TouchLocker

Despite some impressive features, this tiny utility can't always prevent others from accessing your computer. TouchLocker's straightforward interface is accessible via its system tray icon. You can set hot keys to lock and unlock the computer and select options that will prevent access to your keyboard and mouse, as well as minimize open windows when the computer is locked. You also can enter a delay in seconds that will automatically lock your computer when it's idle for the specified time. There's a Lock Now feature that's found on the interface and on the program's system tray context menu, and this worked perfectly in testing, as did the Unlock hot key. However, when we used the Lock hot key, the mouse and keyboard locked but open windows were still visible. We also found that you could shut down the computer using the CPU switch, and when the computer rebooted the lock wasn't in effect. Also, you can't password-protect the program, so users could potentially discover your hot keys. TouchLocker shows promise, but we can't recommend this version for users who want a sure-fire way to prevent unauthorized access.