Using internet abroad

[SS]

Not sure which NG to use for this.

I will be going abroad and using the internet, via internet cafe.
I dont intend to but maybe have to access bank or some other confidential
site.
I am concerned that I leave traces on their PC or that they have some form
of keylogger.

What should I do after I have finished using the intenet cafe before I log
off their PC.
Assuming there is something I can do that eliminates my tracks.

thanks

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Personally, I wouldn't even consider it.

: Not sure which NG to use for this.
:
: I will be going abroad and using the internet, via internet cafe.
: I dont intend to but maybe have to access bank or some other confidential
: site.
: I am concerned that I leave traces on their PC or that they have some form
: of keylogger.
:
: What should I do after I have finished using the intenet cafe before I log
: off their PC.
: Assuming there is something I can do that eliminates my tracks.
:
: thanks
:
:

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Not sure which NG to use for this.

I will be going abroad and using the internet, via internet cafe.
I dont intend to but maybe have to access bank or some other confidential
site.
I am concerned that I leave traces on their PC or that they have some form
of keylogger.

What should I do after I have finished using the intenet cafe before I log
off their PC.
Assuming there is something I can do that eliminates my tracks.

There's no way to be assured of safety. Even if you could eliminate
your tracks, you can't be sure that what you did wasn't captured by a
key logger.

My recommendation is that you *never* "access [a] bank or some other
confidential site" on any public computer. I simply would *never* do
what you are talking about except with my own laptop that I take with
me on such a trip.

 

[R. McCarty]

A number of financial institutions now have a "Single Use" password
capability. Used only once and then it becomes invalid. Also some
accounts can now have a secondary login with a device that changes
the password every 30-seconds or so. Since it constantly changes
there is little chance of the account being breached. Unfortunately the
technology to protect usually lags behind the technology to steal.

If none of these secondary protections are available I would not use
any public or fee based PC for logging into a secure account.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I would never access such sites on a public computer anywhere, SS.

 

[SS]

Thanks for the replies, I will take my laptop.
Just need to work out out how to use it for remote internet access.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for the replies, I will take my laptop.
Just need to work out out how to use it for remote internet access.

It greatly depends on where you go, but in my experience more and more
hotels are now offering their guests wireless internet
access--sometimes for a fee and sometimes free. However, I've reached
the point of booking a stay in a hotel *only* if it provides access
for me, either free or at a low charge.

I just booked a trip to Europe at the end of this year. I'll be
staying at three hotels, and each of the ones I chose has free
internet access.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Not sure which NG to use for this.

I will be going abroad and using the internet, via internet cafe.
I dont intend to but maybe have to access bank or some other confidential
site.
I am concerned that I leave traces on their PC or that they have some form
of keylogger.

What should I do after I have finished using the intenet cafe before I log
off their PC.
Assuming there is something I can do that eliminates my tracks.

thanks

If you're unlucky enough to use a PC with a keylogger, pretty much the only
think you can do is - not use it.

It is unlikely that you'd be able to do anything to block the info on that
PC after the fact.

HTH
-pk

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You're welcome, SS. Please realize that you'll be facing varied electrical
systems abroad and will need a set of adaptors. Also know that there are
ISPs and publicly available internet connections (e.g., hotels) in this
world where the security is iffy at best.

Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/computer/default.mspx

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/prevent.mspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx

 

[SS]

Ok I think my laptop is covered, I have :-
Avast & windows firewall
and use spybot & ccleaner on it
Also it will be in turkey and its the same voltage as UK so adaptor not
required although anti surge is good idea as their elec supply can be
erratic.

My comment `how to use it` I was meaning do I have to click on anything or
does it just automatically connect?
My laptop currently has a wireless connection but my son set it up so not
sure about that.

 

[Anthony Buckland]

If you're unlucky enough to use a PC with a keylogger, pretty much the
only think you can do is - not use it.

It is unlikely that you'd be able to do anything to block the info on that
PC after the fact.

HTH
-pk

I wonder just what I could safely do on the net while travelling
abroad (assuming I'm not using the computer of a friend there
who I know well and trust, or a computer in a corporation I'm
visiting and which I trust to have excellent security practices).

I could look for tourist sites, restaurants, transportation
schedules. If I find a restaurant I might make a reservation
online -- but if I'm asked for a room number, I'm advertising
that my room will be conveniently vacant at a scheduled time;
and if they want a credit card deposit, I'm entering my card
number and expiry date, a big red flag. Likewise, I wouldn't
actually book a train or plane journey. I wouldn't dream of
sending and receiving mail, or, heaven forfend, doing banking
or any other kind of business.

But I could gather various kinds of knowledge, investigate
something I'd encountered, look at places with Google
Earth, ...

 

[rogger]

You're welcome, SS. Please realize that you'll be facing varied electrical
systems abroad and will need a set of adaptors. Also know that there are
ISPs and publicly available internet connections (e.g., hotels) in this
world where the security is iffy at best.

When using public computer ensuring security is almost impossible.
There is a service at kyps that lets you log into your accounts using disposable passwords. The also have a comparison of aproaches here.

I guess its OK for email and so on, but I would refrain from doing financial transactions from an internet cafe.