Instructor: In this lesson,
we're going to talk about some security components
that you're going to find on a laptop.
This includes biometric sensors,
near-field scanners, and Kensington locks.
First, let's talk about biometric security components
and biometric sensors.
Now, a biometric sensor is going to allow users
to record a template of a feature
of their body that's going to be unique to them.
This can be something like a fingerprint,
a facial scan, or even voice recognition.
Any of these can be used as a biometric authentication
factor if your laptop supports them.
Now, on laptops, this is most commonly implemented
as a fingerprint scanner.
For example, on my MacBook Pro,
when I want to log into it,
I can enter my password or I can put my finger
on the power button and it will read my fingerprint
and be able to log me in using just my fingerprint.
This is because there's a biometric sensor embedded
into that power button that uses a fingerprint
scanning technology to be able to read your fingerprint
and then authenticate you using that.
Additionally, almost every laptop has a webcam
and many laptops will allow you to use the webcam
and will allow you to do a facial recognition scan
using that webcam to log in
or authenticate yourself to that device.
If you're using a Windows device,
they have a feature known as Windows Hello
that makes use of this facial recognition technology
using the embedded webcam inside your laptop.
Now, not all laptops have the ability to do facial scans
or fingerprint scans using embedded technology,
but you can also buy an external USB device
that will have these biometric sensors
built into it and allow you
to do your authentication that way.
For example, if your laptop
doesn't have a fingerprint scanner,
you can buy an external fingerprint scanner
that can connect to your device using USB
and use that to be able to log in
or authenticate yourself.
Another security component you'll find on modern laptops
is a near near-field communication scanner.
Now, a near-field communication scanner,
also known as an NFC scanner,
is primarily going to be used to pair
peripheral devices or establish connection
to a smartphone or tablet.
This is going to be configured through
your vendor's application,
and this is very commonly used in Macintosh
and Apple products.
For example, if I go near an Apple laptop
and I have my AirPods with me,
I can actually connect those devices together
using that NFC technology.
Now, NFC can often be implemented
as a feature inside of the laptop
as part of your keyboard, touchpad,
or fingerprint reader,
depending on how your manufacturer wants to embed it.
In general, most NFC technology on laptops
isn't going to be used for things like payments,
but instead, it's going to be used
for things like pairing devices.
Although if you are using a point of sale terminal
that's based on a laptop,
you may use an external USB-based NFC scanner
to be able to take payments
from your customers who are presenting
their digital wallets using Google Pay,
Apple Pay, or Samsung Pay.
Now, the third type of security technology
you're going to find on a laptop
has actually been around since the 1980s
and this is known as a Kensington lock.
Now, a Kensington lock, also known as a case slot,
or a Kensington Security Slot,
is a small port on the side of a laptop
that allows you to connect a metal braided cable
that will lock into place.
This is used to discourage somebody
from grabbing your laptop and running off with it.
Now, most of us aren't going to be using
a Kensington lock every day when we're using our laptop
and we're out at the coffee shop
or over at the library.
But if you're using laptops
as your primary system at your office,
they may have Kensington locks installed
that locks those devices to your desk
and that way people can't walk out the front door
with your laptop and steal all your information.
These Kensington locks attach a security cable
between the device and something that is immovable,
like your desk or a bookcase.
To unhook the laptop from the Kensington device,
you'll either use a key or a combination,
depending on which type of Kensington lock you're using.
As I said, most users, especially home users
aren't going to be using a Kensington lock,
but I have used them a lot as an IT director
working in a large organization
that had to set up mobile displays in different places.
Every time we would set up
a mobile display with a laptop,
we would lock that laptop using a Kensington lock
to the desk to ensure somebody
didn't walk off with that laptop.
All right, so keep in mind
when it comes to security components and laptops,
there are three main things you need to be aware of.
This includes biometric sensors, near-field scanners,
and Kensington locks.