Anti Theft Devices

[_Bat_]

We are getting a bunch of new PCs in to school soon, but I am a little concerned about security. The current PCs are locked in gigantic cages which, to say the least, are ugly and look like they belong in a prison.

 

There is also a couple of issues with re-using these cages. The first is that the current PCs have bars securely glued to the top of them which prevents them from being removed from the cage unless you open it. We no longer have any of these bars left and as the cages are about 10 years old, I doubt we could source any more. The second issue is that I no longer have any fingers left that haven't had a blister on them at some point from trying to open these dreadful things. You have to literally grind the key in the lock for 10 mins before it decides to open. So basically I am -hoping- to get rid of them.

 

Are there any cheapish security devices that are easy to install but actually do the job? The rooms these computers are intended to go in are not brilliantly secure, so definately need some kind of security devices attached to the computers.

 

Thanks

[molesm]

Our New PCs were towers, which were then bolted through two holes in the bottom, to the work bench, looks good as you can't see it, though can be a bit of a pain to undo, simalr thing with the TFT they have a metal bars going over the base of the creeen, then the bears are bolted down to the workbench, can't really see them that much. We did have a couple secured in one of the rooms with kensigton locks before we got these new PCs, which were then stolen, they left the kensigton lock and a chunk of plastic from the screen behind.

[_Bat_]

I guess something like this:

 

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=159610&CatId=688

 

(which is kensington also)

 

could be a good option. But does it actually work, or would it be easy to cut through? I'm not sure many would leave part of the monitor behind.

[molesm]

No would not have thought that many would leave part of themseleves behind, I think that the cable is supposed to be very hard to cut though, although I have never tried

[contink]

Just as a word of caution... I have a bunch of kensington combination locks on one of my schools laptops and they are really only a delaying mechanism..

 

Due to problems with the combinations being lost or reset I've had to resort to the old tricks of tension and test that worked with combination bike locks.. I've got it down to a 2 minute process to crack the locks so they are really a waste of time for anyone with who has full unfettered access for more than 10 minutes.

[Ric_]

Just as a word of caution... I have a bunch of kensington combination locks on one of my schools laptops and they are really only a delaying mechanism..

 

Due to problems with the combinations being lost or reset I've had to resort to the old tricks of tension and test that worked with combination bike locks.. I've got it down to a 2 minute process to crack the locks so they are really a waste of time for anyone with who has full unfettered access for more than 10 minutes.

 

Aren't the key ones cheaper anyway?

[Geoff]

Aren't the key ones cheaper anyway?

 

I'd like to remind everyone of this post.

[_Bat_]

Link has expired... I never got to see that, what was it?

[Irazmus]

IIRC it was a video of how to open a Kensington key lock (without damaging it) using only a biro and a loo roll.

[Geoff]

Found a mirror. Bottom of the page, download 'kensington623.wmv'.

 

http://www.blinkbits.com/bits/viewforum/laptop_lock_videos?f=52540

[Domino]

these http://www.bossuk.com/products.asp?category=Computer+Security&subcategory=Cable%2DIT+Kits

are pretty cool. PCI slot links and heavy duty cables, can be attached to monitors too.

[_Bat_]

Found a mirror. Bottom of the page, download 'kensington623.wmv'.

 

http://www.blinkbits.com/bits/viewforum/laptop_lock_videos?f=52540

 

Filtered . Apparently its pr0n lol.

[Geoff]

It's handy having a web server with unlimited bandwidth around.

 

http://vle.carrhill.lancs.sch.uk/temp/kensington623.wmv

[indiegirl]

I had some custom cages made up for our towers in the music dept but I can't remember the company off the top of my head. IIRC the cages were about £25, but I'll check later.

 

We have also used Wobbler Alarms in the past, which made my delicate ears bleed.....

[_Bat_]

K. I'll look into some of the suggestions on this page. Thanks for that Geoff, certainly eyebrow raising.

[edie209]

I have just had some bespoke pc cages made by a company called HITS, they cost me £50 each and would have been cheaper if I had ordered more I only needed 15. give them a try they can be contacted on 01752 849118. They don't have a website but I can tak a picture of mine if you want.

 

Good luck

[Andrew_C]

Hmmm. Kensington; I think I'll be trying to get some cash back!

[_Bat_]

For now I think we'll stick with the cages until we find a better solution (I need to spend some time planning and going through all potential solutions as opposed to diving straight in and ruining it all - i've had enough bad experiences doing that to last me a life time). The cages should hold the machines tight enough to prevent anyone getting the computer out without wrecking it completely.

 

Break-ins are common place around my school area though, at one point it was happening on a nightly basis... the onsite caretaker was losing his mind over it (and I mean literally).

[Andrew_C]

IIRC it was a video of how to open a Kensington key lock (without damaging it) using only a biro and a loo roll.

Which I found a bit hard to believe.... Until I was faced with a Kensington lock in a chemistry lab last week. Using a bit of cardboard from a pack of cable staples, a pencil and a bit of hazard tape it took me 5 mins. It took a bit longer to 're-set' when the key eventually turned up!

 

I think I may have found a new career!