In a company environment, the lock is protecting the employee, not the notebook. If your notebook was locked, it's not your fault if it got stolen. Most of the time the thief will cut the cable anyway. 70 mm impressioning tool is way too specialized equipment.
but if someone uses that specialized tool to open the lock, the key holder is going to be accused at least in the beginning, because there is no obvious sign of the lock being defeated
These locks are design to be used in stores and malls, places like that, so it only needs to be mediocre at best. They are mostly for deterring purposes.
They're also marketed heavily to the schools and corporate/office market. Hopefully none of them rely on it for actual security. I've seen plenty of cases where people have simply bent/snapped the lock off anyway.
It's to prevent walkaways. I regularly gain entry to office buildings and will happily steal laptops not locked to a desk with one of these (I work in the security field). They serve a purpose and for that they function well, but they do not dissuade actual planned theft or break-in. It's about not having a cleaner pick one up and walk out with it.
I'd say the practical difference is the you could carry the impressioning tool more easily and less suspiciously. You could walk up to the unattended be laptop and pretty much look like you're opening it with a key
No joke, and mind you, a thief is crafty. The big handle on this would be cut down and the only thing that's used would be the shank and the impressioning mechanism. I think that's the reason i've been starting to see more and more laptops that are banded to the presentation tables in shops. IE, there's a strap of metal bent around the top ridge of the laptop where the hinge is and another that passes perpendicularly through the lid's gap. The whole thing is secured from inside the presentation table with glass doors.
How hard is it to break the part that actually locks into the computer... or the computer case around that part? I never thought these things looked particularly secure.
Thiefs generally dont want to damage the product since it would decrease possible resale value significantly. Never mind raise suspicions if the product is damaged exactly around the lock.
@@ernestslenss6405 I agree with the vice part of your comment. I really like the way he shows lock weaknesses. My thoughts are of a real their. Not one of opportunity. Like storage unit areas. Guy keeps driving by a trailer and sees what lock is. Then goes in knowing exactly what to do. The same thing with anything high value. Work site job boxes and similar. The average person doesn't have thousands of hours of picking experience.
When I worked at a large public school as a bus driver a few years ago, our office had been broken into over the weekend and several computers, hard drives, and monitors were taken. Most had Kensington locks. However, none of them were picked, or the cables cut. Somebody had simply used a large pair of channel-lock pliers (found at the scene) to twist the lock out of it's hole. Sure, it damaged the computer a bit, but thieves like that were going for the components so didn't care about cosmetic damage. So it was quick; they attacked the weakest link. A month later, with new computers, they tried again... but were caught because of a silent alarm system and hidden cameras.
Can't you open the bottom of the laptop without taking off the lock if you just wanted components? All you can get out of a laptop is ram and hard drive and most companies standard is only a 256gb hard drive and 16gb ram so not sure how this is worth the risk anyway
@brianwest2775 yea but you aren't going to get nearly as much money just selling those few pieces vs having a whole working laptop, but I guess if they were scared of getting caught kind of makes sense? Seems like a lot of risk for not that much reward
I used to sell computers at Best Buy and we attempted to secure the Mac Laptop table with these locks. People were able to simply snap the locks off the laptops. the teeth that expand inside the laptop are far too fragile and break. Might make a good 2nd video on this lock.
I've gotten my hands on two of these locks recently, one of them has keys, and the other one doesn't, I was naively thinking I could easily cut some keys for these, but I didn't realize the long protrustion on the tubular key is actually a very necessary component. I tried to pick it open with the impressioning tool, and while that worked, it immediately locked up after a single pin rotation. I removed the impressioning tool to see that the place that's normally covered up in the neutral position now had a driver pin sticking up. And in normal tubular locks, that gap is not there, but with these kensington locks, the protrusion from the key is supposed to sit at the sheerline at all times to prevent the driver pin in whatever position from pushing up past the sheerline! I retried a couple of times with both my locks picking manually, and it happens every time. So does that mean that with an impressioning tool, you might be able to open one, but if you fail to rotate it two positions it will lock itself and won't be openable with an impressioning tool? the only way I was able to get movement in the lock again was by manually pushing that driver pin back in. This also means I can't cut my own keys for this lock sadly! Since I don't have any key blanks with that protrusion, nor would such a key fit into the key cutter I have...
I single pin picked one of these at work last weekend. The “pin” or detenti at position zero slowed me down quite a bit. I didn’t realize it was there initially. If I had watched this video beforehand, I would have noticed the extra long protrusion on the key. I would have like to see you single pin pick this. I think you know we like watching use your skills.
The government department I used to work for in the early 2000's had thousands of these keyed alike.... This same model. Better still... They supplied each lock with a key so there were thousands of the same key floating around the state too.
6 лет назад+3
These were designed for offices that people had no permanent desks they hot desk, so if you have to use the bathroom you could lock your laptop while being away from the desk a few minutes. However with the correct tool the laptop could be taken before you even washed your hands.
I recently saw one of their new locks at an IT security fair, it's keys are even smaller and none of the three standard impressioning tools fit. I asked them why they don't offer one with a chain instead of a steel cable but they said it would be to bulky for most customers. I'm using some of these as well but with a combination lock, it's better than nothing, as it prevents someone from just walking by and grabbing the device at least, and if someone starts cutting the cable it could potentially draw the attention of people around to it.
