Ok... as someone who is pretty up to scratch on the actual PC installation and maintenance side of things I'm a little newer when it comes to physically securing items in places where there's a potential for those items to go walkabout.

Well, thanks to a member of the public walking into a school, that I maintain PC's for, and walking off with a brand new TFT, I'm now looking at ways to secure or at least hinder any other potential thieves and I need a solution mighty quick..

I'm aware that the most you can expect is the reduction of potential losses rather than outright protection and I'm also aware that anyone wanting to dip into PC's is going to find it easy enough if they have a phillips screwdriver so initially I'm after..

Some form of cabling system that can be bonded and daisy chained to TFT's, PC mini-towers and items like scanners, printers, etc... in such a way that they create a difficult problem for someone to lift without a set of bolt cutters to hand...

Add to that, does anyone know where I can get hold of standard threaded PC screws with triangle or star heads to make it harder still for someone to access the insides of PC's... Or even lockable screws...


At the very least I'd like to make it a lot harder for someone to walk in and walk out with anymore equipment while I still can...




Thanks in advance for any input...


Note: so far I've come up with:
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8151511860&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=35063
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8151495166&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=3146

Most cases now come with a loop on the back for a steel cable to be passed through, and if the cases are made properly the cable should prevent the removel of side panels (looping mouse and keyboard cables through the eyeloop and securing with a padlock is also a good idea. I have fitted out a school, and a library with something simmilar to what your after, and basically consited of some toughend steel cable, anchored to a desk at either end, being passed though the loops on the backs of cases, and some toughened steel eyes fixed with araldyte to things like monitors and printers. Also, tagging with a none removable asset label saves a lot of hassle.

Joel

Have a look at http://www.computercages.co.uk/ and http://www.saundersonsecurity.co.uk/acatalog/Computer_Security.html For the most effective way which is completely encasing the computer although not the most cost effictive.

I have the cabling on my TFT, altho if someone is reallt determined it wouldn't stop them.

Oh how I love google...

Well for anyone who is looking too... This company..
http://trfastenings.com/products/productguide/category/97/

...have a system that provides you with non standard screw heads, including the tool heads to use them for about £35 per 100... can't be too bad...

So that's one side of things... Apparently the screw thread could be M3 or UNC6 or some such so I'll feedback on that when I get the samples and check them against the ones I have...

Originally posted by Joelc Most cases now come with a loop on the back for a steel cable to be passed through, and if the cases are made properly the cable should prevent the removel of side panels
Unfortunately the cases I sourced didn't come with this feature so on this I didn't do as well as I might have hoped.. but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

and basically consited of some toughend steel cable, anchored to a desk at either end, being passed though the loops on the backs of cases, and some toughened steel eyes fixed with araldyte to things like monitors and printers.
That's where things seem to be headed...

Also, tagging with a none removable asset label saves a lot of hassle.
That's something I'd forgotten... Any ideas where I might get hold of anything like that?

http://www.idmark.com and http://www.security-label.co.uk/

Not used either before, but i've herd good reports, the company i used has now ceased trading. :(

Another suggestion is remove any floppy/cdrom drives if they are not needed, having worked as an admin in a school I know that things such as pennies, bits of paper etc get weged in drives, and its expensive to keep replacing them.

CCTV is a MUST for IT rooms. Cables based security is the way to go, its cheap and cost effective, and a damn good deterrant, and if done right, near on impossible to break, without damaging the equiptment (Doesnt sound great, but the theiving little runts wont get much if its damaged)

Joel

Originally posted by Martin_s
Unfortunately the cases I sourced didn't come with this feature so on this I didn't do as well as I might have hoped.. but hindsight is a wonderful thing.


That's where things seem to be headed...


That's something I'd forgotten... Any ideas where I might get hold of anything like that?

You can buy sticky "loops" from most IT shops where the cement on the back is pretty permenant, and you jsut stick it to the item and pass a cable throught it.

You might wnat to check out www.seton.co.uk for other ideas like non-removeable asset stickers etc...

Originally posted by Joelc
http://www.idmark.com and http://www.security-label.co.uk/
Thanks for those... found a few thanks to your use of the right keywords in the earlier post... (godsend that was!) :)

Another suggestion is remove any floppy/cdrom drives if they are not needed, having worked as an admin in a school I know that things such as pennies, bits of paper etc get weged in drives, and its expensive to keep replacing them.
Thankfully the kids are all primary age and are very well behaved so this isn't a worry... but I take your point...

