I have long cautioned you to avoid public computers because of the danger of keyloggers, among other things.  These are usually programs installed on a computer that record your every keystroke, including passwords and credit card numbers. 

These are then sent to the criminals over the Internet.  Even without a keylogger, someone could still see your sensitive information from the browser cache.  You are essentially at the mercy of the owner of the public computer.

However, if you feel you absolutely must log in at a public computer, use this trick.  Suppose your password is x149john. In the password field, type the first 2 characters: x1.  Then move the mouse cursor to an empty space on the web page, and type a
few characters there, say *1g%9.

Nothing will appear, but the keylogger program will think you are continuing to type your password.  Now go back to your password field, and enter a couple more correct characters: 49j.   Back to a blank space, and type another string: z7k#.

In the password field, type ohn.  Then in a blank space, ytn0@.  At this point, the keylogger thinks your password is  x1*1g%949jz7k#ohnytn0@.  Not all these characters are permitted in some passwords, but you get the idea;  you have outsmarted
the keylogger.

This procedure may be inconvenient, but it is nothing compared to the grief and frustration you will feel if a hacker actually gets your password.  And when you get home to your own computer, be sure to change your password again!

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online.  He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century.  Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers
of protection right here:   => http://MyPCSecuritySite.com

You may include these Tips in your web sites and publications provided they remain unchanged and include the above paragraph, with the author’s name and web site.

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