Any solutions for picking the smaller version? I purchased impressioning tools and they were way too big and the locks couldn't be picked. In my workplace we have a few that seem to be keyed differently to the rest of them and we don't have the key. Cutting the wire wont work as we will need to re-lock them with new Kensington locks that match the rest of the locks we have. Any suggestions?
Funny story. I was in a pawn shop looking for a pry bar. Hey, i was stuck in nowhere land and at that hour, nothing was open. On the electronics shelf, four laptops, all of them had Kensington locks still attached with the cable nipped really close.
I have the 3 tubular lock impressionist kit. The smallest is the 7.0 mm. What is the next smallest size? I ran into a smaller tubular lock the other day and my tools wouldn’t fit. Do you know the range? Thank you.
Kensington makes also combo locks. Can be unlocked with NO skill under 5 minutes by feeling...tried multiple times and started when colleagues changed another colleague's combo, so I just tried and now I can unlock it under 3 minutes after just several tries :)
This is the first time I see you feature a product I've been using for some time and still use to this day. Sad to learn it is more vulnerable than I thought.
These are a deterrant and effective at that! The biggest security problem we have with them are the users! We regularly find the cables looped around the feet of desks. One little lift and the cable can be removed along with the laptop 🙄
Soooo They might have updated these, but the HUK tool I have is the blue 7.8 tool. The Kensington lock I have has a small ball bearing that gets pushed into the body of the lock, by the top flag on the key. Using the HUK tool, I got this, and three of them, stuck in half open/half closed position. Because the locks were NOT installed, the shaft turns freely and is difficult to hold with tension. I'm going to try again with locking pliers, or just bind some pliers to it with a hair tie, so I can apply tension without the core spinning.
Having seen these locks used in an office environment it does give a visual deterrent. It kind of says "Keep walking opportunist thief I am locked up". I must say visually it has a purpose. Practically a thief who has gone to steal a laptop will be carrying something to cut the cable in a few seconds.
Small side note: these locks are not just used on notebooks, but also on monitors and desktop PCs. In desktop PCs it sometimes prevents the side panel to be opened, so a potential thief can't steal any of the internal components
Any chance you are working on a video for the N17 locks? Our IT group could really use one of those tools to avoid hacksawing locks when users lose their keys.
I'm curious about the disc detainer version now. (Not that pick resistance is probably the main aim of any of these Kensington locks; I only got that version because it was around the time that everyone discovered you could impression a lot of the round locks with a pen.)
I think the two biggest flaws of the Kensington locks is that their cables can easily be cut and they can easily be broken off of the computer. Security is only as good as its weakest link and the weakest link of these locks is not in their keys or combinations, it's in the cables and structural connections.
I think they attempted to fix this in some of their models with a really deep pin that the key has to press. It's that little part that sticks out of the key on your model but I guess they didn't incorporate it on this model.
Opening this specific type of kensington lock (those with the orange keys) with an impressioning tool is pure luck. The protruding pin on the key actually interacts with a key pin inside the cavity on the lock where that protruding pin reaches into. This recessed pin is not being activated by the tool and usually blocks the shearing line.
Totally agree with you White Shadow, For those who are interested there are very good videos made by Potti314 which explains how these tubular locks work ruclips.net/video/KmENJDmcjZE/видео.html ruclips.net/video/6YfcftYx2Rc/видео.html
I love LPL but it'd be nice if he gave more security recommendations on which locks to use for home use/business use. Not really a complaint just something I'd love to see. Either way I've been a pretty big fan and keep it up LPL :)
I wonder how the combination style Kensingtons fare? Though they use the same braided steel cable. This reminds me of the time my (now former) boss decided that we didn't *need* to lock down display laptops with the Kensingtons, just the USB alarms. So I asked him if I could demonstrate why this was a bad idea. He said sure, so I walked casually up to one of the laptops, and in one motion unplugged the USB alarm and the charger, grabbed the laptop, and ran for the door, yelling "FREEEEEDOOOOOMMMM!" I stopped before actually exiting the store, of course. He gave me a dirty look, but the locks were reinstated within the hour.
And now a gold color. So, different sizes? How many sizes are there? I've seen you use 4: Black handle, blue, purple, and gold. Are those standards? Do the colors mean anything other than to the manufacturer?
i tried the tool with a decommissioned Kensington lock & it seems if you aren't turning around the tool fast enough the spring / plunger gets stuck in the hole where the "nose" of the key goes. With a lot of wiggeling i got the lock turned anyways, but trying it a few tikes more it got stuck again. So maybe it's time for an updated video or for me to hone my lp-skills
I used to work in PC support group routinely we got calls from users who lost their keys. You can get a master key for some of these locks when we didn't have that the easiest way was just break the little part which locks into the hole on the laptop frame it would just bend the pot metal laptop frame, or break the teeth off we used a pair of vice grips on the lock itself. These are only good for someone grabbing and running with them which was most of the laptop theft. Other employees would grab them and walk off during the daytime. As security cameras were installed on all doors with badge readers going both ways it brought the laptop theft down to almost zero. We stopped buying the locks except for CEO we put on on his. We also installed McAfee end point encryption have to know the windows password to boot the laptop. I suggest encryption on all folders with sensitive data at home as well as cloud backup of your hard drives such as carbonate.
