Your entire life is probably stored on your laptop, including your financial records, future goals, library of images and videos, sales data for your business, and countless other items. What you don't want is for someone else to obtain access to it or, more significantly, to all of that data without your permission.
The good news is that it's simple to lock down your laptop and prevent unauthorized users from accessing your files on Windows and macOS. The subsequent steps are simple, so make sure you allot enough time for them.
Maintain Accountability
Even if you're the only one who uses the laptop, make sure you have your own user account set up on it. Not only will this prevent the kids from messing up your browser bookmarks when they want to play games, but it will also prevent anyone else from accessing it. Even if your laptop is stolen, a burglar can only reset it and wipe the data if there is a password-protected user account on it.
You'll find it challenging to set up a new laptop without a user account because Microsoft and Apple recognize its significance, but resist sharing accounts with others or leaving them vulnerable. In Windows Settings, under Accounts, you can manage user accounts by clicking the cog Users & Groups can be accessed from the Start menu's Users & Groups icon or, on macOS, System Preferences (under the Apple menu).
Here, the standard guidelines for PINs and passwords apply: Avoid using passwords that you already use on other digital accounts, and make sure to use a password or code that no one else can guess but that you won't ever forget. Additionally, instruct your laptop to return to the lock screen after a brief idleness period. For Windows Settings, select Accounts and Sign-in settings, and for macOS System Preferences, select Security & Privacy and General to enable this.
Make use of these features when they are available because Windows and macOS now offer biometric identification for user accounts on laptops, including fingerprint and face recognition. They are not a justification for forgetting your primary account password, as you will occasionally need it (for example, when you restart your laptop or when you need to make important system modifications).
Encrypt the entire system
On laptops running Windows and macOS, encryption is now (often) enabled by default, while it might not be on older devices. If you don't log into the laptop normally, it effectively scrambles the data on your hard drive, making it more difficult for someone to remove the disc drive from your computer and retrieve the files that are stored on it.
If your Windows laptop is a recent model, encryption should already be enabled. If the encryption option is present but isn't switched on, you can accomplish that from here by choosing the cog icon on the Start menu to get to Settings, then hitting Update & Security, and Device encryption.
Unless you specifically choose to opt-out, MacBook automatically apply encryption when you set them up for the first time. Open the Apple menu, select System Preferences, Security & Privacy, and File Vault to verify that encryption is active. If File Vault isn't already activated on your laptop for any reason, you can do so here. Utilize the password connected to your Apple ID and follow the instructions to protect your data.
You can also install an encryption tool from a third party to provide an additional layer of security to particular files and folders. This is helpful for securing data that is kept on external hard drives or synchronized between different cloud storage services, for instance. One of the top options for Windows and macOS is Vera Crypt.
Utilize Particular App Protections (If Available)
If someone guesses your password, gains access to your computer while you're away or borrows your computer with your permission, this additional security measure will be the only thing standing between them and your data. Therefore, don't overlook the various protections that are available for specific apps.
We can't discuss all the possibilities accessible because different programs have different options; simply be aware of what's out there. For instance, you may apply password security to your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in the latest versions of Microsoft Office programs by selecting File, Info, Protect Document and Encrypt with Password (Windows) or Review, Protect and Protect Document (macOS).
If you use the built-in macOS programs Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, you may access a comparable option by selecting File and Set Password to add the security. Adding a password to any of these programs has the added benefit of encrypting the file, making it impossible for anyone to read the contents inside without the password.
Another tool with a password protection function is the Apple Notes app that is included with macOS. Choose File > Lock Note to lock a note, then type a password of your choosing. It must be a password you can remember, as you won't be able to access the note again without it.
The 'Find My Laptop' feature should be enabled.
Both Windows and macOS have capabilities that allow you to locate your computer on a map and remotely lock it in the event that the worst should happen, and your laptop ends up in the wrong hands. Although locking your laptop or removing any important data from it (which is possible on macOS) is a good idea, we wouldn't advise doing so without the assistance of the authorities.
On Windows, select Find my device from the Update & Security menu, and confirm that the capability is turned on. If you should ever separate from your laptop, simply go into your Microsoft account online, select Devices, and then click Find My Device. When it comes to Windows, you can't remotely wipe your device, but you can at least lock it such that it requires a password to access.
On macOS, the tool is named "Find My," but you must first sign up your Mac for the Find My service from System Preferences, select Apple ID, then iCloud, and then click Options next to Find My Mac. So long as the Find My Mac option is selected on the list.
If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can discover My as an app there. You can also access it through iCloud online. You can remotely lock a MacBook, erase everything on it, or mark it as lost (which mutes incoming notifications on the laptop and displays a custom message on screen if you wish to try and get it back).
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