FAQ: Locking Down Your Computer

How Do I lock down my computer?

It takes only a few seconds to secure your computer and discourage malicious individuals. Lock down (or log out of) your computer every time you leave your desk.

To log back in, you'll need to put in the username/password for your computer, which may be one you choose, or it may be your departmental login information. Be sure to shut down your computer completely when you leave for the day.

To Log out of a Mac

1. From the Apple pull-down menu, select "Log Out"

Mac shortcut: Shift-Command-Q

To Lock Down Windows Vista

1. Go to the Start menu
2. At the bottom right you'll see an icon of a padlock
3. Click it to lock the computer

To Lock Down Windows XP

Click Ctrl+Alt+Delete
Select "Lock Workstation"
This will bring up your login screen and lock your computer down.

Windows XP shortcut: Click the Windows key (the flying window key at the bottom of the key board) and the L key. This will bring up your login screen and lock your computer down.
To log back in, type Ctrl+Alt+Delete if necessary, and type in your username and password.

To Lock Down Windows 2000

Click Ctrl+Alt+Delete
Select "Lock Workstation"
This will bring up your login screen and lock your computer down.
To log back in, type Ctrl+Alt+Delete if necessary, and type in your username and password.

To Lock Down Linux KDE

Click on the "K" icon on the task bar, usually located at the lower left of the screen.
Choose either "Log Off" to log out of the session or "Lock Screen" to start the screen saver and require a password to get back in.
An alternative method is to click on any clear area on the desktop and choose either "Log Out" or "Lock Screen."

To Lock Down Linux Gnome

Go to the top left side of the desktop screen and choose the Actions menu
Choose Lock Screen

How do I set a password-protected screen saver?

If you forget to log out of your computer when you walk away, for your protection, you should set up a screen-saver that will lock your computer after a pre-set amount of time and require a password to log back in.

To Set a Password-Protected Screen Saver

Please note: Screen savers are not designed to be energy savers. Their original intent was to protect older CRT displays form having images permanently burned into them. This is not a concern with modern LCD displays. To use password protected energy saving settings on your computer, set the screen saver time to be the same as the monitor turning off.

Windows Vista
Windows 2000/XP
Macintosh OS 10.0 - 10.5
Linux with KDE Desktop
Linux with Gnome Desktop

To Set a Password-Protected Screensaver for Windows Vista

Right click on your desktop and select Personalize from the menu. The click the Screen Saver link from the Personize window. Under the Screen Saver section, check the box for On resume, display logon screen.

To Set a Password-Protected Screensaver for Windows 2000 or XP

Right click on your desktop. A drop down menu box will appear. Select Properties. See Fig. 1

Figure 1

The display properties for the desktop will appear. Click on the Screen Save tab. See Fig. 2

Figure 2
Click the arrow on the drop down list for Screen Saver. Select the screen saver you would like.
Click the up/down arrows on the Wait box to set the time lapse before your screen saver starts. Five minutes is a good choice.
Check the box in front of On resume, password protect. If you have Windows 2000, it may just say Password Protect.
Click OK or Apply and close out of the Display Properties Box.
To login when your screen saver is running, you can: move your mouse; hit the enter key; or click Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Any of these will bring up your login screen. Type in your Novell or Windows password, click OK or hit the enter key and you will be logged in to your computer.

Alternative Method: You can also reach the Display Properties box by:

Clicking Start in the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop screen and click on Control Panel. See Fig. 3

Figure 3
A window will appear that will have many icons or a list of items. Click on the Display icon or the Display in the list. See Fig. 4.

Figure 4

To Set a Password-Protected Screen Saver for Mac OS 10.0 - 10.5

Open System Preferences (the same as Control Panel in the previous versions of the Mac OS)
Click on the Security icon.
Check the Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver field.
Return to the System Preferences and choose the Desktop and Screen Saver icon
Select the Screen Saver tab
Set the amount of time you want to pass before the screen saver starts (5 minutes is a good limit)
Click on the Hot Corners button to set the corner you have to move the mouse to for the screen saver to start instantly

When the screen saver activates after the required time period has lapsed and/or you want to unlock your computer move the mouse, click on a key to logon to your computer.

To Set a Password-Protected Screen Saver for Linux KDE

To set the screen saver, go to the KDE Control Center
Choose Appearance and Themes
Choose Screen Saver
Check the Start Screen Saver Automatically
Check the Require Password to Stop Screen Saver
Click the Apply button

To Set a Password-Protected Screen Saver for Linux Gnome

Go to the top left side of the desktop screen and choose the Applications menu
Choose Desktop Preferences
Choose Screen Savers
Choose the Display Modes tab
Click Lock Screen After and set the amount of time for the computer to be idle before the screen saver activates (Five minutes is a good rule of thumb)
Close the panel for the changes to take effect

For More

Energy Saving Settings

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