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Automatic Login safely using screenlock - How to lock your screen at boot. -

Christer Edwards from Ubuntu-Tutorials recently posted how to enable Autologin in Ubuntu 8.04, which will also work in earlier releases of Ubuntu. A common concern from the comments to the post were of the security risks of having a machine autologin at boot and be readily accessible for anyone to use.  My solution to this was to add auto lock (start the screensaver and lock the screen) command to the session at startup.
–> Use this in combination with Christer’s post on enabling autologin. <–

1) Start by selecting System > Preferences > Sessions

2) Select +Add

3) In the command text box enter gnome-screensaver-command –lock
** Note: there are two dashes before LOCK. I need to fix this display problem in Wordpress.

4) You’ll now see that your new session has been created. Now reboot.

You will be automatically logged in and screen lock will be initiated after the login.

I started using this last year when I was trying to VNC into one of my boxes.  I did not realize that VNC did not start as a service and that I had to install a VNC server.  I did install the VNC server however I find this solution much easier and quicker.

As for security risks, this will probably suffice for most people.  Disk, file encryption, and a secure location can be added as needed.