If you have data that you don’t want to get into the hands of a thief, encryption on the drive is mandatory, as is securing the encryption key. If you have data that you can’t afford to lose, independent backups are required. If you have data that is both, you need encrypted backups. This lock is only going to protect the hardware it is attached to- and laptops aren’t very expensive by themselves.
The computer case is made out of plastic, what is to stop an individual from snapping the lock out of the corner? Even if the corner is reinforced by a diecast block, it shouldn't be too much trouble to snap the locks tab off. Think I'll take one of my junk L-tops apart just see just what is in that corner. As always thanks for sharing.
it seemed like the impressioning tool was as fast.. maybe even faster than the key (with the longer handle it allowed less obstruction withthe two hands being up against eachother). i would like to have had you take a closer look at the smaller diameter impressioning tool and showed how it worked to open the smaller tubular lock. And perhaps taken the smaller tubular lock apart and show us whe is inside
Is there a way to pick this kind of lock with a more common tool ? The one presented here is not what I can get my hands on. I would like to see a traditional picking of this lock, because if a special tool is mandatory, in a way, it's not a so bad lock.
TravisFabel See comment from a government IT person in the long thread about breaking those. Apparently some government laptops self destruct if you break off that lock.
When you did the opening of the lock you did not explain how to return the lock to normality since only using the tubular lock is not sufficient to be able to return the lock to the current position
I must have missed something. I have this same lock and same 7mm tool and I am unable to get past the almost open position. The key has a foot that keeps the bottom pins from interfering with rotating the cylinder only when the foot is in place. The tubular lock pick does not have this feature. If you take the key and remove that foot on the end it will no longer open the lock.
the vector of the trajectory combined with momentum of the impressionistic points of nickel, iron and chromium alloy is probably why that took so long to get open. maybe try that in a vacuum to speed it up?
Hi there! I've been watching your channel since couple of months and I've learned a lot about the locks. Any advice on how to return the lock in initial position after turning it one step? I've bought one of those Banggood sets because we had a lot of similar locks in the office and the people loose their keys quite often and I wanted to have a "clean way" of unlocking them (we have a pile of laptops' docking stations with bunch of metal wires hanging off them). I was practicing with a brand new Kensington lock and with this tool it clicked in second position very quick. However, it appears, that the "pointy" part of the key has it purpose to push down the pins. With that tool, there's no way I can push that pin nor I can put the key inside. So is the single pin picking the option I'm left with?
My cousin lost his truck keys and ha asked the lock smith if he ever picks locks and he said not really. Cousin asked you ever watch LPL on you tube? Lock smith says nobody else on the planet can do what that guy can.🤣
What a crappy lock smith. There are other lock smiths here on youtube that take us with them "on the job". Most of them use bogatar rakes for 20 secs, and if that fails they switch to single pin picking. That being said, I have a Ruko 1200 on my front door, and I asked a lock smith (from a certified Ruko partner) if he would pick it or drill it if I ever lost the key, and he just looked at me blankly and said "With my hourly rate it is simply cheaper to drill it and repin a new one for you than pick it... those take hours to pick!"... Haven't seen LPL have a go at one of those yet though.
I've never need him to pick a lock, he did say one if his employees is who he sends for that. His response time and customer service is top notch and each of the 3 times he has come to make a key for a vehicle when the keys were lost he did it in about 3 min, so in my book he is a good lock smith🖕🏻
@LPL - would bolt cutters defeat that cable ?? Is it just a plain, simple cable. PS: where did you purchase those tubular(impressioning)picks - why are they called "impressioning tools"??
I'm trying to pick almost the same lock with the same tool. Right now I'm blocked because I only did 1/8 of a rotation, and I can't get it to rotate left or right, even with single picking. Also the first pin counterclockwise seems stuck, I don't know what I did wrong. Any idea?
well i mean all you really need a kensington lock for is if you are working on something in like starbucks or something and you gotta go to the washroom, you lock it while you're away instead of having to pack it up. And someone who would try to steal it probably doesn't have a tool to open it.
This lock isn't to protect against theft, it's meant as a deterrent from theft. If someone really wanted your laptop, they could cut through this with a pair of snips in under 5 seconds. The main reason to use this lock is to protect against the "crime of opportunity", where someone just happens to see a laptop sitting somewhere unattended and picks it up and walks away with it. These are best used in crowded areas where tampering with this lock without a key is an obvious cause for alarm. No one in their right mind would use this as an end-all solution to laptop theft.
My Kensington looks exactly like the one you have on this video. Bought the 7mm but it doesnt work on mine. The 7 is too small. I'm guessing they have different sized diameters. The 7.5 might work. I might try later. Lost my keys a month ago.
Hi LPL, Since these locks can only deter thefts of opportunity -- typically, teenagers stealing from other students at school, or an unscrupulous coworker at work, or a customer at "StarBucks". It is highly unlikely that there usual suspects are not going to be having specialized tools. Is there a way to pick this lock without a lock picker's arsenal? Preferably without a video demo for obvious reasons. Unlike what most people might imagine, even paper clips are not necessarily readily available unless one already has it with them.
