A Kensington Security Slot is a small slot/opening that you can find on most modern laptops and many other devices. If you have this slot on your device (usually on the back corner or on the side), you can use a lock to secure it.
The laptop cable lock has a head that goes into the slot and locks with a key or a code. It also usually has a metal cable with rubber coating that you can wrap around something solid, like a leg of a table or a metal bar.
Different Kinds of Lock Slots
There are three kinds of Kensington Lock Slots that you might see on your laptop or other devices:
- Kensington Standard Slot: This is the original and most common kind of slot looks like a small rectangle. You can use any standard security cable lock with this slot. This kind of slot is also called the K-Slot or T-Bar, and you can find it on many laptops, desktops, monitors, and other devices that have a lock slot.
- Kensington Nano Slot: This is a newer and smaller kind of slot. It also looks like a small rectangle but is thinner since it’s made for light devices like Ultrabooks and tablets. You need a special nano security cable lock that has a smaller lock head to use this slot.
- Noble Wedge Slot: This is another newer and smaller kind of slot and looks like a wedge or triangle. You need a special Wedge security cable lock that has a specific head to use this slot.
Cable Feature Considerations
To pick the best laptop lock for your device, consider a few things:
- The kind of slot that your device has (Standard, Nano, or Wedge). You need to get the right kind of lock that fits your slot. Some cables, like our Laptop Cable Lock K-Slot/Nano/Wedge support all three slot types.
- The style of lock, either Keyed or Combination. A keyed lock uses a physical key to lock and unlock the lock head from the slot. A combination lock uses a number code that you set yourself.
- The quality of the cable construction. Choose a cable built with a cut-resistant, carbon steel cable for strength.
- The thoughtfulness of the design. Some locks have a protective spacer that prevents damage to the laptop. Additionally, thin profile locks with a 90-degree elbow and 360-degree swivel, help eliminate strain on ultra-slim devices.
- The length of the cable that you want. The cable should be long enough to reach something solid to act as an anchor for the cable and locked device.