CCTV is a MUST for IT rooms.
Ironically the theives actually stole the cameras that were going to be used for this CCTV system being installed so it's a classic one to laugh about when we catch the bugger... but for now it's just headshakingly unreal.

Cables based security is the way to go, its cheap and cost effective, and a damn good deterrant, and if done right, near on impossible to break, without damaging the equiptment (Doesnt sound great, but the theiving little runts wont get much if its damaged)[/B]
Well that's my thinking... As I said, I'd be really surprised if this is in any way related to the kids.. I'm betting more on a parent or relative who has heard about the "great new screens and computers" and decided to pay a visit..

I'll look forward to the hidden webcam addition I'll be putting in over the next couple of weeks.. That should provide interesting viewing.

this stuff (or something similar) was used by my college to secure screens, scanners and computers.

It uses a self adhesive tag (made of steel) that affixes to the item in question, and then a steel cable is looped through this to secure the item to a fast point.

edit: added link
http://www.highsmith.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Production/Search.jsp?category=83866&A=55970&NeSave=225&NSave=790+1292&Au=Name&catalogId=10001&An=790+1292&langId=-1&storeId=10001

Call me cynical, but a member of the public walked in and took a TFT? What if this had been a child that had been abducted, abused or attacked?

It sounds like the school needs to beef up it's visitor policy first.

My school has several hundred PCs, all with TFT screens. Although they all allow provision for a Kensington Microsaver, it would cost a fortune to cable up every single piece of equipment.

Originally posted by alchresearch
Call me cynical, but a member of the public walked in and took a TFT? What if this had been a child that had been abducted, abused or attacked?

It sounds like the school needs to beef up it's visitor policy first.

My school has several hundred PCs, all with TFT screens. Although they all allow provision for a Kensington Microsaver, it would cost a fortune to cable up every single piece of equipment.

Ah, kensington microsavers the, they can be broken with a loo roll and some gaffertape. :), plus, they cost a fortune, its cheaper just to stick loops onto them and run some strong steel cable. Cost me approx £150 to do 180pc's which really is a bargain, your talking less than £1 a PC.

And I agree, tell your school to get a better access policy.

Joel

We put the computers on the desk, took the lid off, drilled a hole trough the case bottom, and through the desk. Then used a nut & bolt to secure them to the desk and put the lid back on.

So far, only 3 stolen mice in 4 years.

The point that the computers may be too rubbish to bother pinching may be a contributory factor though.

K.

Originally posted by karl101
We put the computers on the desk, took the lid off, drilled a hole trough the case bottom, and through the desk. Then used a nut & bolt to secure them to the desk and put the lid back on.
K.

This is a great idea but can cause problems with warranty. Some manufacturers don't even like you putting security labels on equipment!

Originally posted by alchresearch
Call me cynical, but a member of the public walked in and took a TFT? What if this had been a child that had been abducted, abused or attacked?
As it happens the school has a better access policy and I wasn't given the full info... I also happen to know that the school in question is one where children are placed from foster backgrounds so issues like parent disputes and potential kidnapping (which is a lot more melodramatic than the reality) is something they are aware of and have policy for.

I can't go into the details any more but suffice to say access to the Lab was somewhat lax but through a set of rather unfortunate circumstances... The fact remains it's still not as secure as I'd like..



Anyway to return to the topic...

Re: the steel cable is a good one though... The only question I've got now is where to get the loops and which would be best all round.. Aryldite as the glue in question is no stranger but is that strong enough?


Re: warranties.. That's not an issue at all as the PC's are self built by me... The net result is a pretty massive saving and something that I know works and does what it should without a lot of dross "extras"...

Drilling and screwing down is not such a bad idea though... Coupled with the special screw/bolts for the case access and I think it might be a winner... Still want to secure those TFT's though so the cable and loops seems to be the way there.

Araldyte, braned stuff, not ripoff stuff, and make sure you mix it properly, or it will go rubbery if it gets warm.

Joel

Originally posted by Joelc
Araldyte, braned stuff, not ripoff stuff, and make sure you mix it properly, or it will go rubbery if it gets warm.

Joel

And make sure you sand down the surface first otherwise the bond won't hold as well.

Some steel loops also have screw holes in so you can use self-tappers which require special screwdrivers (Torx are usually the most popular).