Wierd kind of lock i have seen

[Garbit]

Im only a newbie so you will probably know what im on about, but there is a lock that is a cilinder and it has pins all around the lock itself.

The locks are for laptops, i aint intrestedin knicking the laptops i just wondered are these impossible to pick and what are they?

[plot]

i think you are talking about tubular locks. see them on vending machiens too right?

well, tubular locks are possible to pick with the proper special pick (which range from 40$ and up)...

however, locks found on computers are all usually the same standard lock, so any mom and pop computer store can probably get you a key. as for picking them, my friend locked himself out of his case once and took a small sckrewdriver and a mcdonalds straw and picked it with that. he put the straw into the cylinder, and used the sckrewdriver to move it around... extremely weak security. those locks arn't meant for locking people out, just to keep people's hands off your computer. not to keep them from taking it.

[Chucklz]

But, some companies have used 6 and 7 pin tubular locks for security devices, etc. If you remember your first IBM PS/2, It had a neato 4 pin Medeco lock on it.

[Garbit]

wow, my school computers arnt safe!
I would never think of taking them because i could get myself into to much trouble... but thanks for answering my questions

[technik]

this the type of lock Garbit?

[Jonathan]

It is called a tubular lock as mentioned above, For these kind of locks you have a tool allso mentioned above. But usually these days (at least here @ the firm) its a 5 pin tubular lock and not a standard 7/8 pin lock.


I tried to pick it with my 7 pin tubular pick and i wasn't able to because the position of the pins where slightly diffirent then the pick itselve. It simply didn't fit. Luckely we have a few master key's here as well (else some users would have had a problem)

[Chucklz]

Is it possible that the locks used the pin spacing for an 8 pin lock?

[plot]

most standard tube locks i've seen on computers are 4 pins, all evenly spaced... takes nothing at all to pick them (as i mentioned above)... and all have a standard key pretty much.

the idea behind them is to keep prying hands out... like kids or something. not really meant for security, as if someone wanted in, they could just rip it apart very easily, so no point in putting a high dollar lock on it.

[Mad Mick]

they could just rip it apart very easily

This is particularly applicable to a lock which secures? a laptop. Plastics, generally, are no match against metal. (I didn't want to leave myself wide open, hence the 'generally')

[plot]

it's to keep honest people honest, and at a school, to keep kids from easily getting inside and messing around with the computer parts. no need for high dollar expensive locks, or a different key for each computer, etc.

just needs the appearance of being somewhat locked down.

[Chucklz]

On my laptop, the little lock slot appears to be plastic, but there is a thin, admittedly, metal plate behind it. Ripping the lock out, would rip apart a good chunk of the case, presumably to make doing this a less attractive option.

[Mad Mick]

I'm in agreement with you both, but these locks will not stop someone from getting inside the case, nor from stealing the machine. If someone wants a stolen laptop and the price is cheap enough, they're not going to worry about a small piece of the side casing being damaged. If I were building/selling laptops, I'd make the plate out of 1/8" stainless and attach it to the chassis. Another $2 or $3 per machine would be insignificant when compared to the price of mobile freedom in today's market and the prospect of rendering the machine useless due to a cracked motherboard .may be a significant deterrant to someone who knows their machines.

[Mad Mick]

just needs the appearance of being somewhat locked down.

I know what you're saying here Plot, the more attractive option is the piece of equipment which is not visibly secured. Like the car which has a flashing LED but no alarm, as compared to the car which has nothing.

[plot]

just needs the appearance of being somewhat locked down.

I know what you're saying here Plot, the more attractive option is the piece of equipment which is not visibly secured. Like the car which has a flashing LED but no alarm, as compared to the car which has nothing.

funny you say that... my car has a flashing LED but no alarm


anyways, making the case locked down with a metal casing will make accessability a nightmare. and most people arn't gonna bother with that for a laptop... if someone can pick it up and walk off with it, the lock can always be taken care of later.

on a desktop, it's just to keep people out of the case... no major security there, since if someone wants the components there's other ways of getting into the case, but they are more noticable. all in all, the entire purpose of a lock on a computer case is to keep people from messing with stuff they shouldn't, not to keep it from getting stolen.

...it's kind of like lawnmowers, ever notice how most lawnmowers have universal keys? well, most of those big john deer tractors have a universal ignition key too. (at least, they did 5 years ago)

[Mad Mick]

I know you probably get my meaning about the metal plate, but just to clarify, I was referring to it being installed internally.

Good point about people not messing with things they shouldn't. If I could get away with wiring my stuff to the mains, I'd do it! The only factors which deter me from doing this are the blind/stupid/curious. I'd have no reservations about stepping over a criminal who has tried to steal my stuff, and carrying upon my merry way!!