7 ms·

Isn't the automatic reaction of a Windows desktop/laptop user to lock their workstation (Ctrl-Alt-Del, Enter, Enter) if they leave for any reason? Edit: that w

Isn't the automatic reaction of a Windows desktop/laptop user to lock their workstation (Ctrl-Alt-Del, Enter, Enter) if they leave for any reason? Edit: that was a great Chaos Monkey to reiterate security hygiene. Or was it a Mini Chaos Monkey? https://netflix.github.io/chaosmonkey/ https://netflix.github.io/chaosmonkey/

throwanem 6y ago
That's an old-school shortcut! Windows+L is faster, fwiw.
yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
Isn't win+L easier?
- airhead969 6y ago
  I haven't used Windows in a loong time, so I guess it is. ;)
  - amenod 6y ago
    Tux + L then. :)
    - airhead969 6y ago
      Oh nice. Or Ctrl-Command-Q on my last mac, a mini from 2012. (It does have an upgraded fast SSD, big HDD, and 16 GiB.)
      - BalinKing 6y ago
        Ctrl-Cmd-Q works on my (relatively recent) MBP as well—I always used the Touch Bar instead... TIL!
ziddoap 6y ago
>Isn't the automatic reaction of a Windows desktop/laptop user to lock their workstation Having attempted to encourage this as a habit for my users for about a year, and not a single one doing it, I've had to come up with other solutions that takes it out of their hands. (It's not business-critical for us, however we try to encourage good security habits all around). So no, I don't think it is an automatic reaction for the majority of people. Although, this is government - so I would have expected a bit more rigor. Perhaps working in a home environment contributed to relaxing of security habits. Side note: Windows + L was a bit easier to remember than Ctrl+Alt+Del -> Enter -> Enter for the users who made good faith efforts at making it a habit
- airhead969 6y ago
  IIRC, the trick is practical jokes! Change desktop backgrounds, move icons around, leave goofy/giant text Word documents, etc.
  - lemmsjid 6y ago
    That is so true. I struggled to develop the habit and then ended up on a team that did this (mainly send silly emails from the victim’s account). It’s over a decade later and I still hit the lock combo every time I get up.
  - amenod 6y ago
    ...or invite the whole team for a beer via e-mail. :)
  - duck 6y ago
    Or Slack everyone with "I'm a noob!"...
    - airhead969 6y ago
      Muhaha. I can think of other broadcast communications that would get people fired.
  - znpy 6y ago
julienreszka 6y ago
Seems like no it's not automatic for everyone. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13672231/pelosi-office-trump-supporters-storm-capitol-building/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13672231/pelosi-office-trump-s... Even experienced people have issues with this (bit less after a few rm -rf *)
quickthrowman 6y ago
I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in my 200 person office that presses Win+L when leaving my computer
- airhead969 6y ago
  Would they include accountants, IT people, managers, and insiders? If so -> D:
fy20 6y ago
Definitely not. In my co-working space people regularly leave laptops unattended and unlocked when they go for lunch.
bentcorner 6y ago
I do that "in the office" but at home I usually leave my PC unlocked if I'm stepping away and trust my family not to mess around with my computer. It'll lock in a few minutes by itself anyways. While I probably would be more careful with younger children around I could easily see this happening for someone working from home. Also - in the office if you leave your computer unlocked you may find that you have emailed the team and promised to bring everybody doughnuts tomorrow.
- airhead969 6y ago
  I guess it's like outlet protections for little ones who don't know any better, or mischievous little devils. Hahah, nice! That's an awesome office. :D
- jcadam 6y ago
  Back in the good 'ol days of the 1990s, if you left your computer unlocked you were liable to return to your desk and find somebody replaced your desktop wallpaper with something... pornographic and/or you sent an email to your boss (with the entire office on CC) professing your undying love for him.
astura 6y ago
At work, yes, always, because it's company policy and I can be officially reprimanded for leaving the computer unlocked and people actively look for this violation. At home, never, ever. This person was working from home. Though, I admit, if I'm working late and I'm the only one left in the building then I don't lock the computer. I'd imagine many computer uses don't know how to lock their computers if they weren't taught by IT - many "obvious" things to a tech savvy person are unknown by your average office worker (you can't imagine how many people I've taught to use CTRL+F) Also, the shortcut is Windows Key+L.
- mcguire 6y ago
  Once upon a time, there were manuals and stuff that might have taught this sort of thing. Now, it's assumed to be intuitively obvious.
rad_gruchalski 6y ago
Wasn’t it Windows+L?
- kbelder 6y ago
  I still always do CTRL-ALT-DEL and enter, enter, like the op. Might be age related; I guess we really need to do a poll. This may be because I've always hated the windows key, and would sometimes seek out keyboards that didn't have one.
bartread 6y ago
Here's the thing: sometimes the lock screen on Windows 10 doesn't work and you can get back to the desktop simply by swiping up even when you think you should have to re-enter your password or PIN. Note that I have face ID disabled because I got really fed up of my computer unlocking itself just because I'd gone back to my desk to pick up something I'd forgotten when I locked it and walked away. This always seemed incredibly insecure to me, not to mention very annoying.
- Leparamour 6y ago
  >you can get back to the desktop simply by swiping What exactly do you mean by "swiping up"? Are you using Win10 on a tablet?
  - bartread 6y ago
    I have a Dell XPS laptop equipped with a touchscreen.
- gregmac 6y ago
  Having used Windows 10 basically since it came out, on many different devices, I've never experienced this, and I lock my PC every time I step away (or at least I did when I was working in an office). I also can't find anyone discussing it, though admittedly the search terms for this are difficult (mostly all I can find is people complaining their screen doesn't auto-lock after timeout). Can you provide anything else on this, rather than just casually claiming one of the most popular OSes has a massive security bug?
  - bartread 6y ago
    Not really, only to say that it's happened to me several times, and isn't something I've been able to reproduce. It happens infrequently enough that the first handful of times I thought I must have just forgotten to lock the machine. Eventually I realised that wasn't so and I wasn't just imagining it because, of course, by this time I'd become ultra-paranoid about locking the thing. I'm running a ~2 year old Dell XPS equipped with a touchscreen. It's a decent machine for my needs but nothing special or exotic, and certainly I can't see any reason why this would be an issue. I don't know what else to tell you other than I wish I was making it up.
bombcar 6y ago
My Mac takes so long to come back to a usable state after sleep that I only lock when I’ll be away for a long period of time.
- saghm 6y ago
  Is there a power setting that makes it not suspend when it's idle? I'm not sure about MacOS, but on my Linux desktop there's a toggle in the power settings to make turn that behavior off, so I can lock my screen without having to worry about suddenly losing the ability to ssh into it.
  - bombcar 6y ago
    I've done that - but even coming from just "display sleep" seems to cause it to go "HOLY SHIT I HAVE A DISPLAY! AND ANOTHER ONE! AND ANOTHER ONE! OH MY GOSH THERE'S A FOURTH?!? AND A FIFTH!?!?" And then it calms down and all is well unless the cable decides not to connect at full speed, and I get to cycle it.
InitialLastName 6y ago
WIN+L is faster and can be done with just one (stretched) hand.
ahepp 6y ago
Most computers I've seen on government networks use a smart card to sign in (I'm sure it depends on which government network). Pull the smart card out, and the device locks. Most people do a good job of taking the card with them, from what I've seen. Although it can be a pain in the ass when you have to resize windows or enter the card pin ~3 times to get logged back in.
ThePowerOfFuet 6y ago
>Ctrl-Alt-Del, Enter, Enter Win+L.

