screen lock on Apple mac laptops

[jack71]

I finally found out that its possible to have screen lock on Apple mac laptops. If you want to set it up following the steps below:

Lock Screen Service

1. Launch Automator from your Applications folder.
2. Select “Service” as the document type.
3. Select “Utilities” from the list on the left, then double-click “Run Shell Script” in the next column.
   
4. On the top-right side of the screen, adjust the drop-down menus so the statement reads: “Service receives [no input] in [any application]“
5. Copy the following command into the large text box that appears:
   

   /System/Library/CoreServices/"Menu Extras"/User.menu/Contents/Resources/CGSession -suspend

   
6. Go to File > Save and name your service “Lock Screen”. Once saved, you can now quit Automator.

Lock Screen Keyboard Shortcut

1. Launch System Preferences and go to the Keyboard pane.
2. Next, select the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab. From the list on the left, select “Application Shortcuts”. Click on the plus (+) button below to add your new shortcut.
3. In the dialog box we’ll want to leave “All Applications” selected in the first menu. Enter “Lock Screen” as the Menu Title. Please note this has to be exactly the same name you entered when saving the service in Automator. Finally, enter your keyboard shortcut. Let’s go with Command+Shift+L.
   
4. Click Add and you’re all done!

Now when you press your keyboard shortcut (Command+Shift+L), the Mac login screen will immediately be displayed. You’re still technically logged in and processes such as large downloads will continue in the background. But you can leave your Mac unattended without worry – no one will be able to access your account until you enter your password. When you do, everything on your desktop will be there just as you left it!

[huahinjoe]

I used another method, a not too technical way is to set a hot corner in the dock settings so if u move mouse into that corner it sleeps the screen...

http://osxdaily.com/2011/12/05/quickly-sleep-the-display-in-mac-os-x-with-a-hot-corner/

[IMHO]

How does this differ from Control+Shift+Power, assuming you've selected the option to require a password to come out of sleep?

[phazey]

ctrl+shift+eject on my MacBooks. Comes in real handy if you don't want a semi naked picture of david hasslehoff as your desktop wallpaper.....

[WhizBang]

Unless it locks the screen at startup, the big red power switch will disable most such locks.

A work colleague of mine discovered that the hard way when he left a public computer locked

[MKAsok]

Thanks OP, this is very useful.