[Tennberg]

Hello everyone,

In OS X, is there something similar to Windows's Ctrl-Alt-Del that will allow users to "lock" their machines when they get up to fax something, etc. but won't completely log them out of all their apps and the OS? If so, this would be a great thing to have.

Thanks!

[MindFad]

The ctrl-alt-del (like the task manager, right?) equivalent is command (apple)-option-escape. You can then quit any misbehaving apps. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "lock" out their machines.

[Osirisis]

There is an app that puts the lock in the menubar that is part of the basic OS load. I can't remember for the life of me what it is though. I've been searching for it recently.

[bradoesch]

An indirect method would be to setup a password protected screensaver, set it to never come on (unless you really do want it coming on after a cetain amount of time), then setup a hot corner for it to come on when you mouse into one of the corners of the screen.

[cpac]

Actually control-alt-delete in NT/2000 systems bring up a dialog from which you can either go to the task manager (which is like force-quit) or log out or lock the computer, etc. (I think there are 6 options if I recall correctly).

The answer to the original question is yes:

What you need to do is go to the "Screen Effects" control panel, click on the "activation" tab, and select the option to use your user account password.

Then, you have a choice about how you want to "lock" the computer - you can either pick a hot corner and then, when you want to leave your mac, put the mouse in that corner thereby immediately activating the screen saver & it's password

OR

You can open up Keychain Access (in the Utilities folder), click on the "view" menu, and select the "Show Status in Menu Bar" item. You'll now have a little padlock in your menu bar by the clock etc. which you can click on to "lock screen" anytime you want to leave your computer - the end result is the same, the screen saver with a password requirement...

[alien]

Originally posted by cpac:
You can open up Keychain Access (in the Utilities folder), click on the "view" menu, and select the "Show Status in Menu Bar" item. You'll now have a little padlock in your menu bar by the clock etc. which you can click on to "lock screen" anytime you want to leave your computer - the end result is the same, the screen saver with a password requirement...

Great tip, thanks!

[velodev]

I have enabled the Keychain access lock, but when the screen saver appears it defaults to .Mac.

I have my System Prefs set to MyPictures screen saver but the Keychain access still defaults to .Mac.

Anyone know how to change the Keychain access screen saver to the same screen saver as the System Prefs?

[xyber233]

I too have enable keychcain access lock. The icon is right there in the menubar which is nice. It uses the screensaver I picked in system prefs.

[velodev]

Any reason why mine wouldn't use the selection in the system prefs? it keeps defaulting to .mac and it bothers me because that's the most boring of them all.

i mean, .mac is a great screen saver for the Apple store but for an iBook sitting on a desk within a pc world... let's get some MyPictures or Abstract or... you get my idea.

[Nostrildomus]

Great Tip, CPAC ! Thanks much