A strong login password and automatic screen lock
Two small settings protect everything on your machine: a strong login password, and a screen that locks itself when you're away. Neither takes long to sort out.
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Cyber Nova AI helps you prepare for Cyber Essentials. It doesn't award or certify it. Follow the steps here to get ready, then apply for certification through an accredited Cyber Essentials body when you're set.
Your login password
Make it long and unique. A passphrase of a few random words is easy to remember and hard to guess. Don't reuse a password from another account. If your disk is encrypted (a good idea, covered in its own guide), this password is often what unlocks it, so it's worth getting right.
Turn on automatic screen lock
Open your settings under Privacy or Screen. Set the screen to lock after a few minutes of inactivity, and confirm it asks for your password to unlock. Now, if you walk away and forget, your machine protects itself.
Lock it yourself when you leave
Get into the habit of locking the screen whenever you step away, even at home. On most desktops the shortcut is Super + L (the Super key is the one with the Windows or distribution logo). It takes a second and it's worth it.
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