Intruder Alarm Systems
Intruder Alarm Systems go off when someone has triggered an alarm, usually by breaking a circuit. The most common alarm system, found in houses and businesses, involves placing an electronic circuit that goes across openings like doors and windows; when a thief breaks the circuit by opening the door or window, the alarm system is triggered, and either sounds an audible alarm, or sends a signal to the designated authorities (the alarm company, the police or the owner), or both. Security alarms represent a high-end solution to protecting your valuables and ensuring your safety. Intruder Alarm Systems can also be known as Burglar Alarm Systems, and Intruder Burglar Alarms.
The LightGard Fiber Optic Security System can work with any of these intruder alarm systems.
Laptop Security Alarms
The purpose of a Laptop Security Alarm is to protect laptop computers. As with other alarm systems, there is an electronic circuit which passes through an opening or is attached to the laptop; when that circuit is broken, an alarm sounds, notifying the designated authorities, or sending an audible alarm, or both. The benefit of an audible alarm is that the thief learns immediately that they are not going to have as much time to steal the laptop or other equipment as they had originally planned on – and, the owner or security personnel are now notified.
Laptop Security Cables
A laptop security cable is a steel cable which is usually affixed to the Kensington-compatible security slot on laptops which have them. These cables can also be threaded through the hole in a steel security tab glued to a laptop, or threaded through the opening between the screen and the body of the laptop. One weakness of security cables is that they do not alert anyone that there is a theft in progress; plus, they are not very secure, since a steel cable can be cut in seconds with wire cutters or with a bolt cutter. Read more about the shortcomings of security cables here.
Computer Security Products
Computer security products protect, to one degree or another, computer equipment (hardware). Computer security products can range from laptop security cables (covered above) to LoJack systems. LoJack systems help you track your stolen computer once it goes online. The problem with LoJack systems is that they do not sound an audible alarm to alert the owner that there is a theft in progress, nor does any audible alarm inform the thief that they are running out of time, nor will the system work if the computer is never connected to the Internet.
Fiber Optics Alarms
This figure shows a laptop being secured by a fiber optic cable. The clip cannot be removed from the laptop without damaging the cable, and if the cable is cut, an alarm sounds.
The best security solution for laptops and other expensive equipment is the Minatronics Fiber Optic Security System. This system can be applied to laptops whether they have a Kensington security slot or not. The Minatronics system will sound an alarm and inform designated authorities that a theft is underway. And if you have more than one piece of equipment to protect, the same fiber optic cable can be threaded through a whole row of laptops (or desktops) so that if the circuit is broken in any place, the alarm will sound. It is an easy matter to disable the circuit temporarily to perform maintenance or replace computers if need be.
Of all the computer laptop security alarm systems available, make sure you select one that is going to let you know there is a theft going on, and can be applied to more than one device at a time if need be.
At right, a laptop is being protected by a laptop clip inserted into the Kensington slot. The laptop clip cannot be removed without destroying the fiber optic cable. If the cable is cut, an alarm sounds, and authorities are notified.
Read more about the Minatronics Fiber Optic Security System on our How it Works and Applications pages.