbit]

Flounce away dear boy. Your advice was and is still useless. You might
just as well said "Maybe something like a coffee soaked string of paper
napkins tied to the leg of the table?"


ROFL!

[Hugh - Was Invisible]

I am glad I don't deal with insurance claims anymore.

If you want claims paid for that you need
to be a close relative of a major connection of an insurance company
or a good liar.

Amazing what was paid to kids of company directors and the like.

[Rod Speed]

BartC <b...@freeuk.com> wrote
> john east <po...@mail.invalid> wrote

>> Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather trusting by
>> nature and also absent minded; i can just see it *walking-off* in no time
>> at all, especially at the coffe shop.

> How would you trust someone who's absent minded and trusting to take any
> security precautions?

Its possible to have an automatic system that works regardless
of the absent mindedness and lack of activity of the owner.

For example, with the systems that have a movement sensor
in them now, you can auto arm the system on lack of movement
or keystroke or touch pad or touch screen activity for a specified
time, and then when it gets moved again, warn the user with a
quiet beep that its armed auto, to remind them to reset the alarm.
If the individual doesn't do that in time, it starts shrieking its head off.

Even with the steel cable, its possible to arrange it so
that it cant be used unless its attached to something,
to remind the absent minded to attach it and to
combine that with the movement sensor so that
they cant even just put it on the table and not attach
it because that will set the alarm off after a time, with
again a quiet warning so they can attach it if they have
forgotten to do that.

> Assuming this someone is female, does she also leave her handbag with
> valuables unattended?

Those are rather easier to get into the habit of never
leaving behind because they are rather more portable.

> If not, then attach the laptop to the handbag in any manner which makes
> it easier to take the laptop with her than to disconnect.

That's more likely to see both left on the table when going for a piss etc.

[Rod Speed]

Jules Richardson <jules.richa...@gmail.com> wrote

> Rod Speed wrote
>> Huge <Hu...@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote

>>> anyone <6p9i...@3GfxD9na5RILelsqVlk0Lb.PnQ> wrote
>>>> The Other Mike wrote

>>>>> john east <po...@mail.invalid>wrote

>>>>>>Someone has just had to buy a new laptop, but they are rather
>>>>>>trusting by nature and also absent minded; i can just see it
>>>>>>*walking-off* in no time at all, especially at the coffe shop.

>>>>>> One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious
>>>>>> answer, but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable
>>>>>> to.

>>>>>> Any other suggestions please ?

>>>>> "steel cables" aka a Kensington lock...as secure as a piece of
>>>>> cardboard

>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQIJpOhV4c

>>>> yes, if you're dumb enough to buy any of the cheap knock-offs.

>>> Err, no.

>> Fraid so.

>>> They're all crap.

>> Nope.

>>> What do you expect if you attach a plastic laptop case to a steel cable?

>> That it works fine in public areas like coffee shops and hospitals etc.

> Oh come on - studies have shown that 53% of coffee shop visitors have
> a large pair of bolt cutters concealed about their person, "just in case".

Not anymore now that all coffee shops have metal detectors
at the door to catch those rocking up with an AK47 under their
coat in case Breivik has managed to escape or a clone shows up.

> TBH though, I think the sort of person who is careless enough
> to leave their laptop unattended is also the sort of person to
> forget to attach a steel security cable to anything.

Sure, but it wouldn’t be hard to ensure it cant get used without that
happening.

That should stop most of the forgetting.

> Does anyone offer 'no questions asked' theft insurance for laptops (i.e.
> where they'll still pay out even if someone does something stupid such
> as leave it in a public place with a big 'steal me' sign on the top)?

Yes, but its very expensive.

> Maybe that would be the best approach
> (even if it does nothing to protect the data)

I doubt it, if only because of the price.

It would likely be cheaper to have an older ex
lease laptop to use when out and about instead.

[gri...@gmail.com]

On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:44:19 +0000 (UTC), Jules Richardson
<jules.richa...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Does anyone offer 'no questions asked' theft insurance for laptops (i.e.
>where they'll still pay out even if someone does something stupid such as
>leave it in a public place with a big 'steal me' sign on the top)? Maybe
>that would be the best approach (even if it does nothing to protect the
>data)

Sure - but the premium would be three times the value of the laptop.
Inscos aren't daft.

[Mike Barnes]

Tim Streater <timst...@greenbee.net>:

>Some people are congenitally hopeless. My SiL takes CDs off the deck
>and just puts them in the nearest empty CD case - so you can never find
>any CD you want to play.

AAMOI why would there be more than one empty CD case to hand?

--
Mike Barnes

[Peter Parry]

On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:48:14 +0100, "john east" <po...@mail.invalid>
wrote:

>One of those steel cables that lock into the laptop seems an obvious answer,
>but there is not always somewhere handy to connect the cable to

Their wrist?

[BartC]

"anyone" <7i...@abSfD9AYLavGqth6T1JWOwq.aWEF> wrote in message
news:pan.2012.04...@abSfD9AYLavGqth6T1JWOwq.aWEF...

> On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:07:01 +0000, Huge wrote:
>>What do you expect if you attach a plastic
>> laptop case to a steel cable?
>

> I expect you're dumb enough to buy a portable PC that has a plastic frame.
> (you're welcome)

I've had five or six portable PCs, and they've all had plastic frames.
They've never been stolen, and they've never had to be physically secured
like that because they were never left anywhere they could be grabbed by a
stranger.

(And even if they were stolen, usually the data was worth far more than the
machine, and I always had copies and backups; it was far more likely the
machine would just go wrong.)

There was just one simple rule to follow, which was never to leave them
where someone could walk or sit..

--
Bartc

[Rod Speed]

"BartC" <b...@freeuk.com> wrote in message news:jngouk$i1n$1...@dont-email.me...

Not practical for those that use them a lot in public areas,
if only for reading the paper etc in electronic form.

Or for those who want to do something more interesting than
watch day time TV in hospital etc or a doctor's waiting room etc.