throwanem 6y ago

That's an old-school shortcut! Windows+L is faster, fwiw.

yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago

Isn't win+L easier?

airhead969 6y ago
I haven't used Windows in a loong time, so I guess it is. ;)
- amenod 6y ago
  Tux + L then. :)
  - airhead969 6y ago
    Oh nice. Or Ctrl-Command-Q on my last mac, a mini from 2012. (It does have an upgraded fast SSD, big HDD, and 16 GiB.)
    - BalinKing 6y ago
      Ctrl-Cmd-Q works on my (relatively recent) MBP as well—I always used the Touch Bar instead... TIL!

ziddoap 6y ago

>Isn't the automatic reaction of a Windows desktop/laptop user to lock their workstation Having attempted to encourage this as a habit for my users for about a year, and not a single one doing it, I've had to come up with other solutions that takes it out of their hands. (It's not business-critical for us, however we try to encourage good security habits all around). So no, I don't think it is an automatic reaction for the majority of people. Although, this is government - so I would have expected a bit more rigor. Perhaps working in a home environment contributed to relaxing of security habits. Side note: Windows + L was a bit easier to remember than Ctrl+Alt+Del -> Enter -> Enter for the users who made good faith efforts at making it a habit

airhead969 6y ago
IIRC, the trick is practical jokes! Change desktop backgrounds, move icons around, leave goofy/giant text Word documents, etc.
- lemmsjid 6y ago
  That is so true. I struggled to develop the habit and then ended up on a team that did this (mainly send silly emails from the victim’s account). It’s over a decade later and I still hit the lock combo every time I get up.
- amenod 6y ago
  ...or invite the whole team for a beer via e-mail. :)
- duck 6y ago
  Or Slack everyone with "I'm a noob!"...
  - airhead969 6y ago
    Muhaha. I can think of other broadcast communications that would get people fired.
- znpy 6y ago

julienreszka 6y ago

Seems like no it's not automatic for everyone. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13672231/pelosi-office-trump-supporters-storm-capitol-building/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13672231/pelosi-office-trump-s... Even experienced people have issues with this (bit less after a few rm -rf *)

quickthrowman 6y ago

I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in my 200 person office that presses Win+L when leaving my computer

airhead969 6y ago
Would they include accountants, IT people, managers, and insiders? If so -> D:

fy20 6y ago

Definitely not. In my co-working space people regularly leave laptops unattended and unlocked when they go for lunch.

