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Eleven Things To Do To Protect Yourself When Using A Computer Away From Home (Even A Trusted Friend's Machine)

Written by: Kimberly Bain

1. 1. Don't save passwords. Whenever you log on to a website, or onto your email account or onto your instant messaging program - whenever you are asked for your password anytime - clear the option to "Remember my Password" when logging in. To be more careful, go to Internet Explorer's setting at Tools | Internet Options | Content | AutoComplete, and deselect/uncheck the "Prompt me to save passwords" setting. For Firefox, you can get to the same setting at Tools | Options | Security, and uncheck "Remember Passwords for Sites".
   
   
2. 2. Delete your browsing history. Delete all traces of what you've done while on that computer (cookies, temporary files, history, saved passwords, and web form information). In Internet Explorer, go to Tools | Internet Options | General | Browsing History | Delete | Delete All. For Firefox, go to Tools | Options | Privacy, and select "Always Clear My Private Data When I Close Firefox". Click the Settings option to erase cookies and cached passwords.
   
   
3. 3. No online banking. If you're away from home using a computer, then you never know what kind of tools are installed on it to collect and capture your information. If you need to get information on your bank account, it's best to use an ATM machine, or call the bank over the phone.
   
   
4. 4. Don't save files locally. When reading an email attachment, never save the file locally. Instead, if you need to retain a personal copy of something while you're away from home, then carry a flash drive (they're small enough to carry on your key ring) and copy it there.
   
   
5. 5. No online shopping. Don't enter any Credit Card Information when using an untrusted computer.
   
   
6. 6. Delete temporary files. When using word processing and spreadsheet programs (Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Microsoft Excel, etc.), there is a default setting to autosave documents to prevent data loss during file saving. When you're done with these documents, search the entire hard drive for the following (type exactly as below):
   
   
   1. a. *.chk,*.tmp,~*.*
      
      
7. 7. Clear the memory (pagefile). Anything that can be stored in memory (passwords, etc.) can also be stored in the pagefile. If you have access to the Local Security Policy, go to Start | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Local Security Policy | Security Options, in the right-hand pane, find Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile. Double click that to ensure it's enabled. On many public machines, you won't have access to modify the Local Security Policy. In this case, go Windows Explorer, click View | Folder Options | View, then click "Show Hidden Files And Folders". Uncheck the "Hide Protected Operating System Files" check box. Finally, find the pagefile.sys file and delete it.
   
   
8. 8. Shut down the computer. A hard reboot will clear everything you've done out of the physical memory. In best ensure all the registers are clear, just shut the computer down using the Start menu. Don't choose "Restart", choose "Shut Down". The next person can turn it on, or if you want to leave it the way you found it, then wait a few minutes after shut down, and boot it up again.
   
   
9. 9. Watch your environment. Pay attention to what's going on around you. Be aware of strangers, and watch for the security camera over your shoulder. Cover your hands when entering any passwords.
   
   
10. 10. If you don't own it, don't trust it. Ultimately, there is nothing you can do to make an untrusted computer completely secure. In these cases, it's probably best to just not do any sensitive tasks.