I still have one of these locks somewhere, along with its predecessor, before Kensington acquired the company that made them. I can't recall the name, off the cuff, but, as I recall, at the time there was some legal issues over the use of the lock design that took some time to resolve between the two companies. It seemed like a good deterrent at the time. Watching this video (and many more from LPL), it's clear it's merely "better than nothing".
@@beware_the_moose can confirm. I'm in a situation where one of the many 100 locks I have won't open with any of the keys I have. So i'm thinking of purchasing one imprint tool to try to dislodge it myself without destroying the NUC it's attached to (as the NUC has to go back in the same place, but with upgraded RAM and SSD and finally Windows 10 :')
IT might be an easy lock, but I still recommend them for BYOC and LAN parties. Its totally about casual theft. Even public libraries its a good idea. Visual deterrents work. Even just putting your mouse in a backpack to the side is a deterrent. If there are 1000 laptops in a room that are not attended the whole time, are you gonna grab the one with an easy to cut lock? or the one with no lock at all?
It's supposed to be a deterrent because I've seen this in a lot of tech store here in the Philippines in which they display the unit for testing and stuff like that. Some of the locks like this will have an alarm that if you try to lightly pull it, it will be the most annoying sound you'll hear. Picking would be highly impossible because of the cctvs that are visible from the store. Lol
they are only meant to slow down a runner/opportunity thefts some companies have policies where the employees must lock down the company laptops at all times. even on the 18th floor in a conference room during a meeting with the boss.
most of the kensington locks i used to see are have a three number combination. but like the other folks said these are not supposed to use in very insecure situations. any way this kind of weakness is really unforgivable.
eh, often you don't even have to mess with the lock or cable since the part were the lock attaches to the notebook is often made of plastic so you just have to yank forcefully at the notebook to get it free. so, why even bother?
![[1611] GravPick - A Fun Lockpick?!?](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FJOwvGqH24I/mqdefault.jpg)
In a company environment, the lock is protecting the employee, not the notebook. If your notebook was locked, it's not your fault if it got stolen.
Most of the time the thief will cut the cable anyway. 70 mm impressioning tool is way too specialized equipment.
but if someone uses that specialized tool to open the lock, the key holder is going to be accused at least in the beginning, because there is no obvious sign of the lock being defeated
Love a good 70 impressioning tool. I like the 7mm one he used in the video.
never heard of 70mm impression tool, are there locks really that big? What for a wheel on a car?
@@MrDoboz At first, but forensics would show damage to the pins from the pick
My old company put them on card readers. Lmao. So it just depends on what they try to put them on.
What I've learned from this channel...locks are a deterrent, not a solution.
And in terms of door locks, you do not need the absolute best locks they should only be better than the neighbors locks.
You have a point
Don’t run faster then the bear, go fishing with slow people.
Lights are always better then locks and fences are always better then lights. Spend money in that order but don’t go cheap on any of it.
the best advise is: park your bike next to a more expensive bike, build your house just a little bit more inexpensive than the neighbour and so on...
1:25 Pick enters lock
1:28 Lock is open
Shameful.
To be fair in the hands of the LPL the lock probably decided to just give up. Our experience would be dramatically different.
quality
sounds like my sex life
Lol, sorry.:-)
@@ro_yo_mi sounds like when I have a mechanic check out the weird engine sounds and it is quiet all of a sudden
I got the impression you weren't trying very hard.
Lol! :-)
These locks are design to be used in stores and malls, places like that, so it only needs to be mediocre at best. They are mostly for deterring purposes.
@@Fahleen also, if they really wanted to steal it at night, even military grade padlocks wouldn't be able to stop them.
Not even much of a deterrent.
They're also marketed heavily to the schools and corporate/office market. Hopefully none of them rely on it for actual security. I've seen plenty of cases where people have simply bent/snapped the lock off anyway.
It's to prevent walkaways.
I regularly gain entry to office buildings and will happily steal laptops not locked to a desk with one of these (I work in the security field). They serve a purpose and for that they function well, but they do not dissuade actual planned theft or break-in.
It's about not having a cleaner pick one up and walk out with it.
@@lmaoroflcopter The fuck...
I'd say the practical difference is the you could carry the impressioning tool more easily and less suspiciously. You could walk up to the unattended be laptop and pretty much look like you're opening it with a key
No joke, and mind you, a thief is crafty. The big handle on this would be cut down and the only thing that's used would be the shank and the impressioning mechanism. I think that's the reason i've been starting to see more and more laptops that are banded to the presentation tables in shops. IE, there's a strap of metal bent around the top ridge of the laptop where the hinge is and another that passes perpendicularly through the lid's gap. The whole thing is secured from inside the presentation table with glass doors.
disguise the impressioning tool as a Doctor Who sonic screwdriver to give you plausible deniability over carrying an unusual tool?
Saying that the fact that an impressioning tool works at this lock is a "little bit disappointing" is
a "little bit of an understatement".
How hard is it to break the part that actually locks into the computer... or the computer case around that part? I never thought these things looked particularly secure.
Thiefs generally dont want to damage the product since it would decrease possible resale value significantly. Never mind raise suspicions if the product is damaged exactly around the lock.
@@tHaH4x0r not really a worry if you're trying to steal company data for a competitor.
