How the MacBook Lock Works
A MacBook can be locked in several different ways to protect it from unauthorized usage or changes to its system preferences, or to prevent data from being stolen off of its hard drive. The MacBook can also be physically locked to an object to prevent theft.
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Preferences Lock
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Some preferences in the System Preferences application display a lock icon in the lower left of the preferences pane. This prevents some users from modifying these preferences; for example, if you have set up parental preferences for your children's user accounts, you don't want them to be able to turn them off when they are unsupervised. All user accounts are designated as either "administrative" or "standard," and some preferences require administrative access to change. Click on the lock to unlock that set of preferences, then enter an administrative username and password to make changes.
Screen Lock
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The Security preference pane allows you to require entering a password after the MacBook is woken from sleep or after the screen saver starts. This is called "screen lock." Set the delay before the screen saver starts in the Desktop & Screen Saver preference pane. You can also set the screen saver to start when you move the mouse to a corner of the screen. This allows you to turn on the screen saver on command, or after a period of time when the MacBook has not been used. By requiring a password and locking the screen, you prevent unauthorized access to the MacBook if you leave it unattended.
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Drive Lock
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The screen lock prevents unauthorized access under normal circumstances, but your files may still be vulnerable. It is possible to circumvent screen locking by removing the drive from the MacBook, or by attaching the MacBook to another Mac as an external hard drive. Prevent this by locking the entire drive with the FileVault option in Security preferences. This will encrypt all of the data on the hard drive, so none of it will be accessible without entering an administrative password.
Hardware Lock
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Of course, you also want to ensure that the MacBook is never stolen -- and a hardware lock can prevent this. Hardware locks are typically steel cables with a lozenge-shaped piece at the end. First, wrap the cable around a fixed object and through the loop in the end of the cable. Insert the lozenge into the locking mechanism on the side of the MacBook, rotate it ninety degrees to secure it to the metal frame, then activate the lock with a key or combination. The MacBook will then be secured to the frame by the cable. Do not make the mistake of looping it around a table or chair leg; a MacBook is not secured when the cable can be slipped off easily.
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