Using public computers – it can be done

This is a kid glove zone. Public PCs should carry a public wealth warning. If you use cybercafés or shared work terminals casually, then all bets are off.

For starters, beware of the prying eyes from shoulder surfers, CCTV cameras, and if you can, outlets that resemble a shady shop in an action movie. In short, be street.

And take note: whatever the place, even the defenses of a well-administered machine may have been mistakenly compromised by the poor judgment of any of its users. Moreover, some outlets install malware with intrusive intent (as do some employers).

One typical consequence could be the PC's infection by data-logging malware or hardware and, if you haven't read it, please refer back to Chapter 1 to see that keyloggers, for example, are but one of many employed phishing and spying tools.

Given this headache, it doesn't take a genius to work out that to input anything other than anonymous information on a public PC is to run the gauntlet with...