What can I do to protect my macbook pro? (From being stolen/from viruses ect.)

Mostly...I am worried about it being stolen.


I am only interested in free ways to protect it, at the moment.

Thank you.

A free way to protect your MacBook from being stolen? That's easy. Never let it out of your sight.....

Regards.

chscag said:

A free way to protect your MacBook from being stolen? That's easy. Never let it out of your sight.....

Regards.

Click to expand...

Ahh...you beat me to it...the obvious answer!

- Nick

Noobies! said:

I am only interested in free ways to protect it, at the moment.

Click to expand...

This is sort of an amusing statement. You have a nice expensive MacBook Pro that you want to protect (and a lot of folks out there would steal if given the chance)...but you're not willing to spend a penny to protect it (other than the free method of not letting it out of your sight).


- Nick

A little childish but common questions I guess.

I don't let it out of my sight, unless I have to.

I just brought this thing... (rather, I'm am currently paying for it) hence (can you guess) I have no money spare at the moment. So, should I just not bother?

No.

I will look for an alternative in the mean time.

And if anyone could *help*

That would be great!

Noobies! said:

2. I just brought this thing...hence (can you guess) I have no money spare at the moment.

Click to expand...

Just because you don't have any money at the moment (for additional protection)...does not really make a difference to thieves!

And believe it or not...the "Don't let the MacBook Pro out of your sight" advice is really the best protection!

I have over 4,000 posts on this website...and "chscag" has over 7,000 posts. Do you really think this is the first time we have seen your question??? How many times do you think we have seen DESPERATE questions on this forum from folks who have just had their laptop stolen!!!

For example:

- left my laptop in the car & it got stolen
- got up from my table at Starbuck's to get a cup of coffee...and came back & my laptop was stolen
- went to the bathroom during class...came back & my laptop was stolen
- put down my backpack at the convenience store to pay for some groceries...went to pick up my backpack...and my laptop was stolen.

Do you get the idea yet!!! Don't leave your laptop out of your sight or possession...and it won't get stolen!

Enough said,

- Nick

Tie it around your waist.

You can also try this. Seems like a sense of false security though:

slappingturtle.com - Applications

Bungie Cords?

And do not slow your machine down running antivirus software. N.B. there are no Mac OS X viri and if you use the web safely, no need to worry about trojans and malware either. Keep away from purate and porn sites.

Not trying to belittle you, but let's be realistic. A free way to protect your MBP from being stolen is just as I and Nick have advised.

The reality of it is - the best way to protect bad things from happening is preventing them from happening in the first place. Not letting the machine out of your sight is still the best way. Once it's stolen, unless you've spent some money on some sort of theft recovery, it's very doubtful you'll ever see that machine again. Do some searching on this forum or any other Mac forum and read the responses.

In the meantime, invest in a Kensington lock for the machine. Surely you can afford $35 or so?

Regards.

Here is another suggestion...which costs money! I don't necessarily know much about these guys...but they do offer theft protection:

Laptop, Desktop, Tablet PC and PDA/Smartphone insurance from Safeware Insurance Agency, Inc.

For $1000 dollars coverage...it cost about $86.00/year. Of course more $$$ for more coverage & longer terms.

HTH,

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Just because you don't have any money at the moment (for additional protection)...does not really make a difference to thieves!

Click to expand...

Of course not.

pigoo3 said:

And believe it or not...the "Don't let the MacBook Pro out of your sight" advice is really the best protection!

Click to expand...

Yes, I understand that. But I'm sure people in my area are getting curious as to why I always have my bag with me. That can be worse than not having it with me.
Carrying a bag everywhere = Valubles... no bag one day = house robbery.

pigoo3 said:

I have over 4,000 posts on this website...and "chscag" has over 7,000 posts. Do you really think this is the first time we have seen your question??? How many times do you think we have seen DESPERATE questions on this forum from folks who have just had their laptop stolen!!!

