Lock workstation with keystroke

Something that has driven me nuts since the day I started using Mac OS 10, is that there was not a way to lock a workstation with a keystroke. I am really surprised that Apple has not included this functionality, as every other OS that I have used has had it. Thankfully, someone has written a utility to remedy this. This article describes the situation in greater detail and gives instructions on how to install the utility.

I never leave a workstation (my desk) without locking it first. There are too many risks to allow the possibility that somone may have access to your data, accounts, and servers while you are away, especially since most apps now sit idle with our passwords in hand ready to perform actions in our name without additional authorization. This includes email, intant messenger, SSH keys to servers with critical data, private corporate data, and other personal files.

The only method for locking Mac OS is to enable the screen saver (with “Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver” selected within the Security preference pane). This method works fine, but the available options for initiating it are not adequate in my opinion. The options include two manual actions: dragging your mouse to a hot corner…

…or using the security menu in the Apple menu…

…enabled in the Keychain Access utility…

A “hot corner” has been my method of choice as it was simply to quickly whip my mouse into the corner then it was to click a small icon. I still have dreamed of the day when either Apple will add the functionality of a keystroke or someone would write a utility to accomplish the task.

Well, someone finally has (and I finally found it). Alex Harper wrote a utility called SleepTight, for 10.2, that added locking functionality when the unit goes to sleep and a keystroke for manual initiation. Apple then fixed the sleep problems in 10.3 and so Menno Pieters trimmed the app to only the keystroke, rereleasing it as LockTight. This utility does exactly what I have been looking for and has been implemented exactly how I believe that Apple should have done it. I can only hope that someone at Apple has seen this and that it is being implemented into 10.4.

To install this utility, begin by downloading this disk image. It will automatically uncompressed and mount in the Finder. Double-click the file “LockTight.pref” to install. You will be asked if you want to install it globally or only for the current user. This will then add a new preference pane in System Preferences called LockTight.

Within that pane, you have the option to enable LockTight and to specify a keystroke…

You can now type the keystroke to lock your workstation.

Note: For 10.2 users, visit this page to download SleepTight and for installation instructions.

Note: For those wondering if it would be possible to simply assign a keystroke, via the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab of the Keyboard and Mouse preference pane, to the Security menu, it is not. Unfortunately, you can only assign system keystrokes to items within menus that are on the left-hand side of the Apple Bar.