Abstract: In a monitoring sensor for protecting computers and peripheral computer equipment by means of theft protection systems, wherein the sensor has a housing and a sensor element and the housing comprises a coupling member, with which the sensor can be attached to standard connections of the computers and peripheral computer equipment, it is suggested in order to make the monitoring sensor universally usable for standard connections of computers that the sensor element comprise a sensor means and an elastically deformable bending member as position transducer, wherein the sensor means registers the elastic deformation of the bending member and wherein the bending member is arranged adjacent to the coupling member such that it first of all abuts against parts of the standard connection when the sensor is attached to the standard connection and can subsequently be elastically deformed by these parts.