We're also used to carrying our phones around that it probably feels like you're missing a body part
if you accidentally leave home without it. And to be fair, it feels this way partly
because they're do-it-all devices that have obviated the need to carry around gadgets
like digital cameras and audio players. But it turns out there are still other pieces
of mobile tech that are worth carrying around. And I'm not talking about obvious stuff
like smartwatches, fitness trackers, or the glasses that make you look like
you just walked off the set of Star Trek. One of the first things you should throw in your bag,
along with your laptop, is this guy, the Kensington Security Locked,
or sometimes known as the K-Lock. If you ever wonder what this random hole
on the side of most laptops is, it's a slot that the K-Lock uses to secure the system
to a mobile object using a built-in metal cord. K-Locks have been around since the early 1990s
and haven't really changed much since then. Technology has evolved dramatically,
but the art of wrapping cables around poles hasn't. Although Kensington Locks aren't made of vibranium
and it's possible to cut through them, they are useful for preventing opportunistic thieves
from just running off with your equipment and data if you're in a public place like Starbucks
and someone tries to steal your laptop while you're fetching your latte.
Next up, hardware security key. These are small enough to fit comfortably on your key chain
and might just be the most useful item on it. The basic idea is to use these as your second factor
or two-factor authentication instead of a number-generating authenticator app
or having a code texted or emailed to you. Don't use text codes, they're awful.
Whenever you log into an account you've linked to your hardware key, you'll be prompted to either insert it into a USB
or Lightning port, for instance, or connect it wirelessly with NFC or Bluetooth,
especially handy if you're still using it with your phone. Some hardware keys offer enhanced durability
so you won't be locked out of your accounts if you accidentally jump into a pool
with your keys in your pocket and fancier ones even have fingerprint readers built in
for an added layer of security and convenience. Many different companies offer hardware keys,
including Ubiko, Google, Thetis, and the aforementioned Kensington.
If you're always misplacing things, then consider picking up some tracking text.
These can be attached to small, valuable belongings so if one of them gets misplaced,
you can whip out your phone and find which couch cushion it's slipped under. Popular brands like Tile and Samsung
make tracking tags that work with Bluetooth, while Apple's AirTags use a combination of Bluetooth
and Ultra Wideband for more precise tracking. Though, predictably, AirTags can only be paired
with iDevices, but AirTags do offer the advantage
of leveraging Apple's Find My Device network. So if your valuable item got left behind miles away,
there's a good enough chance you might be able to locate it as long as it's in a reasonably populated area
because it's using everybody else's phones to track it. And if you lose your actual phone,
some tracking tags allow you to press a button on them, which will make your phone give off an audible alarm
if you have the connected app installed. So you can find your phone too.
But we'd be remiss if we didn't also mention GPS and GSM tags.
And as long as you can stomach the subscription fees, you can locate the suitcase your airline lost,
even if it's on the other side of the continent, because honestly, it just seems like airlines
throw your suitcases in a big cannon and launch them. Hope they land in the right damn place
because why do I keep losing my fricking luggage?
Thanks for watching. Hit like or dislike. You can check out our other videos.
You can comment with video suggestions down below. And don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell
so you get the videos when they come out.