Using Public Computers when You Travel

Using public computers in Internet cafes is not without risk. Some have been found to contain software that records the keystrokes you make; or that captures screen shots of the pages you visit. The information gathered in these ways can compromise your user names and passwords that you use to access email, your bank or online credit card sites. Lest you think you are only at risk in Internet cafes, a New York man was recently convicted of using these techniques at Kinko's.

The Best Defense

Many people use Internet cafes to check and send email when they are away from home. Usually this means logging into a web mail provider or your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and supplying a user ID and password. You can protect yourself by changing your Web mail password to a temporary one before you leave, and changing it back when you return. But keep in mind that, if compromised, someone could be reading your email or sending email on your behalf while you travel.

Given the risks, avoid using the Internet for banking or financial transactions from public computers. If you have to use them, then consider the steps outlined below.

What If I just Have to?

  1. Download some "spyware removal" software before you travel and use it to test any public PC you use before making financial transactions. There are two types of this software: one that you carry with you on a floppy disk; and online versions that just require that you visit a vendor's Web site. Search Google for "spyware removal software" (include the quotes) and you'll see a number of options.
  2. Erase Your Tracks
    When you use an Internet browser, it keeps records of where you went. When you finish with Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options. On the General tab, click Delete Files and Delete Cookies. Then click Clear History.

    If you're using Netscape Navigator, follow these steps.
    • Check the settings before going online. Click Edit and Preferences. Click the arrow next to Navigator and select History. On the right, find Browsing History. Change "Remember visited pages" to 0.
    • Click on the arrow next to Privacy and Security. Select Disable Cookies and Disable Cookies in Mail and Newsgroups.
    • When you finish, click Edit and Preferences. Click the arrow next to Navigator. Click Clear History and Clear Location Bar. Go to Privacy and Security on the left side and click the arrow. Select Cookies. Click Manage Stored Cookies. On the Stored Cookies tab, click Remove All Cookies.
    • Now go to Advanced, in the left-hand panel. Click the Arrow and click Cache. Click Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache.
  3. Protect your passwords
    Browsers also track passwords. Before going on the Web, if you're using Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options. On the Content tab, click AutoComplete. Clear the four boxes.
    When you finish, again click Tools > Internet Options. Go to the Content tab and click AutoComplete. Click Clear Forms and Clear Passwords.

    If you're using Netscape, click Edit and Preferences. Click the arrow next to Privacy and Security. Click Passwords. Clear the box next to Remember Passwords. When you finish browsing, click Passwords again, under Privacy and Security. Click Manage Stored Passwords. Select the Passwords Saved tab and click Remove All.
    Netscape has a feature similar to AutoComplete. It saves data entered into forms. To disable that, under Privacy and Security, click Forms. Uncheck "Save form data from Web pages when completing forms." When you finish browsing, return to the Forms page. Click Manage Stored Form Data. Click Remove All Saved Data.
    Cleaning out the browser will ensure that no one can track your surfing or grab your passwords with saved data. But a keystroke-logging program will still catch your passwords.
  4. Don't rely on encryption.
    There are a number of encryption packages on the market that can be used to encrypt e-mail. They encrypt the mail when the Send button is clicked. That's too late if a key-logging program is on the computer you are using. It will make a record of the password and message as it is being written.
  5. Use some common sense.
    Public computers may be secure. But you really have no way of being sure. You can secure your home or business computer, but you can't be certain of what has been done with a public machine. Approach these machines with care. Don't do any banking or stock trading on them if you can avoid it. Avoid credit-card transactions. Use a temporary password if you must check your e-mail.