How to Use Public Computers? How to safe account Information from Public Computers?

Public libraries, Internet cafes, and other customer-serving establishments have their own computers that customers may use to access the Internet. Are these computers safe for you to use?

Tales abound of public-access computers infected with viruses, spyware, and even key loggers, many deliberately planted there in order to elicit information from unsuspecting users. I recall specifically in 2004 a case where a person was arrested for installing a key logger program on a computer in a well-known copy services store in order to record users’ bank account numbers and passwords. This is technology gone awry.

Figuring out how spyware invades your privacy

Spyware is a term that applies to a wide variety of features, functions, and bits of software designed for one purpose: to monitor a user’s computing habits and send that data back to a central monitoring site. Spyware uses various methods to track the virtual movements of individuals as they explore the Internet:

Cookies: Some banner-ad companies (the source of those “banner ads” that appear on many Web sites) use these tiny globs of code to identify your individual system and record what Web sites you visit. The idea is to determine which people are seeing which banner ads. This all happens without your clicking a single ad.

ActiveX controls: Some Web sites or banner ads may attempt to download ActiveX controls into your computer.