How Secure Are Kensington Locks?

Until recently I had not really heard of a Kensington lock or a Kensington slot. However I have certainly seen many of them. I just didn't know what they were.

In a nutshell a Kensington lock or slot is an anti-theft system designed by the Kensington Computer Products.

It usually consists of a small metal reinforced hole or slot in the case of a computer or electronic device. A lock is then inserted into the slot, and turned. There is a rubberized steel cable attached to the lock which is intended to be looped around something permanent, such as a table, or even a steel loop screwed to the wall, floor or desk. In fact most computers manufactured since 2000 are equipped with the Kensington Lock.

The Kensington Lock is made with either a key or a combination to open and secure the device. Therein lays the apparent problem with the device. Any lock may be circumvented. First of all, the Kensington slot itself, while it is reinforced, is set into a thin metal or plastic shell. If someone wants the device and is willing to damage to case, they could simply yank or pry the lock out of the slot.

If the Kensington lock is of the key style it can be picked. In fact there is a video floating around the internet showing precisely how to do just that in under a minute. The gentleman in the video demonstrates how he can defeat the Kensington Lock with a roll of toilet paper. You don't believe me? Here is a link to the video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6560787668346205814

Kensington backs their locks with a limited warranty, but one wonders just how secure a product is when it can be opened with cardboard, or as I have seen on the internet with the plastic cap of a pen.

All you need to do is Google "Pick a Kensington lock" and you get 40,000 hits. Sadly this shows the state of the world. Build a security product and thousands of people want to defeat it.

Still, the average person is likely to be daunted just enough by seeing a steel cable attached to a laptop or a desktop computer. I know I would not likely try to steal one.

Overall, Kensington locks will do what they are designed to do. Frankly they are not designed to prevent theft per se, but to intimidate would be thieves into going after something just a bit easier. In other words, a laptop that is sitting there without a lock they would have to pick with cardboard.