Security on Public Machines?

ThePopeLayton wonders: "I am currently a university student and unfortunately don't have my own computer yet. With all the key loggers and mal-ware out there, what can I do to keep my information secure. I probably log onto 20 different machines a week and changing my password, every two weeks, on all of my online accounts seems a little too much. What can I and other public computer users do to keep our personal information secret and safe?"

Comments

Re:public machines and security: non sequitur

[Saxophonist]

If you're a university student, look around for financial assistance to get a machine.

Typically, you can get additional money added to your aid eligibility (for subsidized loans, etc.) one time for a computer purchase. Check with your financial aid department if that interests you.

Password Management

[Lord Prox]

As far as password management goes try KeePass. Free as in speech and beer, flashdrive friendly, and darn nifty.




Debt is Hell. Get out now.

livecd?

[SillyNickName4me]

I'd think the easiest solution is to get yourself a livecd and boot one of the machines from it. Here is a nice list

Re:public machines and security: non sequitur

[christopherfinke]

If you're a university student, look around for financial assistance to get a machine.

Better yet, check to see if your school's NTS (Networking/Telecom) department sells the computers that have been replaced at your university. At the U of MN, you could get a decent PC for less than $75 or an older Mac for $125.

Public Computers

[mcspoo]

Well, unless you're a conspiracy theorist... Trust your local library. Libraries are increasingly at the fore front of protecting your rights (because no one does that anymore in Dubbya's America...)

As a tech for a local library here, we set our workstations to be usable for just about any means, and all user cookies, cache files, or anything installed erase instantly upon log off or reboot. We're not as concerned about security on the computer as we are about insuring YOUR security as a user.

Don't be afraid to ask the Library about it's privacy policies, and what it does to protect your privacy. A written policy should (in most cases) be available.

On the other hand... DON'T try using a Live CD on a public computer in a library: you're liable to have an angry tech in your face ejecting you from the premises or calling the police. Live CD's on a public terminal can be interpreted as breaking and entering under most Public Access terminal usage agreements. That's another argument in itself, but it's how we'd treat live cd usage in my library.

An actual solution

[theglassishalf]

When I'm on a public terminal I always open up a notepad-like application and then type all the letters in the alphabet into it. After that, when I'm typing a password or something else sensitive, I'll copy and paste individual letters into the password field. This stops keyloggers, makes you no longer "low-hanging fruit," and should solve your problem.

-Daniel
Ownyourphone.com. Custom ringtones, cheap and easy.

Windows Live CD

[TubeSteak]

Roll your own WinXP Live CD: http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

If you poke around the various torrent sites or mIRC, you should be able to find pre-made ISOs.

Anyhow, this way you won't get any strange looks from non-techies who become suspicious of anything other than the normal Windows GUI. And you can even run as Administrator.

a live cd + USB thumbdrive and you'll have all your files & settings to go.