Information Security - Password Protecting your Screen Saver
Contents
Setting up a Windows Password-Protected Screen Saver:
- Begin by right-clicking your desktop. Or, you may click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel, and choose Display. Click the "Screen Saver" tab. You will see the following:
- Choose a screen saver that will not display any portion of your desktop ("Blank" is recommended).
- It is recommended to select 5 minutes of idle time before your screen saver is activated.
- Be sure to click the box next to "On resume, password protect". This will guarantee that your password must be entered to access your computer after the screen saver has started.
Setting up a Macintosh Password-Protected Screen Saver:
- Click on the Apple Logo Key and select "System Preferences".
- Within System Preferences, click the Security icon.
- Verify that Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver has a check next to it.
- Go back to System Preferences, and click on the Dashboard & Expose icon. Select one of the corners where you can manually activate your screen saver.
- Now, when you rest your mouse pointer in this selected corner, your password-protected screen saver will start.
- To set the period of idle time that can occur before your password-protected screen saver automatically activates, go back to "System Preferences" and click on "Desktop & Screen Saver".
- It is recommended to select 5 minutes of idle time before your screen saver is activated.
Looking for help?
We offer a number of tutorials and FAQs available in the Guides & FAQs section.
If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact the IT Help Desk via email at helpdesk@ucmerced.edu, via phone at 209.228.HELP (4357), or visit them in the Classroom and Office Building room 132A.