In plain English
This means putting the account into a blocked state right away. While it is locked, no one can sign in to it or use it. It is usually done as an emergency response when someone may have accessed it without permission.
In context
Here, it means an emergency action that puts the account into a locked state so sign-in and use are blocked until it is unlocked.
- Situation
- Responding to phishing, suspicious activity, fraud, and compromise alerts
- What it communicates
- offers an emergency action to restrict account access.
Meaning limits
By itself, the term does not say who can unlock the account or how long the blocked state will last.
Examples
“After noticing an unfamiliar sign-in, she locked her account, and nobody could use it again until it was unlocked.”
“She was told to lock her account immediately after reporting unfamiliar activity.”