Where do people leave laptops?

[Halle]

DH leaves it out in the open that way we know immediately if it's gone!

 

[prettypixie]

Interesting subject! Whenever we travel with our laptop we will lock it in the safe or suitcase b/c we know that housekeeping will normally come to the room but at DVC don't they only come mid stay? Do you really think people are coming in and out of the rooms?

 

[hlyntunstl]

With the cable extended, we chain it around the toilet (usually). The reason for this is that a security cable is only good as what you chain it to. As furnishings are not bolted to the floors, chaining to a desk or table isn't really a safe option. Unfortunately, the only object bolted to the floors that we can rely on finding is usually the toilet.

I've never tried the toilet (too afraid of leaks to even try it ) but the few times I took my laptop with me, I had a cable lock and locked it to the closet shelf. If someone was determined enough to unscrew that shelf from the wall and walk out with my laptop and the shelf, it was going to be gone no matter what I did to secure it.

The only reason I took my laptop in the first place was because I was finishing up my Masters. As much as I love my computer, I use vacation as my downtime.

 

[kikiq]

Currently staying at SSR and my laptop fits in the closet safe. But for the last 3 days, it was charging underneath the bed, cords and laptop hidden by the bed dust ruffle. My brother put his case in his suitcase in the closet with clothes draped other it. Our friends that own at OKW, use cable locks for their 4 laptops.

 

[Muhlenberg]

I've never tried the toilet (too afraid of leaks to even try it ) but the few times I took my laptop with me, I had a cable lock and locked it to the closet shelf. If someone was determined enough to unscrew that shelf from the wall and walk out with my laptop and the shelf, it was going to be gone no matter what I did to secure it.

The only reason I took my laptop in the first place was because I was finishing up my Masters. As much as I love my computer, I use vacation as my downtime.

I'm with you! If they want it bad enough, they'll already have cable cutters or a saws-all with them.

I usually lock mine in a lockable briefcase and put it in a drawer. Again...if they want it bad enough, they'll break into the briefcase.

 

[JulieWent]

Funny about the toilet.

I always ask DH if he wants me to put ours away in the case. His answer: it's much less portable if we leave it out and plugged in. It takes time to unplug, put together and walk away with if we leave it out and hooked up. If we put it in the case, it's just a matter of, "Oh, I can pick this up and walk away." Strange reasoning, that guy. But seriously, there's nothing on our travel computer that we couldn't live without.

Julie

 

[lovinthemouse]

We leave ours in the room without any problems.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Remember if you are staying at a DVC resort unless you paid for daily mousekeeping no one will be in your room except for Wed for trash and towel day.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I know some people would not agree with this but I always just leave mine in the room usually on the table where I am using it and have never had a problem.

Ditto! We always leave ours out and have never had a problem.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I lock my laptop, medication, other valuables, and toothbrushes in a hard case samsonite locked luggage. Not going to prevent a determined thief but does prevent sticky fingers or opportunity seekers.

Toothbrushes?

 

[CarolA]

Interesting subject! Whenever we travel with our laptop we will lock it in the safe or suitcase b/c we know that housekeeping will normally come to the room but at DVC don't they only come mid stay? Do you really think people are coming in and out of the rooms?

1. Not all thieves work for Disney. Thieves can break into hotel rooms. There are things that "Defeat" those "electronic locks"
2. Not all thefts are Disney are "housekeeping" In fact I dare say a lot aren't!
3. Disney has the right to come in your room. Maintenance may be in there.....
4. There have been thefts reported on this board. There is NO pixie dust protecting the camera/laptop etc you just 'leave out'
5. When it's gone, it's your word against Disney's. (No pictures you took don't prove anything)
6. Those "password" protections, have me A good hacker has that data in 10 minutes or less..
7. Reading this thread I see why thives target Disney guests! These are EASY targets for good stuff!

 

[Brian Noble]

I just leave mine on the dining room table. Nothing on there is irreplaceable (thanks to frequent backups)---I treat my machines as caches, so if one goes walking, it's not the end of the world.

Screensaver passwords are worthless. All someone has to do is turn the computer off and then back on.

