As you look at your laptop, you may have noticed a strange hole-like slot located on the side at the top.
You may also notice this slot on your portable hard drive, monitor , or other electronics you may own. The hole, also known as the Kensington security slot, is actually a patented anti-theft component of the Kensington Computer Products Group security system.
The original socket design patent was held by a bicycle lock manufacturer called Kryptonite in 1999.
The Kensington lock consists of a metal hole in the device and a cylindrical "anchor" that is connected to a rubber-coated metal cable. The anchor is connected to the hole and can be locked using a key or a numeric combination. The other end of the cable can be connected to any stationary object such as a table.
It cannot be considered a foolproof solution, as the cable can only be cut using a cutter. Typically, the body of many portable devices is made of plastic or similar material. A person can pry the lock off the device without causing much damage to the device itself. But it acts as an extra layer of security that can potentially prevent a device from being stolen in stores.
