Safe Internet on Public Terminals

Using public computers is a risky endeavor, and there are certainly numerous ways that you can easily get hacked. That is especially risky if you are logging to accounts that deal with money (e.g. credit card transaction and etc), in which you can easily get into alot of trouble.

Due to that, I would like to write just a few short tips that might help keep you save if you are planning to use the Internet on Public Terminals. I'll try to keep the guidelines short and easy :P

1) Don't use public terminals when on the go!
If it isn't necessary don't use public terminals if possible. If you don't expose yourself, you won't get into trouble. However this isn't quite possible is it?

2) Access only low priority accounts
If you really need to access your accounts on public terminals, it is also a good idea to access low priority accounts. In other words, access emails that are not critical to you. Don't access your bank online from public terminals! That is certainly a really dangerous thing to do.

3) Logout and Delete all Cookies and Caches from Your Browser after Finishing Usage
This is one method that has been highly touted as a way to keep yourself especially safe when you are logging into a public termainal. Though this method can prevent most kinds of unauthorized access to your site, certain programs embedded in public computers by hackers such as keyboard loggers can easily figure your account and password easily. Due to this, there is another precaution that could help.

4) Copy and Paste Passwords Letter by Letter
Here is one under-utilized technique that can easily prevent keyboard loggers from finding your account and password. Try opening up a random website and copy letters from the webpage to fill up your account and password when you want to log into any of your account. This can prevent simple keyboard loggers from knowning your password as all it can see is a series of copy and pastes without the letters saved.

These techniques discussed here is just a simple rudimentary way to protecting yourself when using Internet on public terminals. It still can't prevent from advanced forms of hacking from the most dedicated hackers, but at least it is a quick guideline to keep yourself safe. On a short note, this doesn't cover the proces of selecting good passwords or segregating your accounts to limit damage when a hack has occured :P