Don’t Do That in Public: Using a Public Computer
October 20, 2008 by Antivirus Ware.comRemember as a child when you did something unsavory in public your mother would tell you not to do that in public? Using public computers is sometimes the only way we can access the Internet. Logging on to check e-mail and other basic functions does not have to create a risk for exposure. However, did you know that if you do not specify for many sites that you access, it is possible that your username and password can be retrieved from that computer’s history and made available for use by the next person who uses the computer?
When using a public computer, there are a few safety precautions that should always be taken:
(1) Before logging on to any site that requires your user name and password, be sure to check the settings that ask if you are using a public computer. This will prevent your information from being saved on that computer.
(2) Avoid accessing personal information sites such as bank accounts. These sites may be encrypted but public computers contain different protections that allow multiple users and your information may be compromised.
(3) Do not attempt to save any information from the computer to a disk if there is no computer antivirus in place. It is possible to download a virus which can be passed to your own computer.
(4) Be sure to close all windows, chat sessions, pop-ups, or any other programs you may have opened.
(5) Treat every public computer like a public restroom; protect yourself!
