Safe Use of Shared Computers
Launch library · evergreen read
Using a shared or public computer, such as at a library or hotel business centre, calls for extra caution, since you cannot genuinely be certain of its security history or whether previous users have left anything behind on it. Treating every shared computer with a degree of caution is a sensible default.
Avoiding logging into sensitive accounts such as banking on a shared computer where possible, and always using a private or incognito browsing mode if you do genuinely need to log in, reduces what is retained after your session ends. This mode leaves far less behind once the browser window closes.
Logging out fully of any account accessed, rather than simply closing the browser tab, and clearing browsing history and saved passwords before leaving, prevents the next user from genuinely accessing your accounts afterward. Skipping this step, even briefly, can leave a genuinely real gap behind.
Being alert to the possibility of keystroke-logging software installed on a public computer, a rare but genuine risk, reinforces why sensitive activity is generally considerably better handled on a personal, trusted device instead. This risk is rare, but the consequences involved can be genuinely serious.