Lock your computer

Never leave your computer unlocked. See what can happen if you leave your computer unlocked here.


Lock your PC when you leave

While focus has been on cybercrime in recent years, and with good reason, attempts at on-site access fraud are also becoming increasingly common.

While you may not think about it as you go about your business, leaving your computer unlocked entails several serious risks:

  • Intruders can read or steal confidential or sensitive data - large amounts of data can be downloaded onto a USB stick in an instant, leaving no visible trace.
  • If your computer is left unlocked, you run the risk of your login details for important programmes and services being compromised.
  • Someone could install spyware on your computer and then monitor what you are doing on it.
  • Someone could impersonate you and send emails in your name if they gain access to your email programme.
  • If you're automatically logged into programmes and web services, you risk others gaining access to financial and case management systems, databases, CMS systems, social media and so on.

Good advice on locking your computer

Lock your Windows, Mac or Linux computer quickly and easily

Lock your Windows, Mac or Linux computer quickly and easily

Lock your Windows computer

Here are two different ways to lock your Windows computer:

  1. Simultaneously press Ctrl+Alt+delete and select "Lock computer"
  2. Simultaneously press the Windows button + "L"

Lock your Mac computer

Here are two different ways to lock your Mac computer

  • Select the Apple icon and choose "Lock screen".
  • Press Ctrl+Cmd+Q simultaneously

Lock your Linux computer

If you are running Llinux without a graphical user interface, remember to log out when you leave the computer.

If you use a graphical user interface, Linux is standardised like Windows or Mac. Therefore, there are different ways to lock the screen depending on the distribution (distro) and sometimes also on the user interface you are using.

Ctrl+Alt+L works in some distributions, but the best advice is to use the built-in help function to find the correct way for your system.

Set your computer to lock when it is idle

You can easily set your computer to go into sleep mode after a short period of inactivity. The screen will go out and lock without you having to remember to do anything.

Windows computer

  • Select "Display settings" and "System" and "Power and battery".
  • Select "Display and sleep mode"
  • You will get four scenarios, and for each of these you can choose how quickly the computer should switch off the display or go to sleep. You can set the time as low as one minute. 

Mac computer

  • Select "Apple Icon" and "System Preferences on your Mac" and click "Lock Screen".
  • Then choose which setting you want for these two scenarios: "Turn display off on battery when inactive”. And "Turn display off on power adapter when inactive”. You can set the time as low as one minute.