Officially, it should just be impossible to remove "without obvious permanent physical damage" so yeah, just meant to be obviously stolen
@@Chlorate299 If you are relying purely on physical protection to protect your data, you are doing it wrong. Sensitive data should be encrypted.
@@tHaH4x0r lol. Apparently this guy lives in a 1960s Bond movie, where all espionage relies on stealing physical data.
Dear Lock-picking Lawyer, if such a thing exists, please show us a lock you can't pick. Thank you.
John Bicycle there are a few. I believe the most famous of the few that there are is the bowley.
Good luck picking a locken lock
And the Abloy prosec
@@ernestslenss6405 I agree with the vice part of your comment. I really like the way he shows lock weaknesses. My thoughts are of a real their. Not one of opportunity. Like storage unit areas. Guy keeps driving by a trailer and sees what lock is. Then goes in knowing exactly what to do. The same thing with anything high value. Work site job boxes and similar. The average person doesn't have thousands of hours of picking experience.
That is why the Gas Axe was created
When I worked at a large public school as a bus driver a few years ago, our office had been broken into over the weekend and several computers, hard drives, and monitors were taken. Most had Kensington locks. However, none of them were picked, or the cables cut. Somebody had simply used a large pair of channel-lock pliers (found at the scene) to twist the lock out of it's hole. Sure, it damaged the computer a bit, but thieves like that were going for the components so didn't care about cosmetic damage. So it was quick; they attacked the weakest link. A month later, with new computers, they tried again... but were caught because of a silent alarm system and hidden cameras.
. . . ...were the actors - employees??
Yeah after a theft everybody is "tooling up" to make things safer. Steep learning curve
Can't you open the bottom of the laptop without taking off the lock if you just wanted components? All you can get out of a laptop is ram and hard drive and most companies standard is only a 256gb hard drive and 16gb ram so not sure how this is worth the risk anyway
@@MikzX Sell motherboards and screens, all parts.
@brianwest2775 yea but you aren't going to get nearly as much money just selling those few pieces vs having a whole working laptop, but I guess if they were scared of getting caught kind of makes sense? Seems like a lot of risk for not that much reward
I used to sell computers at Best Buy and we attempted to secure the Mac Laptop table with these locks. People were able to simply snap the locks off the laptops. the teeth that expand inside the laptop are far too fragile and break. Might make a good 2nd video on this lock.
what happened next?
But will it stand up to a stale Dorito?
Jack This NEEDS to be a thing.
I pretty sure LPL picked one with a stick from his yard. I
I've gotten my hands on two of these locks recently, one of them has keys, and the other one doesn't, I was naively thinking I could easily cut some keys for these, but I didn't realize the long protrustion on the tubular key is actually a very necessary component. I tried to pick it open with the impressioning tool, and while that worked, it immediately locked up after a single pin rotation. I removed the impressioning tool to see that the place that's normally covered up in the neutral position now had a driver pin sticking up. And in normal tubular locks, that gap is not there, but with these kensington locks, the protrusion from the key is supposed to sit at the sheerline at all times to prevent the driver pin in whatever position from pushing up past the sheerline!
I retried a couple of times with both my locks picking manually, and it happens every time. So does that mean that with an impressioning tool, you might be able to open one, but if you fail to rotate it two positions it will lock itself and won't be openable with an impressioning tool? the only way I was able to get movement in the lock again was by manually pushing that driver pin back in.
This also means I can't cut my own keys for this lock sadly! Since I don't have any key blanks with that protrusion, nor would such a key fit into the key cutter I have...
it took longer to attach the lock to the laptop than to pick it
I single pin picked one of these at work last weekend. The “pin” or detenti at position zero slowed me down quite a bit. I didn’t realize it was there initially. If I had watched this video beforehand, I would have noticed the extra long protrusion on the key.
I would have like to see you single pin pick this. I think you know we like watching use your skills.
You unlocked it quicker than I can lock my work laptop. Mine seems to spin a few tunes before lining up to be inserted into the laptop.
That moment of shock when you see a lock that you're using on LPL's channel....
I knew it would serve as a short deterrent at most but *arrgh*
Can confirm - have thousands of these locks at the University I work at and the few times a machine has been stolen they just clipped the cable.
The government department I used to work for in the early 2000's had thousands of these keyed alike.... This same model. Better still... They supplied each lock with a key so there were thousands of the same key floating around the state too.
These were designed for offices that people had no permanent desks they hot desk, so if you have to use the bathroom you could lock your laptop while being away from the desk a few minutes. However with the correct tool the laptop could be taken before you even washed your hands.
To be fair, its probably more secure than the password.
1...2...3...4...5
That's the kind of combination an idiot has on his language
@@paleosteveo3501 "That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!"
I recently saw one of their new locks at an IT security fair, it's keys are even smaller and none of the three standard impressioning tools fit. I asked them why they don't offer one with a chain instead of a steel cable but they said it would be to bulky for most customers.
I'm using some of these as well but with a combination lock, it's better than nothing, as it prevents someone from just walking by and grabbing the device at least, and if someone starts cutting the cable it could potentially draw the attention of people around to it.
Any solutions for picking the smaller version? I purchased impressioning tools and they were way too big and the locks couldn't be picked.
