Make locking a deliberate habit
Lock the computer before leaving the desk instead of relying entirely on an inactivity timer. On Windows, Windows key plus L is the designated shortcut. Check the corresponding command in the documentation for other systems. Test it once deliberately to confirm that returning to the session actually requires authentication.
Switching off a monitor is not necessarily the same as locking the session. Closing a laptop lid can also produce different results depending on its power settings. What matters is what appears when the screen or lid is opened again, and whether somebody can continue your session without proving who they are.
Check automatic locking and visible information
An automatic inactivity lock helps when you forget the manual step. Choose a delay suitable for the working environment and follow the requirements on managed devices. Do not select the longest available delay merely because an occasional interruption feels inconvenient. The unattended interval matters particularly in rooms used by several people.
Review the notifications that appear while the device is locked. A message preview can expose content even though the session itself is protected. Open the relevant notification and lock-screen settings, then use an unimportant test message to see what a person standing nearby can actually read.
Use a separate session on shared equipment
When another person needs the same computer, they should use their own session or the approved user-switching process. Do not hand over your unlocked account. A locked session may remain open while another account is used, but the available behaviour depends on the system and its management settings.
Sign out properly when finishing a temporary or borrowed session, first checking that your work has been saved. The same sequence helps in a meeting room: end screen sharing or the presentation, save your work, then lock or sign out. That prevents the next group from unexpectedly finding a private window still on display.
