How to keep your privacy using a shared computer - 6 tips

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If you are ever going to use a shared computer, such as a library, you need to follow these tips to keep your data safe.

You can choose between a laptop, smartphone, and other devices that you have at your fingertips to access the Internet. But sometimes you'll need to use a device or PC that doesn't belong to you. This may happen at a friend's house, at the city library, or at your workplace, where your superiors require you to use computers located directly in the office.

When you access the Internet from someone else's computer, you need to take extra care to protect your personal information. So, the next time you need to use a shared computer, make sure that you follow the 6 tips below to protect yourself and your data.

1. Don't forget to log out of your personal account on various websites​

Many websites have a convenient option that allows you to stay logged in even after you close your browser. While this makes life easier when surfing the Internet, storing personal information in any browser is potentially dangerous. Of course, you should never allow sites to remember your personal data if you are using a shared computer.

Whenever you log in to a website, keep an eye out for the "Keep me signed in" field or similar. Sometimes this feature works by default, so you should make sure to uncheck this option before logging in.

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Also, don't forget to log out as soon as you finish working on the site that you need to log in to. Don't expect that closing the browser window will end your session. Some sites will terminate your session when you exit the browser, but others may not. This way, if you don't log out of your account, your session can be saved and anyone else can access your personal data.

Even if it doesn't help criminals get information about your credentials while leaving your account open for other users to access, you will always be in danger, because anyone can change the security settings of your page, send unpleasant messages to your friends, or spend the funds you have on this account.

If you accidentally allow the browser to save your credentials, you will need to clear its cookies. This will help you avoid trouble.

2. Always clean your browser history​

What actions you perform on the Internet gives outsiders the opportunity to learn a large amount of information about you. When using a shared computer, you should not leave any traces of your activity.

You must clear all data related to your activity. Don't just focus on your browser history: get rid of cookies, cache, and saved passwords. This will help you reset all the information you saved to log in to your accounts that you might have accidentally forgotten to delete. It also ensures that no one will be able to see your email when they enter its first few letters in the text box.

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You should also check the data for automatically filling in fields in the browser to make sure that it has not saved your address or other confidential data.

3. Use incognito mode​

An alternative to deleting your history (and in a simpler way) is to use incognito mode (or private page browsing). Every modern browser has this feature: in incognito mode, the browser does not save your history, cookies, or other data about browsing the Internet during your session.

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When using private mode in the browser, you don't need to clear your history when you're done, as the browser deletes all data about your session after the window is closed.

Any actions that you perform in incognito mode are not saved. However, if this doesn't help you feel safe, you can still delete cookies. Keep in mind that private browsing doesn't make you completely invisible. The network administrator can still track what actions you perform.

4. Be very careful while performing any action​

As a rule, when using a shared computer, there is always a chance that someone can use it for their own fraudulent purposes. You should be as careful as possible about your actions related to your personal accounts.

Try not to log in to any accounts that might give criminals access to your accounts, such as don't log in to your Bank account or PayPal. Avoid entering any passwords or secret words.

Keyloggers are special programs that track and record every character you type on your keyboard. They can steal your credentials to log in to your personal account. Of course, there are several ways to protect yourself from this spyware, but you probably won't have the time or administrative privileges to do so.

You can use the on-screen keyboard as an additional protection, but this will not be able to fully protect you and your data.

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5. Consider downloading an alternative OS​

Since most computers run on Windows, it is likely that a shared computer will not be an exception. It is worth saying that the Windows system is really the most popular among users. Thus, it is naturally the most vulnerable to malware. You may need to run an alternative OS when using a shared computer.

Fortunately, on any PC, you can easily boot into another operating system (for example, Linux). If you get access to the BIOS, then you can add your own Linux OS using a USB drive.

Using a personal OS on a USB stick means that you will be protected from any malware that may be running on Windows. However, there is no guarantee that the public Internet connection itself is secure. In General, using Linux on a USB stick is a safer option, but it won't protect you from all threats.

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6. Be attentive to who and what is around you​

The above tips related to working on the PC itself are really very effective, but do not forget about your environment. If you are using a shared computer, it is likely that other people will walk around you. Make sure that you do not move away from the workplace or leave it unattended. You should also pay attention to those people who can see your confidential data over their shoulder.

Make sure 100% that you know what information is contained in a particular file, on site pages, or in your personal correspondence. And only after you think twice – open it on the desktop.

Use shared computers wisely​

Using the recommendations above, you can safely (as far as possible) use a shared computer. However, remember that there is really no way to know for sure if a particular PC is secure. It may not pose a threat or, on the contrary, it may be full of spyware and a Keylogger that is active by default and tracks your every move.

In addition to the computer itself, think about how safe it is to use the public Wi-Fi that you are connecting to.
 
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