Mac® Security Bible

2.2. Laptop Lockers

It goes without saying that most computer thefts occur when a computer is unattended. In the case of laptops, cable-based security systems are relatively easy to defeat, whereas heavier-duty locks that prevent the computer from moving at all can hinder usability. So, an alternative is simply to lock a laptop away securely when it's not in use, relying on a cable lock or human supervision to keep it from walking away when it's being used.

Laptop lockers come in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes, and configurations. Some are designed to hold an individual laptop — at home or in a dorm room, for example — and be bolted to a secure surface. Examples include Datum's LapTop Locker (www.datumfiling.com) and models from Data-Link Associates (www.datalinksales.com) and Tryten (www.tryten.com).

For classrooms and other environments with a large number of laptops, fixed and rolling lockers are available that hold anywhere from a handful to dozens of laptops. They're typically designed to enable charging while the laptops are being stored. Manufacturers of such products include American Locker (www.americanlocker.com), Data-Link, Datum, and Loxit (www.loxit.com), among many others.