Stop Hackers In Their Tracks: The Foolproof Way To Lock Your Windows 10 PC!

Are you concerned about the security of your Windows 10 PC? You’re not alone. With the rise of cybercrime, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself from hackers. Fortunately, there are a number of measures you can take that will make it much more difficult for hackers to break into your PC. In this article, we’ll go over some of the best ways to lock your Windows 10 PC to keep your data safe.

1. Keep Your Windows Up To Date

One of the most important steps you can take to protect your PC is to keep your Windows 10 operating system up to date. Microsoft regularly releases security updates and patches that address vulnerabilities in the operating system that hackers could exploit. To ensure that your PC is always up to date, go to Settings > Windows Update and make sure that automatic updates are enabled.

2. Use A Strong Password

You’d be surprised how many people still use weak, easy-to-guess passwords like “password” or “123456.” If your password is too easy to guess, hackers can easily crack it using automated tools. To prevent this, make sure you use a strong password that contains a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Additionally, consider using a password manager like LastPass or Dashlane to generate and store complex passwords for you.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is a security feature that adds an extra layer of protection to your login process. With two-factor authentication, you’ll need to enter a code that’s sent to your phone or email in order to log in to your PC. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your PC, even if they’ve somehow managed to find out your password. To enable two-factor authentication in Windows 10, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.

4. Install Antivirus Software

Even if you’re careful about the websites you visit and the files you download, it’s still possible for malware to find its way onto your PC. To guard against this, you should install a reputable antivirus program like Avast, Norton, or Bitdefender. These programs will scan your PC for viruses and malware and remove any threats that they find.

5. Use A Firewall

A firewall is a security barrier that sits between your PC and the internet, blocking incoming traffic that could be hazardous. Windows 10 comes with a built-in firewall that you can configure to your specifications. However, you should consider using a third-party firewall like ZoneAlarm or Comodo Firewall for added security.

6. Be Careful About The Sites You Visit And The Files You Download

Finally, it’s important to be cautious about the websites you visit and the files you download. Many hackers use phishing attacks to trick users into giving up their passwords or personal information. To avoid falling prey to these attacks, don’t click on links in emails from unknown sources, and never download files from untrusted websites.

By following these six tips, you can significantly improve the security of your Windows 10 PC and make it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your data. As always, it’s important to be vigilant and stay informed about the latest threats and security best practices. Stay safe out there!

In this article, you’ll learn how to keep your Windows 10 computer secure by locking the screen while you’re away from it.

What to Know

  • Easiest: Win+L keyboard shortcut.Or, use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keyboard shortcut > select Lock.Windows 10 includes Dynamic Lock, which automatically locks the screen when your phone is out of range.

How to Lock Windows 10 PC

Use the Windows Lock Key

Perhaps the single easiest and most reliable way to lock your computer is to press Win+L. The computer will lock immediately, and you can enter your passcode when you come back to use it again.

Use Control+Alt+Delete as a Windows Lock Shortcut

This keyboard shortcut is among the oldest ever created that’s still in daily use by millions of computer users. To lock your computer, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then, on the options screen, select Lock.

Use the Start Menu to Lock the Screen

Windows generally gives you several ways to accomplish a common task, and this is a good example of a less common (and frankly more cumbersome) way to lock the screen.

  • Select the Start menu.
  • Select the user avatar for your Windows account on the left side of the screen.
  • Select Lock.

Enable the Screen Saver to Automatically Lock the PC

If you use a screen saver, you can give it the additional duty of automatically locking the screen for you.

Select the Start menu.

Select the user avatar for your Windows account on the left side of the screen.

Select Lock.

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • In the search box in the upper-right corner, type screen saver, then select Change screen saver.
  • Set the amount of time you want the computer to wait before starting the screen saver, then select On resume, display logon screen.
  • Select OK.
  • The longer you wait before starting the screen saver, the more time you give someone to gain access to your PC before it locks. But if you make it lock too soon, the screen saver can appear while you’re using the computer without moving the mouse or typing.

Use Your Phone with Dynamic Lock to Lock Windows 10

Dynamic Lock is a feature from the Windows 10 Creators Update, released in April 2019. If you pair your smartphone with your computer, you can set your computer to automatically lock when you take your phone out of Bluetooth range.

Open the Control Panel.

In the search box in the upper-right corner, type screen saver, then select Change screen saver.

Set the amount of time you want the computer to wait before starting the screen saver, then select On resume, display logon screen.

Select OK.

The longer you wait before starting the screen saver, the more time you give someone to gain access to your PC before it locks. But if you make it lock too soon, the screen saver can appear while you’re using the computer without moving the mouse or typing.

Some things to keep in mind about Dynamic Lock:

  • Your computer must be equipped with Bluetooth.If you take your phone away from your PC, but stay within Bluetooth range (about 30 feet), the computer won’t lock.Even if you do take the phone outside Bluetooth range, it may take a couple of minutes for the computer to lock.

This feature isn’t ideal for everyone. That said, it’s convenient and cool in a high tech way, so you might want to turn this feature on as a backup for times when you forget to lock it manually in one of the other ways.

  • Make sure your phone is on, unlocked, and near your computer.
  • On your computer, open Windows Settings.
  • In the search box at the top of the Windows Settings window, type Bluetooth, then press Enter.
  • Select Bluetooth and other device settings.
  • If it’s not enabled, select the Bluetooth toggle. It will turn blue to indicate it’s on.
  • Select the + next to Add Bluetooth or other device.
  • In the Add a device window, select Bluetooth.
  • Select your phone when it appears in the list. You should see notifications appear on both the PC and phone. Accept both of them.
  • Back in Windows’ Settings, select Home > Accounts.
  • Select Sign-in options.
  • Scroll down to Dynamic Lock and select Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away.

Make sure your phone is on, unlocked, and near your computer.

On your computer, open Windows Settings.

In the search box at the top of the Windows Settings window, type Bluetooth, then press Enter.

Select Bluetooth and other device settings.

If it’s not enabled, select the Bluetooth toggle. It will turn blue to indicate it’s on.

Select the + next to Add Bluetooth or other device.

In the Add a device window, select Bluetooth.

Select your phone when it appears in the list. You should see notifications appear on both the PC and phone. Accept both of them.

Back in Windows’ Settings, select Home > Accounts.

Select Sign-in options.

Scroll down to Dynamic Lock and select Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away.

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