Physically securing desktop lab computers

[Billfred]

Well, this is one that has me stumped.

I'm the de facto manager of my residence hall's always-open computer lab, and recently we've had a couple of parts walk off. A monitor disappeared last spring, but reappeared around finals. (They've since been locked down far better.) When I first checked out the computers this fall, a keyboard and an ethernet cable were missing. While I know these parts are cheap and available everywhere, it results in downtime for the computers (and, as with most state institutions of late, we're not made of money).

So, with neither the business manager nor myself happy with the situation, I've been looking for a means to keep folks from accessing the cables on the back of the case (thus keeping them from making off with the items), while still allowing folks to access the drives and USB ports in the front. All of the searching I've done hasn't turned up a system that can do both (either you could unplug cables, or you couldn't access drives). My inclination is to build a case over the case from plywood, leaving holes for ventilation and drive access, then perhaps paint it to make it look nice.

Has anyone found a solution to a similar situation?

[KenWittlief]

Ive seen keyboards with USB hub ports, that would allow you to put the entire PC in a locked box, with only the keyboard, mouse and monitor on the table.

[Queen_of_Mascot]

At our school, we have one of the computer labs set up so only the front of the tower is accessible. While it isn't locked down, with the setup, it takes a good amount of time and fidgeting to take away the cables, since its put in a recessed shelf of sorts, with the monitor set up behind glass under the desk... erm...

I really need a pic to show you, but I think the system isn't custom-made, so you could order it en masse. I'll try to get back to you with a pic once the school year starts.

The lockdowns we use at our school leave the front exposed, while protecting the back too, but they're for much older computers... I'm not sure if they make lockdowns like that for newer computers. They're the white metal ones with the two locks on the front, that I'm referring to, with the odd circular keys.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Bill,
There is a very popular security rig that uses a piece of covered aircraft cable and glue-on hardware. The armored cable passes through the hardware on each piece, monitor, keyboard and CPU and then has a lock on the end. This ties everything together in one big piece and the glue requires breaking the plastice to remove it. There is also a company that manufactures some really rugged furniture called Anthro. They have a website.

[[527]phil]

you could bolt a peice of plywood to the computer, at an angle. kinda like this (excuse the crued drawing), that way you woudn't be able to get your hand in to unplug the cable.

Not verry pretty, but it should work, if you use wood screws to screw it down to the table, and bolt it to the computer case, that should deter them enough not to take it. I don't know how your cases are attached so bolting it might not be possible. but i think you get the jist of my idea.

[Eric Finn]

http://www.computersecurity.com/lock... 235f51dc89c05

And just put something over the back to prevent them from unplugging the wires.

[SamC]

I have seen something (can't find it on the internet though...) that is a metal peice that covers the back of the system and if i remember correctly locks (or bolts) at the top. Thier are vent holes and holes for wires but once wires are put through they can't be taken out without a good amount of effort.

[Alexa Stott]

You could always take some suggestions from the guys over at this site.

Namely, these guys:

Our marines had taken the order to secure things pretty seriously, because they had done it with two half inch lag bolts. They had drilled straight through the case, the mother board, the bottom of the case, and the desk it was sitting on, to drop the lag bolts in place.

[indieFan]

Have you looked at the other computer labs on campus to see how they handle the cables? I know that the lab that I worked in had some sort of lock that was put on. It drove us nuts when we had to change the monitor connections for the professor's laptop and back, but it definitely prevented any thefts.

If your campus labs don't have anything like that, call ITR for CSUN's College of Engineering and Computer Science and ask what they use. Send me an email (not PM) if you want their phone number.

indieFan

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Have you looked at the other computer labs on campus to see how they handle the cables? I know that the lab that I worked in had some sort of lock that was put on. It drove us nuts when we had to change the monitor connections for the professor's laptop and back, but it definitely prevented any thefts.

If your campus labs don't have anything like that, call ITR for CSUN's College of Engineering and Computer Science and ask what they use. Send me an email (not PM) if you want their phone number.

indieFan

The normal method of securing most computer hardware around here is wetware (read: a responsible human in the lab when people are there, and a locked door when they aren't). Of course, we don't have the manpower or money (or space, really) to put a warm body in the lab 24/7, and history has proven that anything that's locked up around here (even if the key is just at the front desk) rarely gets used.

I will look into the lock, though.

[Rohith Surampudi]

Ok well my school uses the products on the following links to secure CPUs, Monitors, and projectors, they are quite easy to install, but the lockdown cables are a bit on the expensive side to wire an entire lab.

http://www.meritline.com/mngek1-anchor-plate-lock.html
http://www.secure-it.com/shop/index.php/cPath/21_22

i hope that helped

-rohith

[Jon K.]

I was in a computer lab for a class the other day, and while I don't have a picture yet(will take one Tuesday) the cables all went through a hinged piece of metal with two holes in it and then that was wire tied together to make theft of pieces more difficult.