How do I lock my laptop?

Keeping your personal digital data and business, safe is (or, should be) really at the top of your priority list. I am always shocked when (and I promise you, this has happened) people get up from their seat on a train or at a coffee shop and not only leave their laptop behind (WTF!) as they head off to the bathroom, but they leave the device open and unlocked as well! If this is you, you need to stop.

Typing Laptop GIF from Typing GIFs

Anyone could sit down in front of that machine, and see all sorts of information, access your social media, forward emails and just generally cause mayhem. I probably don't need to point out why this is such a big deal, but GDPR jumps immediately to my mind.

You should lock your laptop every time you walk away from it

It's really a good practise to get into. Even when you think it's safe - start getting into the habit - when you get up at home to use the toilet, lock your laptop. When you're in a meeting with colleagues and you have a comfort break, lock your laptop. If you're hotdesking at that cool new hipster joint that sells coffee made from beans plucked from civets' faeces, lock your laptop!

Being Cyber Resilient is such an important factor for us all these days, so I wanted to share with you some easy to remember ways to quickly lock your device. I mean, you really shouldn't leave it physically behind when you leave, but if someone were to steal the machine, the chances of them being able to do anything with the data on it can be dramatically reduced.

So here are keyboard shortcuts (keys you can hold/press on your laptop) that will lock the device until your password has been entered.

How to lock your laptop/computer using a keyboard shortcut

Operating System Keyboard Shortcut (press and hold each key)
Microsoft Windows ⊞ Win + L
MacBook (macOS) Ctrl + Cmd + Q
Linux Ctrl + Alt + L or ⊞ Win + L (depending on which keyboard you're using)
Chromebook (Chrome OS) Search + L

I've allowed for Windows, Apple/Mac and Linux operating system; if you use anything other than one of those, you probably don't need me to tell you how to lock your laptop.

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