bentcorner 6y ago

I do that "in the office" but at home I usually leave my PC unlocked if I'm stepping away and trust my family not to mess around with my computer. It'll lock in a few minutes by itself anyways. While I probably would be more careful with younger children around I could easily see this happening for someone working from home. Also - in the office if you leave your computer unlocked you may find that you have emailed the team and promised to bring everybody doughnuts tomorrow.

airhead969 6y ago
I guess it's like outlet protections for little ones who don't know any better, or mischievous little devils. Hahah, nice! That's an awesome office. :D
jcadam 6y ago
Back in the good 'ol days of the 1990s, if you left your computer unlocked you were liable to return to your desk and find somebody replaced your desktop wallpaper with something... pornographic and/or you sent an email to your boss (with the entire office on CC) professing your undying love for him.

astura 6y ago

At work, yes, always, because it's company policy and I can be officially reprimanded for leaving the computer unlocked and people actively look for this violation. At home, never, ever. This person was working from home. Though, I admit, if I'm working late and I'm the only one left in the building then I don't lock the computer. I'd imagine many computer uses don't know how to lock their computers if they weren't taught by IT - many "obvious" things to a tech savvy person are unknown by your average office worker (you can't imagine how many people I've taught to use CTRL+F) Also, the shortcut is Windows Key+L.

mcguire 6y ago
Once upon a time, there were manuals and stuff that might have taught this sort of thing. Now, it's assumed to be intuitively obvious.

rad_gruchalski 6y ago

Wasn’t it Windows+L?

kbelder 6y ago
I still always do CTRL-ALT-DEL and enter, enter, like the op. Might be age related; I guess we really need to do a poll. This may be because I've always hated the windows key, and would sometimes seek out keyboards that didn't have one.

bartread 6y ago

Here's the thing: sometimes the lock screen on Windows 10 doesn't work and you can get back to the desktop simply by swiping up even when you think you should have to re-enter your password or PIN. Note that I have face ID disabled because I got really fed up of my computer unlocking itself just because I'd gone back to my desk to pick up something I'd forgotten when I locked it and walked away. This always seemed incredibly insecure to me, not to mention very annoying.

Leparamour 6y ago
>you can get back to the desktop simply by swiping What exactly do you mean by "swiping up"? Are you using Win10 on a tablet?
- bartread 6y ago
  I have a Dell XPS laptop equipped with a touchscreen.
gregmac 6y ago
Having used Windows 10 basically since it came out, on many different devices, I've never experienced this, and I lock my PC every time I step away (or at least I did when I was working in an office). I also can't find anyone discussing it, though admittedly the search terms for this are difficult (mostly all I can find is people complaining their screen doesn't auto-lock after timeout). Can you provide anything else on this, rather than just casually claiming one of the most popular OSes has a massive security bug?
- bartread 6y ago
  Not really, only to say that it's happened to me several times, and isn't something I've been able to reproduce. It happens infrequently enough that the first handful of times I thought I must have just forgotten to lock the machine. Eventually I realised that wasn't so and I wasn't just imagining it because, of course, by this time I'd become ultra-paranoid about locking the thing. I'm running a ~2 year old Dell XPS equipped with a touchscreen. It's a decent machine for my needs but nothing special or exotic, and certainly I can't see any reason why this would be an issue. I don't know what else to tell you other than I wish I was making it up.

bombcar 6y ago

My Mac takes so long to come back to a usable state after sleep that I only lock when I’ll be away for a long period of time.

saghm 6y ago
Is there a power setting that makes it not suspend when it's idle? I'm not sure about MacOS, but on my Linux desktop there's a toggle in the power settings to make turn that behavior off, so I can lock my screen without having to worry about suddenly losing the ability to ssh into it.
- bombcar 6y ago
  I've done that - but even coming from just "display sleep" seems to cause it to go "HOLY SHIT I HAVE A DISPLAY! AND ANOTHER ONE! AND ANOTHER ONE! OH MY GOSH THERE'S A FOURTH?!? AND A FIFTH!?!?" And then it calms down and all is well unless the cable decides not to connect at full speed, and I get to cycle it.

InitialLastName 6y ago

WIN+L is faster and can be done with just one (stretched) hand.

ahepp 6y ago

Most computers I've seen on government networks use a smart card to sign in (I'm sure it depends on which government network). Pull the smart card out, and the device locks. Most people do a good job of taking the card with them, from what I've seen. Although it can be a pain in the ass when you have to resize windows or enter the card pin ~3 times to get logged back in.

ThePowerOfFuet 6y ago

>Ctrl-Alt-Del, Enter, Enter Win+L.