Tethering arrangement for portable electronic devices

A portable electronic device having an anti-theft functionality and a user-operable useful functionality, the portable electronic device comprising:

• a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising a socket;
• and
• a processor for executing the user-operable useful functionality and the anti-theft functionality,
• wherein operation of the anti-theft functionality includes (i) locking an anchor in the socket to thereby secure the anchor to the portable electronic device, the anchor being connectable to an object separate from the portable electronic device, and (ii) unlocking, by said processor, the anchor from the socket upon receiving a valid unlock code.

An anti-theft system for securing a portable electronic device that has an anti-theft functionality and a user-operable useful functionality, the anti-theft system comprising:

• a) an anchor adapted to be retained to an object separate from the portable electronic device;
• b) a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being part of the portable electronic device, the locking mechanism comprising a socket for securing said anchor, to thereby secure said anchor to the portable electronic device;
• and
• c) a processor that is part of the portable electronic device, for executing the user-operable useful functionality and the anti-theft functionality,
• wherein executing the anti-theft functionality includes unlocking, by said processor, the anchor from the socket upon receipt of a valid unlock code from the portable electronic device, and wherein the anti-theft functionality may be operated before, during, or after execution of the user-operable useful functionality, and irrespective thereof.

In a portable electronic device having an anti-theft functionality and a user-operable useful functionality disassociated from the anti-theft functionality, a method of using the portable electronic device, the method comprising:

• a) operating the user-operable useful functionality;
• b) using the anti-theft functionality, comprising:
• i. inserting an anchor into a socket of the portable electronic device, the anchor being connected to an object separate from the portable electronic device;
• ii. securing the anchor to the socket, thereby securing the anchor to the portable electronic device;
• and
• iii. unsecuring the anchor from the socket upon verifying an unlock code that is received at the portable electronic device.