[macintologist]

I'm going to buy a new iMac Intel.

What's the best way to keep it safe from would-be thieves? What security lock/mechanism do you recommend?

[deermatt]

drill 2 holes in the metal foot and bolt it to the desk

[ghporter]

Don't drill anything. Use the Security Lock slot in the back of the base with a good quality Kensington-type laptop locking cable. Get a COMBINATION lock cable (with at least a 4 digit combination). Lock the computer to a solid, immobile item-something that's REALLY not going to move. Or, lock it up in whatever locking storage you might have in your room.

Someone is bound to chime in and say "those cables won't stop a thief," and they're right. Nothing will STOP a determined thief. But a cable lock WILL deter the typical dorm thief and if the computer is stolen, your use of the lock will help you in your insurance claim; "See, I did everything I could to keep it safe, but someone still ripped it out of my room."

[icruise]

I'd also turn on password protection (both to login to the system and when the screen saver is on) to prevent casual meddling.

[Horsepoo!!!]

I heard it's possible to lock your dorm room door. Could just be a rumor though.

[deermatt]

gorilla glue it down to heavy desk

[parsec_kadets]

Originally Posted by Icruise

I'd also turn on password protection (both to login to the system and when the screen saver is on) to prevent casual meddling.

YES! Do more than this, put a password on your OpenFirmware (does anyone know if you can do this with the EFI in the Intel iMacs?). People playing pranks on you by messing with the computer is much more likely than it being stolen. In fact, I guarantee someone will try it while you are gone. I remember there was one guy everyone else on my floor hated. We loaded the Chrenoble virus on his PC. That virus erases the BIOS on the same day as the Chrenoble incident (hence, the name). Six months later we heard lots of cussing spew from his room.

[bourgeoisie]

Originally Posted by Horsepoo!!!

I heard it's possible to lock your dorm room door. Could just be a rumor though.

great idea, if he has a roommate/suitemates that:

a) don't bring anyone over
b) always remember to lock the door themselves

password protection at screensaver and a cable lock should work. most dorms will charge you if you have to drill a hole in the desk for the cable, but it's nominal compared to replacing the imac.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by bourgeoisie

great idea, if he has a roommate/suitemates that:

a) don't bring anyone over
b) always remember to lock the door themselves

password protection at screensaver and a cable lock should work. most dorms will charge you if you have to drill a hole in the desk for the cable, but it's nominal compared to replacing the imac.

I have to concur here. Think about the reputation of college students in general; while relatively rare, there are indeed seriously opportunistic people who will steal whatever they can just because they can.

Remember what Ronald Regan said about Soviet compliance with certain treaties? "Trust but verify." So trust roomie to at least think his buddies are ok, but keep them from feeling too tempted while you're at it.

While in the Air Force, I had the "priveledge" of escorting a court-martial convicted Airman to the Brig at Quantico Marine Corps Base. His crime? Stealing a laptop from a fellow dorm resident and then sending it through the U.S. Mail to someone in Germany. So even supposedly extremely altruistic individuals can go bad. Yep. Lock up ALL your stuff.

[macintologist]

Ok my desk is right next to my bed which has an area to wrap the security cable around. It's perfect. No one is walking out with an iMac and a bed :-)

Ok another question. I have a subwoofer and speakers, a LaCie hard drive, as well as a 12" powerbook. Should I lock down all of them with security cables? Would you?

[goofticket]

Get the cable lock and forget all the bolts, screws and glue.
Insure it for full replacment value and use the File Vault security built in. It encrypts everything you do, so no snooping.
Talk to campus security and see if there has been thefts from rooms, in those dorms.
Do a background check on your roomie.
Use the iSight camera to take periodic snaps and record the faces of those invading your iMac's space.
Post thier pics all over campus as possible thieves, pedophiles, Republicans, anything that will shame and put fear into those lusting gor your iMac.
:-)

[macintologist]

Is there software that takes snaps with the built in iSight and uploads about 24 hours worths of incremental snaps to your iDisk or something?

