Well I think I am pretty savy when it comes to my computer so it bothers me that I can not figure this out. I was wondering if there is a way to password lock the computer when I step away, and not log off and close all my programs. Any ideas?
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Locking the computer when stepping away from it....seems simple enough?? Right?
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This is a MacWorld article I found on the subject.
My favourite solution is enabling fast user switching and actually showing the login window without actually having to logout.
My favourite solution is enabling fast user switching and actually showing the login window without actually having to logout.
1. (This is just a suggestion for this part) Go into Preferences/Expose & Spaces, and set up the bottom left screen corner for "start screen saver".
2. Go to Preferences/Security and select "Require password to wake ..."
3. There is no step 3.
When you move the mouse over the bottom left corner and keep it there for 1/2 a second or so, your screen saver will come on, and you'll need to enter your password to get back in.
Edit: I started writing this before Fleetwood Mac posted that article - I see it suggests doing exactly what I do.
2. Go to Preferences/Security and select "Require password to wake ..."
3. There is no step 3.
When you move the mouse over the bottom left corner and keep it there for 1/2 a second or so, your screen saver will come on, and you'll need to enter your password to get back in.
Edit: I started writing this before Fleetwood Mac posted that article - I see it suggests doing exactly what I do.
In System Prefs > Security enable "require password to wake from sleep or screensaver" and then launch the Keychain Access app in your Utilities folder. Go to Preferences in Keychain Access. Enable Show status in menubar. You now have a little lock icon in your menubar. You can use it to lock your screen. Rock on.
You can also try a program called Dockables. It's a package of applications that do different things and can be placed in your dock. I use the lock screen all the time. It is like logging out because it brings you to the log in screen but all your apps are still running just the way you left them.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/dockables.html
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/dockables.html
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The easiest way to lock your system is to go to Keychain Access and click on Preferences. Place a check in the box for Show Status in Menu. A small padlock will appear on your menu bar. So now whenever you prepare to walk away from your system. Click on the padlock in your menu bar and select lock screen. You'll first have to make sure your system needs a password to wake from sleep or screen savor is turned on.
These are a couple of good "mouse" solutions, but often I'm standing at my desk and decide to walk away. "Windoze-L" was super fast on the keyboard, it's a lot slower to grab the mouse, go to the corner and wait, or select the menu lock and click. A keyboard equivalent would be great, far easier when standing.
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22459
Sizzling Keys for iTunes. It allows you to set a custom keyboard shortcut to lock your computer. It also allows you to control iTunes with custom keyboard shortcuts.
Sizzling Keys for iTunes. It allows you to set a custom keyboard shortcut to lock your computer. It also allows you to control iTunes with custom keyboard shortcuts.
Funny, I can move my mouse to a corner ALOT faster than hitting a keyboard combo (and why would you have to wait?)
i rememebr reading there was a little app that recognized your phone (via bluetooth) when you got close to your computer and it would unlock the automatically when you got near the computer and whne you walked away as soon as the bluetooth range declined the computer locked itself... i ll try to dig it out it was here in macrumors that i read about it too..
Don't when standing. Option key and another key (L?) are in the same place all the time. Mouse is whereever it was left, in whatever orientation it was left in. That plus the inadvertant "oops I didn't mean to go to the corner, now I'm locked" incidents...
Not a biggie, just keeping my ears open for a solution that doesn't require an app.
please elaborate on this a little more. i was trying to figure out how to do this today actually... i want to be able to logout without having all of myapplications closing...
I was going to say that is the most elegant solution I've read about. It works exactly like the new cars that detect when the key fob to far away from the car and locks it.
