How to login to the computers?
These are the different login options available that you should be aware of, so make sure you choose wisely. Which option is right for you will depend on how your computer is set up and how careful you want it to be.
windows
You can find sign-in options for Windows by opening Settings via the gear icon in the Start menu, then choosing Accounts & Sign-in options. By default, your computer will be protected with a Microsoft account password – make sure it’s long, complex, and impossible to guess. You should also set up two-factor authentication on your account, which you can do from here by clicking Security and then More Security Options.
One of the alternative sign-in options you’ll see is a Windows Hello PIN. Microsoft will encourage you to use this in place of your password, as it remains hidden on your device and only applies to one specific device (read more from Microsoft here). As with your Microsoft password, your PIN should be long and unclear, like your birthday.
For better protection, you can switch to Windows Hello Face or Windows Hello Fingerprint to sign in with your face or fingerprint — this type of biometric authentication is very difficult to crack, although you need to support it by your hardware. Most Windows PCs now support these features, although you might be out of luck if you’re using an older PC.
The Security Key option is another very secure way to log in. In addition to your password, you’ll need a physical security key specifically configured to access your computer – so even if someone guesses or hacks your password, they won’t be able to access it. Physical keys are not very expensive but should support the FIDO2 standard: Microsoft has full details of how this works and how to get the keys here.
Finally, there’s the Picture Password option, which basically uses a pattern you draw over a picture of your choice as the authentication method. It’s more convenient for you, although it’s also easier for someone else to hack – it’s easier to guess, force an inscription, or peek over your shoulder in a cafe or office than to copy your fingerprint, for example.
macOS
If you’re on a Mac, open the Apple menu and then choose System Preferences, Users & Groups to see the accounts set up on your system and to change your password, if you need to. This is the default way to sign in to macOS, and it uses a password separate from the password associated with your Apple ID, even if your Apple ID is also associated with your Mac computer.
You should also click on Sign-in options and make sure that auto-login is disabled, which means that your password is required every time your computer boots up. It may be less convenient, but it’s the only thing stopping someone from just restarting your computer to get access to it. Back in the System Preferences pane, tap Apple ID and then Password & Security to change the password for your actual Apple account, and to turn on two-factor authentication — something you should definitely do.
If you’re using a MacBook with Touch Bar and Touch ID, you’ll see the Touch ID icon in the System Preferences pane. Select this option to use your fingerprint as the way to log into your Mac, which is more secure and convenient than using a password. The same fingerprint can be used to authenticate Apple Pay payments as well.
The other option you have to sign in to macOS is to use your Apple Watch as the authentication device. Your Mac is smart enough to know if you’re actually wearing the smartwatch, and you’re within a very short distance, so it’s a very safe way to protect access to your computer (as well as being more convenient for you).
To set this up on macOS, you need to open the Apple menu and System Preferences, then choose Security, Privacy, and General. Check the box marked Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac, and once you’ve confirmed that decision with your macOS password, you should be automatically signed in when your Apple Watch and Mac are in close proximity.