[goofticket]

Originally Posted by macintologist

Is there software that takes snaps with the built in iSight and uploads about 24 hours worths of incremental snaps to your iDisk or something?

Not sure , keep checking the macupdate.com website.
If there is one coming it will show up there first.
It will likely be third-party and works generally with webcams.

[the_glassman]

Originally Posted by macintologist

Is there software that takes snaps with the built in iSight and uploads about 24 hours worths of incremental snaps to your iDisk or something?

http://evological.com/evocam.html

[funkboy]

Where do you go to school? I have never been worried that my electronics (or anything, really) will be stolen from my room. But maybe that's because I'm in North Dakota...

I brought a security cable with me my first year, haven't used it since.

[bourgeoisie]

Originally Posted by macintologist

Ok my desk is right next to my bed which has an area to wrap the security cable around. It's perfect. No one is walking out with an iMac and a bed :-)

Ok another question. I have a subwoofer and speakers, a LaCie hard drive, as well as a 12" powerbook. Should I lock down all of them with security cables? Would you?

i personally wouldn't worry about the speakers since there's a lot of wiring and stuff that isn't removable so that would be tougher to steal. not to mention the value isn't nearly as high as your imac so the potential for theft of them is lower.

as for the hd, find a way to route the cable from a desk drawer or something, out of sight, out of mind, you know?

and as for the powerbook, i'd say follow the same advice as for your imac, but i'd work towards an 'out of sight, out of mind' theme for any electronics that are small enough to do so. put it in a desk drawer where you can cable lock it into the drawer, or if your desk has locking drawers, use that.

bottom line is that theft in a college dorm room is gonna be a crime of opportunity 7.5/10 times, so don't give thieves the opportunity as much as you can help it. hope this helps!

ps. one of the earlier posters suggested asking around about crime history in your hall. it definitely wouldn't be a bad idea to talk to campus police or your hall director about it just so you know. they say knowledge is power. and ps2 on that note, the fewer the people that know what you have and how much it's worth, the better.

[mavherzog]

Originally Posted by funkboy

Where do you go to school? I have never been worried that my electronics (or anything, really) will be stolen from my room. But maybe that's because I'm in North Dakota...

I brought a security cable with me my first year, haven't used it since.

UND or NDSU?

[macintologist]

The room next door to me has had two incidents of theft. The first time a 12" powerbook was stolen. The second time two months later an iPod and iBook were stolen. I should be worried about my belongings, yes?

[jwoods]

Yep. I would concerned. I would go with a cable lock, and/or buy a computer desk that can close and lock. An armoire type that could lock might be wise as well. You could still use cables, but it would help hide what you have.

[SSharon]

Safeware.com might give you some peace of mind if locks and webcams do not.

[funkboy]

Originally Posted by mavherzog

UND or NDSU?

GO BISON!

You attend school around here?

[mavherzog]

Originally Posted by funkboy

GO BISON!

You attend school around here?

NDSU??


I'm a Grand Forks native. Worked at and attended UND. Go SIOUX!!!!

[hickey]

move out of the dorms. dorms suck, get an apartment with some trustworthy friends who dont bring home lots of shady cats who would snatch your stuff in a second for drug money. or just get some comp locks and dont advertise your belongings.

[ghporter]

Not everyone can move off campus. Many schools now require freshmen to live in the dorm in order to help the "change in social base" they think necessary to academic success. In other words, they feel that freshmen need a complete change of surroundings in order to make the transition from high school to college. Maybe, maybe not, but that's the rule. Others don't have the income to afford accomodations that some scholarships and grants provide free. Admittedly, living in self-selected accomodations is preferred, but that's not always a real option.

[macintologist]

My school requires you to live on campus throughout your attendance.

You can't only live off campus if you're a 5th year student, married, or have kids.

The on campus non-dorm accommodations are quite nice though, but I like my dorm environment. My roommate is very trustworthy and I know everyone that lives in this hall.

[Goldfinger]

Um, lock your door ?