In my workplace we have a few that seem to be keyed differently to the rest of them and we don't have the key. Cutting the wire wont work as we will need to re-lock them with new Kensington locks that match the rest of the locks we have. Any suggestions?
Funny story. I was in a pawn shop looking for a pry bar. Hey, i was stuck in nowhere land and at that hour, nothing was open. On the electronics shelf, four laptops, all of them had Kensington locks still attached with the cable nipped really close.
should have called the police right away
Always bemoaned the loss of the Kensington slot from Apple laptops, now this feeling has gone away! Thanks LPL!
the steel cable here has a function to make the lock look very hard to defeat.
That literally made me laugh out loud, it was so comically fast and you made it look so easy
I have the 3 tubular lock impressionist kit. The smallest is the 7.0 mm. What is the next smallest size? I ran into a smaller tubular lock the other day and my tools wouldn’t fit. Do you know the range? Thank you.
Kensington makes also combo locks. Can be unlocked with NO skill under 5 minutes by feeling...tried multiple times and started when colleagues changed another colleague's combo, so I just tried and now I can unlock it under 3 minutes after just several tries :)
Let's say you're in a library. Is better than nothing
This is the first time I see you feature a product I've been using for some time and still use to this day. Sad to learn it is more vulnerable than I thought.
These are a deterrant and effective at that! The biggest security problem we have with them are the users! We regularly find the cables looped around the feet of desks. One little lift and the cable can be removed along with the laptop 🙄
I don't know how to operate one of these tools, but it's good to know it's all I need in case I lose my laptop lock keys.
I literally blinked and missed all of the opening process
Soooo They might have updated these, but the HUK tool I have is the blue 7.8 tool. The Kensington lock I have has a small ball bearing that gets pushed into the body of the lock, by the top flag on the key. Using the HUK tool, I got this, and three of them, stuck in half open/half closed position. Because the locks were NOT installed, the shaft turns freely and is difficult to hold with tension. I'm going to try again with locking pliers, or just bind some pliers to it with a hair tie, so I can apply tension without the core spinning.
Having seen these locks used in an office environment it does give a visual deterrent. It kind of says "Keep walking opportunist thief I am locked up". I must say visually it has a purpose. Practically a thief who has gone to steal a laptop will be carrying something to cut the cable in a few seconds.
The joke's on them, you still have to get through the lock screen too!
Actually, the impressioning tool easily broke through my screen too.
Some locks don't keep determined criminals away, they keep the honest people honest.
Small side note: these locks are not just used on notebooks, but also on monitors and desktop PCs. In desktop PCs it sometimes prevents the side panel to be opened, so a potential thief can't steal any of the internal components
so what, when you can open it in 1 second?
Any chance you are working on a video for the N17 locks? Our IT group could really use one of those tools to avoid hacksawing locks when users lose their keys.
I'm curious about the disc detainer version now. (Not that pick resistance is probably the main aim of any of these Kensington locks; I only got that version because it was around the time that everyone discovered you could impression a lot of the round locks with a pen.)
I think the two biggest flaws of the Kensington locks is that their cables can easily be cut and they can easily be broken off of the computer. Security is only as good as its weakest link and the weakest link of these locks is not in their keys or combinations, it's in the cables and structural connections.
Thank you, i was waiting here wondering how to get a new laptop without paying for it
I think they attempted to fix this in some of their models with a really deep pin that the key has to press. It's that little part that sticks out of the key on your model but I guess they didn't incorporate it on this model.
Opening this specific type of kensington lock (those with the orange keys) with an impressioning tool is pure luck. The protruding pin on the key actually interacts with a key pin inside the cavity on the lock where that protruding pin reaches into. This recessed pin is not being activated by the tool and usually blocks the shearing line.
Totally agree with you White Shadow,
For those who are interested there are very good videos made by Potti314 which explains how these tubular locks work ruclips.net/video/KmENJDmcjZE/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/6YfcftYx2Rc/видео.html
I lock my laptop with a Abloy 362.
I love LPL but it'd be nice if he gave more security recommendations on which locks to use for home use/business use. Not really a complaint just something I'd love to see. Either way I've been a pretty big fan and keep it up LPL :)
I wonder how the combination style Kensingtons fare? Though they use the same braided steel cable. This reminds me of the time my (now former) boss decided that we didn't *need* to lock down display laptops with the Kensingtons, just the USB alarms. So I asked him if I could demonstrate why this was a bad idea.
He said sure, so I walked casually up to one of the laptops, and in one motion unplugged the USB alarm and the charger, grabbed the laptop, and ran for the door, yelling "FREEEEEDOOOOOMMMM!"
I stopped before actually exiting the store, of course. He gave me a dirty look, but the locks were reinstated within the hour.
I love to hear your English, LPL! 😊
So that's why it's on sale on Amazon.
And now a gold color. So, different sizes? How many sizes are there? I've seen you use 4: Black handle, blue, purple, and gold. Are those standards? Do the colors mean anything other than to the manufacturer?
i tried the tool with a decommissioned Kensington lock & it seems if you aren't turning around the tool fast enough the spring / plunger gets stuck in the hole where the "nose" of the key goes.
