Locking a Mac

Leaving your mac sitting logged in on your desk is not very secure... is there an easy way to lock access to your machine when you step away? Unfortunately there is no ctrl-L style key combination built in, but you can get the same effect using the Screen Saver and hot corners.

1. Open System Preferences, and move into the Desktop & Screen Saver preference pane.


2. Click the Hot Corners button and have the screen saver start when you move the mouse to one of the four corners of your screen. I use the top left corner. Then click OK, and Show All to return back to the System Preferences window.
3. Now open the Security preference pane.
4. Finally set the Require password n seconds after sleep or screen saver. I use the 5 seconds setting as this gives you a few of seconds to move the mouse when the screen saver kicks in when you are reading a document or similar.
5. Now when its coffee time just move your mouse to the appropriate hot corner and your screen saver will lock your computer.