I just read a interesting article by Jason D. O’Grady on ZDnet about a simple vulnerability in the much used Kensington lock. It turns out that The Hacker Quarterly ran an article on how easy it is to open these locks with just a penny. The irony is that this hack does not require you to actually break the lock. These are the same Kensington locks that you see at trade shows and in many mobile professionals briefcases.
I agree with Jason’s point where he showcases the scary part of the hack:
People are creatures of habit, and in most cases the four digit combination used on the lock will probably be the same PIN as the owner’s bank card, voice mail, luggage locks, etc. In many situations just learning the PIN may be more valuable than the laptop.
I know this is not BlackBerry related but since many mobile professionals (including myself) have used these locks in the past it is a good thing to pass along.
YouTube videos are available showing a MicroSaver lock being opened with a piece of paper, and an empty toilet paper roll.