For my car, I have an anti-theft device called the Club. It is a telescoping device that hooks on each side of the steering wheel and locks in place with a key. Can it be broken? Probably, but the idea is to present a time-consuming obstacle to the thief who relies on speed.
For my MacBook Pro, I have the Blade by Maclocks. The Blade sits inside a bracket that affixes to the bottom of my computer. The Blade folds out from the bracket, providing a slot in which I can attach a lock tethered to a cable.
It is most secure when you loop the cable through an anchored object, like a pole or, in the case of one coffee shop from which I like to work, a table support that is bolted to the floor.
While the security discussion regarding our devices tends to focus on passwords, less is said about securing our hardware. It’s never a good idea to leave your expensive devices unattended, but even if you’re working away, what’s to stop someone from committing a grab-and-run?
In most cases, if I have to go to the bathroom or get a refill on coffee, I can ask someone nearby to keep an eye on my stuff. But that is still a bit risky. There have also been times where I’ve been on deadline and had to find Wi-Fi at a MacDonald’s in a dodgy area of the city.
The new MacBook lock may not be Fort Knox-secure, but it will definitely give the would-be thief some pause. The steel cable alone should make a crook move on, but if they tried to break it off the lock, they would encounter a bit of a struggle.
The stainless steel folding blade can withstand about 150 pounds of pressure. I also tried to pry the bracket off of the bottom of my computer and it would not budge.
The Blade perfectly matches the MacBook’s color, but also comes in black. You can choose between a combination or key lock and the price is around $50.
I’ve used it three times in the week since it arrived by mail from MackLocks and it drew a few questions and many curious glances.
Maclocks makes locking devices for iPad and desktop models as well. They even make an iPad floor stand, a kind of lectern for making presentations.