With a lot of wiggeling i got the lock turned anyways, but trying it a few tikes more it got stuck again. So maybe it's time for an updated video or for me to hone my lp-skills
Have you picked the Kensington slim cable lock? The device you employed is too large, even with a 7.0mm one.
I used to work in PC support group routinely we got calls from users who lost their keys. You can get a master key for some of these locks when we didn't have that the easiest way was just break the little part which locks into the hole on the laptop frame it would just bend the pot metal laptop frame, or break the teeth off we used a pair of vice grips on the lock itself. These are only good for someone grabbing and running with them which was most of the laptop theft. Other employees would grab them and walk off during the daytime. As security cameras were installed on all doors with badge readers going both ways it brought the laptop theft down to almost zero. We stopped buying the locks except for CEO we put on on his. We also installed McAfee end point encryption have to know the windows password to boot the laptop. I suggest encryption on all folders with sensitive data at home as well as cloud backup of your hard drives such as carbonate.
If you have data that you don’t want to get into the hands of a thief, encryption on the drive is mandatory, as is securing the encryption key.
If you have data that you can’t afford to lose, independent backups are required.
If you have data that is both, you need encrypted backups.
This lock is only going to protect the hardware it is attached to- and laptops aren’t very expensive by themselves.
The computer case is made out of plastic, what is to stop an individual from snapping the lock out of the corner? Even if the corner is reinforced by a diecast block, it shouldn't be too much trouble to snap the locks tab off. Think I'll take one of my junk L-tops apart just see just what is in that corner. As always thanks for sharing.
I think, for the most part, those only get used for keeping staff from walking off with company property.
Still see it as working because quickly picking up the laptop and getting it in a bag is the mo. Just the sight of it works.
it seemed like the impressioning tool was as fast.. maybe even faster than the key (with the longer handle it allowed less obstruction withthe two hands being up against eachother). i would like to have had you take a closer look at the smaller diameter impressioning tool and showed how it worked to open the smaller tubular lock. And perhaps taken the smaller tubular lock apart and show us whe is inside
Where did you buy the tool and how much? As an IT guy i got dozens of these on our company equipment and no matching keys.
Is there a way to pick this kind of lock with a more common tool ? The one presented here is not what I can get my hands on. I would like to see a traditional picking of this lock, because if a special tool is mandatory, in a way, it's not a so bad lock.
They are ment more so as a deterrent than anything else. I have one and it just makes it look hard enough to remove that no one goes for my computer.
Reminds me of those kKensington locks that could be opened using a standard business card
Just an FYI.... Most government laptops use these exact locks.
TravisFabel See comment from a government IT person in the long thread about breaking those. Apparently some government laptops self destruct if you break off that lock.
Btw some Kensington lock series have master keys.
The tiny locking lug on that lock looks as though it'd snap clean off if you looked at it wrong.
When you did the opening of the lock you did not explain how to return the lock to normality since only using the tubular lock is not sufficient to be able to return the lock to the current position
I must have missed something. I have this same lock and same 7mm tool and I am unable to get past the almost open position. The key has a foot that keeps the bottom pins from interfering with rotating the cylinder only when the foot is in place. The tubular lock pick does not have this feature. If you take the key and remove that foot on the end it will no longer open the lock.
We use these for a bunch of laptops in a library lab at my campus for which I'm IT. Interesting to see how well these stand up to attacks.
the vector of the trajectory combined with momentum of the impressionistic points of nickel, iron and chromium alloy is probably why that took so long to get open. maybe try that in a vacuum to speed it up?
Hi there! I've been watching your channel since couple of months and I've learned a lot about the locks.
Any advice on how to return the lock in initial position after turning it one step?
I've bought one of those Banggood sets because we had a lot of similar locks in the office and the people loose their keys quite often and I wanted to have a "clean way" of unlocking them (we have a pile of laptops' docking stations with bunch of metal wires hanging off them). I was practicing with a brand new Kensington lock and with this tool it clicked in second position very quick. However, it appears, that the "pointy" part of the key has it purpose to push down the pins. With that tool, there's no way I can push that pin nor I can put the key inside. So is the single pin picking the option I'm left with?
Could you show how to pick a antique furniture lock (skeleton key type) please? Thank you!
My cousin lost his truck keys and ha asked the lock smith if he ever picks locks and he said not really. Cousin asked you ever watch LPL on you tube? Lock smith says nobody else on the planet can do what that guy can.🤣
What a crappy lock smith. There are other lock smiths here on youtube that take us with them "on the job". Most of them use bogatar rakes for 20 secs, and if that fails they switch to single pin picking. That being said, I have a Ruko 1200 on my front door, and I asked a lock smith (from a certified Ruko partner) if he would pick it or drill it if I ever lost the key, and he just looked at me blankly and said "With my hourly rate it is simply cheaper to drill it and repin a new one for you than pick it... those take hours to pick!"... Haven't seen LPL have a go at one of those yet though.
BosnianBill might disagree a little
I've never need him to pick a lock, he did say one if his employees is who he sends for that. His response time and customer service is top notch and each of the 3 times he has come to make a key for a vehicle when the keys were lost he did it in about 3 min, so in my book he is a good lock smith🖕🏻
This lock is not meant to stop thieves, it is meant to remind people to leave their laptops in office.
better than absolutely nothing.
but only barely!