For example:

- left my laptop in the car & it got stolen
- got up from my table at Starbuck's to get a cup of coffee...and came back & my laptop was stolen
- went to the bathroom during class...came back & my laptop was stolen
- put down my backpack at the convenience store to pay for some groceries...went to pick up my backpack...and my laptop was stolen.

Do you get the idea yet!!! Don't leave your laptop out of your sight or possession...and it won't get stolen!

Enough said,

Click to expand...

Understood.

Thank you.

I'll look into it.

pigoo3 said:

Here is another suggestion...which costs money! I don't necessarily know much about these guys...but they do offer theft protection:

Laptop, Desktop, Tablet PC and PDA/Smartphone insurance from Safeware Insurance Agency, Inc.

For $1000 dollars coverage...it cost about $86.00/year. Of course more $$$ for more coverage & longer terms.

HTH,

- Nick

Click to expand...

(Is there a 'thanks' button here somewhere?)

There is no fail proof way to prevent it happening. Only deterrents.

All I can do, is all I can do. (but if I do nothing and it gets nicked=)

Thanks Eric.

Eric559 said:

Tie it around your waist.

You can also try this. Seems like a sense of false security though:

slappingturtle.com - Applications

Click to expand...

chscag said:

Not trying to belittle you, but let's be realistic. A free way to protect your MBP from being stolen is just as I and Nick have advised.

The reality of it is - the best way to protect bad things from happening is preventing them from happening in the first place. Not letting the machine out of your sight is still the best way. Once it's stolen, unless you've spent some money on some sort of theft recovery, it's very doubtful you'll ever see that machine again. Do some searching on this forum or any other Mac forum and read the responses.

In the meantime, invest in a Kensington lock for the machine. Surely you can afford $35 or so?

Regards.

Click to expand...

Well put. (I'd say)

That's what I wanted to know. (Assuming no one else can offer any suggestions)

I would just like to know my options so that I can decide what ti do.

However-Like I said, carrying a bag around isn't very safe either in my opinion.

Noobies! said:

Carrying a bag everywhere = Valubles... no bag one day = house robbery.

So then we come back to the 'suspicious bag.

Click to expand...

If you're afraid that your house will get robbed (if you leave your computer at home)...then that is a completely different matter. But if someone is going to rob you're home when your away...there's probably not much you can do about that! Plus, they're probably going to take your other valuables as well!

Thus...homeowner's or renter's insurance will cover items that are stolen. You can't carry your laptop with you 24 hours/day...365 days/year! Well I guess you could...but that would be silly.

What "chscag" and I are advising is...when you need to bring your laptop with you when you are away from home...don't leave it out of your sight.

But if you don't need to take the laptop with you when you leave home...then leave the laptop at home. Leaving your laptop at home is still safer than leaving it in your car, or any of the other situations I mentioned earlier.

If you're concerned about your laptop getting stolen (if you leave it at home when you are not there)...then this is a completely different issue.

- Nick

I think insurance is my best option. (I'll look into it more)

It is most vulnerable when I am not with it (as yourself and others and said)

It's my fault for not saying before but 90% of the time it is with me or in my flat (when I'm not there). However, it isn't truly safe in either situation esp. at my place.

Thank you.

Just having the MBP on your person does make yourself a target for muggers/thieves etc. But if you follow all the advice said above and do not draw attention to the MBP. Sure it'll make it;s own attention but no need to make anymore by going around "look at the pretty shiny, I have a shiny, Woot at me" etc etc.

In my opinion the only 100% fool proof to avid being mugged/robbed is to leave the MBP at home. But that's not possible when you need it when you go out.

Or just get a notebook bag like this:

Then you're just holding a newspsper. Shhhh only you know differently .

Here's the Apple link to the kensington locks, to ensure you get the right one.
Search Results - Apple Store (U.S.)

I put my MBP on my house insurance. Its covered in the house and out of it, if it gets stolen, if it gets dropped, liquid damage, child curiosity and so on. Its a new for old replacement up to the value of £2000.

My monthly direct debit went from £8 per month with out it to £11 per month with it on, so £36 for a years cover. The excess is a little steep at £150.

I think I'll wait until christmas before I "upgrade".