Why Should You Lock Your Screen?
A screen lock helps stop someone using an unattended device.
Free video lesson · 1:10
Why Should You Lock Your Screen?
Cybersecurity Basics for Beginners
Music: “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
A screen lock helps stop someone using an unattended device.
Read the video transcript
A screen lock helps stop someone from using your device when you step away. Your computer may already be signed into email or other accounts, even if you are not touching it.
Imagine leaving an open notebook on a shared table. Someone nearby could read it. An unlocked device can expose much more, including the ability to send a message as you.
Use the device's lock command before walking away. Set an automatic lock as a backup for the times you forget. Closing a browser tab is not the same as locking the whole device.
Choose a strong device passcode and keep it private. A fingerprint or face check can make unlocking convenient, but your passcode still matters because it may be used as the backup.
A screen lock is one layer of protection. It does not replace keeping the device with you or securing your accounts. Its job is simple: make an unattended screen harder for someone else to use.
To keep learning, watch What Is a Passkey? Then try What Is a Backup?
The short answer
A screen lock helps stop someone from using your device when you step away. Your computer may already be signed into email or other accounts, even if you are not touching it.
A simple example
Imagine leaving an open notebook on a shared table. Someone nearby could read it. An unlocked device can expose much more, including the ability to send a message as you.
Use the device's lock command before walking away. Set an automatic lock as a backup for the times you forget. Closing a browser tab is not the same as locking the whole device.
Choose a strong device passcode and keep it private. A fingerprint or face check can make unlocking convenient, but your passcode still matters because it may be used as the backup.
A screen lock is one layer of protection. It does not replace keeping the device with you or securing your accounts. Its job is simple: make an unattended screen harder for someone else to use.
Put it into practice
- Use the device’s lock command before stepping away.
- Set an automatic lock to help when you forget.
- Protect the device passcode and keep physical control of the device.
Check your understanding
Is closing an email tab the same as locking your computer?
Answer
No. Other apps and signed-in sessions may remain available. Lock the whole device.
Explore next
Follow the free video course one question at a time. Teams can practise these habits through security training. For the cryptography protecting your systems, explore a cryptography audit.