@LPL - would bolt cutters defeat that cable ?? Is it just a plain, simple cable.
PS: where did you purchase those tubular(impressioning)picks - why are they called "impressioning tools"??
I'm trying to pick almost the same lock with the same tool. Right now I'm blocked because I only did 1/8 of a rotation, and I can't get it to rotate left or right, even with single picking. Also the first pin counterclockwise seems stuck, I don't know what I did wrong. Any idea?
well i mean all you really need a kensington lock for is if you are working on something in like starbucks or something and you gotta go to the washroom, you lock it while you're away instead of having to pack it up. And someone who would try to steal it probably doesn't have a tool to open it.
This lock isn't to protect against theft, it's meant as a deterrent from theft. If someone really wanted your laptop, they could cut through this with a pair of snips in under 5 seconds. The main reason to use this lock is to protect against the "crime of opportunity", where someone just happens to see a laptop sitting somewhere unattended and picks it up and walks away with it. These are best used in crowded areas where tampering with this lock without a key is an obvious cause for alarm. No one in their right mind would use this as an end-all solution to laptop theft.
My Kensington looks exactly like the one you have on this video. Bought the 7mm but it doesnt work on mine. The 7 is too small. I'm guessing they have different sized diameters. The 7.5 might work. I might try later. Lost my keys a month ago.
Hi LPL, Since these locks can only deter thefts of opportunity -- typically, teenagers stealing from other students at school, or an unscrupulous coworker at work, or a customer at "StarBucks". It is highly unlikely that there usual suspects are not going to be having specialized tools. Is there a way to pick this lock without a lock picker's arsenal? Preferably without a video demo for obvious reasons. Unlike what most people might imagine, even paper clips are not necessarily readily available unless one already has it with them.
Is it available online & for shipping to India.
I saw a video from a year ago where a guy picked it with a small roll of cardboard, that he just stuffed in and wiggled.
I still have one of these locks somewhere, along with its predecessor, before Kensington acquired the company that made them. I can't recall the name, off the cuff, but, as I recall, at the time there was some legal issues over the use of the lock design that took some time to resolve between the two companies. It seemed like a good deterrent at the time. Watching this video (and many more from LPL), it's clear it's merely "better than nothing".
Two seconds to pick the lock. I’m glad I didn’t fire up the popcorn maker for this one!!
That was lightning quick
did you try the other kensington? "click safe"
I dont think this is much of an issue as picking the device up and walking away briskly would probably break the lock point in the device
What about the new kesington lock for computer?
Actually pretty useful for a IT department when a user loses their key.
No kidding I'm thinking about adding one of these to my tool kit. Users lose keys all the time
From the look of it you could probably use any key!?
@@beware_the_moose nah they're not that bad
@@beware_the_moose can confirm. I'm in a situation where one of the many 100 locks I have won't open with any of the keys I have.
So i'm thinking of purchasing one imprint tool to try to dislodge it myself without destroying the NUC it's attached to (as the NUC has to go back in the same place, but with upgraded RAM and SSD and finally Windows 10 :')
IT might be an easy lock, but I still recommend them for BYOC and LAN parties. Its totally about casual theft. Even public libraries its a good idea. Visual deterrents work. Even just putting your mouse in a backpack to the side is a deterrent. If there are 1000 laptops in a room that are not attended the whole time, are you gonna grab the one with an easy to cut lock? or the one with no lock at all?
I tried this with same type of lock and tubular pick tool and the lock is now stuck between open and full lock.
Totally normal , it is not possible to open completely this kind of lock with this tool
I think the easiest attack is to just rip the lock out of the device, as it's just a little bit of standard plastic holding it.
My last name is Kensington my family did not make this lock I swear.
someone stole your name whilst you were away from your desk for a moment.
aleks kensington Maybe it was made in the town your family owns.
Yes they did you’re a liar
Yes, but do they own a different kind of computer equipment company? (Keyboards, mice, etc.)
Hey if seen now a few videos from you. Youre really good. I want to go and also learn how to pick locks. Do you have some tips for me?
It's supposed to be a deterrent because I've seen this in a lot of tech store here in the Philippines in which they display the unit for testing and stuff like that. Some of the locks like this will have an alarm that if you try to lightly pull it, it will be the most annoying sound you'll hear. Picking would be highly impossible because of the cctvs that are visible from the store. Lol
B.Roa 23 . That would never happen in the USA, LMAO. Bet our thieves are better than your thieves and uglier and on the dole of society.
The point is not to keep the notebook very secure, but to keep thieves away in the first place.
Would be interesting to see you do the defcon cl for laptops. Many videos out there and everyone seems to struggle or can't use common methods
they are only meant to slow down a runner/opportunity thefts some companies have policies where the employees must lock down the company laptops at all times. even on the 18th floor in a conference room during a meeting with the boss.
most of the kensington locks i used to see are have a three number combination. but like the other folks said these are not supposed to use in very insecure situations. any way this kind of weakness is really unforgivable.
The combination version of this lock would be interesting to see, but it also may not prove to be any challenge.
eh, often you don't even have to mess with the lock or cable since the part were the lock attaches to the notebook is often made of plastic so you just have to yank forcefully at the notebook to get it free. so, why even bother?
I have a computer that came with one of these. Never really put much stock into it.