Imagine you’re typing away on your laptop inside of a busy café. You hear your coffee order being yelled out and now you’ve got to make your way up front and leave your laptop behind. What if an opportunistic person swipes it while you’re not looking? You’ll probably wish you had locked it up before you left the table.
Yes, laptop locks are still very much a thing and here’s why you should really be using one.
What is a laptop lock?
Foundry
You’ve seen bike locks, right? It’s a lock attached to a cable, which you then secure to a street pole. Laptop locks? They work the same way, but they secure your laptop to a sturdy object like a table.
Laptops have little slots for these locks and there are a couple of different types. Kensington Lock slots are the most common and it looks like a rectangular slot on the side of your device. Slimmer laptops might use the Noble Wedge and the Kensington Nano instead, but they should work the same.
Some modern laptops don’t even have these lock slots, but you can still protect your device the same way with an anchor adapter.
Why they still matter
Laptops cost a lot of money to replace–that much is true. But they also hold deeply personal information. Losing personal digital mementos like photographs or videos could really take an emotional toll on someone. Plus, there’s also the risk of losing important work documents, which could put your job on the line.
While some people think laptop locks are outdated now that “everything lives in the cloud,” the reality is different. The quickest way to get at your data? Just grab the laptop and commit a crime (don’t actually do this please). Even if a password slows them down, having the machine in hand gives them more chances to poke around. That’s why a physical lock can make a difference.
Most thieves are opportunists. If they see your laptop is locked down, there’s a chance they’ll move onto another target. That’s why prevention really matters here. The lock itself is the deterrent.
Also, cloud storage? It’s not a foolproof system. Your files will only stay safe if they’ve synced before the theft. That half-finished presentation you were working on? Poof. They could also get into your Google Drive or iCloud account if you’re logged in.
Types of locks
Now that I’ve (hopefully!) convinced you to buy a lock for your laptop, you should know about the different types and their pros and cons. Keyed locks are simple and harder to pick, but you’d need to carry a key around and not lose it. Combination locks, on the other hand, are nice because you don’t have to keep track of a key… but blank on the combination number and you’re out of luck.
There’s also retractable cables and fixed-length cables to consider. Retractable cables wind into a tight coil, making them easy to carry in a big, but they’re thinner than the fixed-length ones and less sturdy. Speaking of, fixed-length cables are thicker and harder to cut but they don’t coil up as tightly and might be less convenient to carry around.
Finally, there’s big old locking stations and docking setups, which are meant for offices or schools. You can’t just do a grab-and-go with this setup, which is why it’s overkill if you want something for coffee shops or libraries.
Now that you know what’s out there, let’s talk about where you’ll actually use these locks.
Best places to use a laptop lock
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Anywhere there’s opportunities for theft, really. Cafes are probably the most common spot (all you have to do is step away to get your drink), but airports and train stations are also big ones. It’s super easy to lose track of your things when you’re deep in a crowded area or while you’re waiting in a long security line.
According to a white paper from Kensington, the company behind Kensington locks, 15 percent of device thefts happen in airports and hotels. Theft in cars and public transit is even higher at 25 percent. These statistics really drive home how vulnerable your laptop is in public spaces.
Libraries and study halls are other places where you should lock up your laptop. If you’re in college, for example, you’re probably going to work on a group project at some point with people you don’t know very well. Heck, even if you’re living with roommates and just want peace of mind, invest in a laptop lock.
My rule of thumb? If you’re uncomfortable leaving your laptop alone for any period of time, use a laptop lock.
Software has a place, too
So, it finally happened. A thief grabbed your laptop and vanished somewhere in the crowd. Now what? That’s where software comes in.
I’d recommend setting up your laptop to auto-lock after a couple of minutes of sitting idle and using a strong password for getting back in. For Windows 11 laptops, press the Windows key + I. Navigate to Accounts > Sign-in options and scroll down to Additional settings. Find “If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?” and choose Every time or When PC wakes from sleep.
By the way, make sure your laptop is set to sleep or turn off the display after a few minutes of inactivity (under Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep) so the lock actually starts working.
Also, enable two-factor logins for your accounts and set up remote wipe if possible–just in case someone gets physical access, you can lock them out and erase your files from afar. Okay, I’m done.
Practical tips for using one
This one is a bit obvious, but first make sure your laptop has a lock slot. You can always pick up an adapter if it doesn’t.
The next thing you’ll want to do is select the right cable. Thicker cables are harder to cut, but thinner ones are more portable because you can coil them up and stick them in your purse. I guess it depends on how secure you want to feel, so you should really think about where you’ll be and for how long. A laptop lock won’t make your laptop invincible or anything, but it’ll make the thief’s job all the more frustrating.
Finally, make sure you loop the cable around the leg of a sturdy, immovable table or chair.
My advice?
Laptop locks? Not a magic fix. They’re cheap and easy to use, sure. They’ll also make a thief’s life harder, which is the whole point after all. Whether you’re stepping away to hit the bathroom or pick up your fancy Starbucks drink, don’t just hope for the best. Lock it up.
