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.

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.

Its very easy

[woolio]

have their security restrained enough so it would be difficult to get much out of it. With ports blocked all over the place, it'll take a lot of effort to get a piece of software running hidden that will send off your information.

What !?!?!

Let me introduce you to my good friend, Mr. TCP Port 80 and his cousin, Mr. TCP Port 443.