Three unattended minutes is enough for someone to send email as you, install a keylogger, or copy files. Public computers are even worse — assume they're compromised.
Lock when you leave
Make screen-lock a reflex. On Windows, Win+L. On Mac, Ctrl+Cmd+Q. Set the screen to auto-lock after a short idle time.
- Lock your screen every single time you stand up.
- Auto-lock after 5 minutes of inactivity or less.
- Require a password (not just a swipe) to unlock.
Public computers = casual browsing only
Hotel business centers and cybercafé PCs may have keyloggers or malware. Never sign in to email, banking, or work systems from them.
- Never enter passwords on a public computer.
- Use your phone with cellular data for sensitive tasks instead.
- Always sign out and close the browser when you finish.