Warning if you use a security cable lock to secure your laptop

November 17th, 2010Security2 Comments

Today’s post comes from Doug Spindler of PacITPros. http://www.pacitpros.org/ Thanks for the great information Doug!

For those of you with laptops using security cables with combination locks, stop using them, they are defective. It turns out there is a part in the combination lock gets worn which changes the combination numbers required to open the lock. This happens after 3-9 months of regular use.

The model with the issue is the Targus DEFCON Combination Notebook Cable Lock.  Kensington has a similar product called the ComboSaver Combination Notebook Lock – I don’t know if the Kensington product has the same problem.

What happens is you secure your computer with the combination of numbers you know. As you twist the numbers, the worn part changes the combination required to open the lock. (But you can’t tell.) When you try to open the lock with the combination you know you can’t open the lock. The only way to open the lock is to smash it with a hammer or shatter the lock with bolt cutters. (Lucky for my friend we were at a full service hotel that had bolt cutters.)

Turns out the security cable manufacture knows about the defect and will promptly replace it with another (defective?) combination lock security cable if you send them the one with the shattered lock. If you protest loudly you can get them to send you one with a pad lock instead of a combination lock.

One final note. How long did it take open the lock with the bolt cutters? About half the time it takes to dial in the correct combination of numbers to open the lock.

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2 Comments

  1. Bob Nitrio says:
    November 17, 2010 at 10:42 am

    Jessica,

    You (and presumably Doug) make no mention of a particular brand and/or model that may be experiencing this issue. As a result, this becomes a blanket indictment of these products which is actually misleading. I have had clients use these products with no issues for many years. Perhaps you could research this further and update this post so that we can be made aware of specific makes and models that should be avoided. That would add a great deal of value to this post.

    reply
    • Jessica says:
      November 17, 2010 at 10:51 am

      Excellent point Bob. I’ve updated the post with the details. The model with the issue is the Targus DEFCON Combination Notebook Cable Lock. Kensington has a similar product called the ComboSaver Combination Notebook Lock – I don’t know if the Kensington product has the same problem.

      reply