That depends on how your machine is set up. Mine requires a password on reboot. They are still a very small speedbump to a determined snoop---once an attacker removes your drive and plugs it into his own machine, all bets are off unless the drive is encrypted (and even then, the decryption key is probably sitting in memory somewhere that can be probed by a slightly more sophisticated attacker.)

 

[CarolA]

I just leave mine on the dining room table. Nothing on there is irreplaceable (thanks to frequent backups)---I treat my machines as caches, so if one goes walking, it's not the end of the world.


That depends on how your machine is set up. Mine requires a password on reboot. They are still a very small speedbump to a determined snoop---once an attacker removes your drive and plugs it into his own machine, all bets are off unless the drive is encrypted (and even then, the decryption key is probably sitting in memory somewhere that can be probed by a slightly more sophisticated attacker.)

So does mine... As my IT folks will tell you... it's not going to stop a dedicated hacker. (I used to test these things and if I can defeat them........figure it's not that hard LOL!)

Commerical programs all have Folks who have figured out how to defeat them.

 

[missy2217]

Have always just left it out, I never worried about it being stolen. I truly believe most people are honest and work hard and wouldn't do anything to risk their jobs.

Too much to worry about, just enjoy your vacation!

 

[Tozzie]

1. Not all thieves work for Disney. Thieves can break into hotel rooms. There are things that "Defeat" those "electronic locks"
2. Not all thefts are Disney are "housekeeping" In fact I dare say a lot aren't!
3. Disney has the right to come in your room. Maintenance may be in there.....
4. There have been thefts reported on this board. There is NO pixie dust protecting the camera/laptop etc you just 'leave out'
5. When it's gone, it's your word against Disney's. (No pictures you took don't prove anything)
6. Those "password" protections, have me A good hacker has that data in 10 minutes or less..
7. Reading this thread I see why thives target Disney guests! These are EASY targets for good stuff!

In the end if someone wants to steal something that badly nothing will stop them not even your security measures.

 

[CraftyMouse]

In the end if someone wants to steal something that badly nothing will stop them not even your security measures.

Exactly! I refuse to buy into the "climate of fear" that seem so prevalent in our society today. I believe that people are, for the most part, good and I refuse to believe otherwise. Sure, there are always going to be some bad apples in the bunch, but I'm not going to live my life worrying about the VERY slim chance that something could happen. If someone really wants the laptop/camera/phone, etc. they will find a way to get it. We will continue to leave our laptop on the desk and not worry about it.

 

[mgilmer]

Exactly! I refuse to buy into the "climate of fear" that seem so prevalent in our society today. I believe that people are, for the most part, good and I refuse to believe otherwise. Sure, there are always going to be some bad apples in the bunch, but I'm not going to live my life worrying about the VERY slim chance that something could happen. If someone really wants the laptop/camera/phone, etc. they will find a way to get it. We will continue to leave our laptop on the desk and not worry about it.

Same here. I purposely do not carry any important info on my vacation laptop just in case. Even a cable lock can be easily defeated with a wirecutter.

 

[MBELSANTI]

I do not bring a laptop to WDW, but when we leave our room during the day we leave the "do not disturb" sign and maybe even the TV on. At night we have the sign and a light on as well. Someone ( Disney staff or other) might think twice about entering a room with the sign on the door I think.

 

[hlyntunstl]

Exactly! I refuse to buy into the "climate of fear" that seem so prevalent in our society today. I believe that people are, for the most part, good and I refuse to believe otherwise. Sure, there are always going to be some bad apples in the bunch, but I'm not going to live my life worrying about the VERY slim chance that something could happen. If someone really wants the laptop/camera/phone, etc. they will find a way to get it. We will continue to leave our laptop on the desk and not worry about it.

I agree with you however I never want to wave a red cape in front of a bull. Also, if that bad apple does appear, the chance of theft is decreased since it takes more time and noise to get a locked laptop as opposed to taking one just sitting in the open. A lock allows me to feel comfortable and I don't consider that as me reacting to fear just basic protection such as locking my home and car when leaving. YMMV

 

[disneynoob08]

i'm paranoid anywhere i stay, so i always lock my laptop in my suitcase and just take the keys with me.