Industry News Home More stories like this... RSS Feed

Public computers should not be trusted with personal details

Visiting banking websites while using public computers such as those in cyber cafes can leave internet users exposed to online threats that may lead to ID theft and even online fraud, it has been stated.

Even accessing email accounts from such computers poses the risk of having logon details stolen due to the fact that it is difficult to ascertain the online security of such machines, according to Sophos.

"You simply don't know what the other ten users who have been there that day have been installing on those computers," cautioned internet security expert Graham Cluley of Sophos.

"If you are on someone else's computer, like a hotel computer or an internet cafe computer, you shouldn't be logging into your email and things like that because you cannot be confident as to the security of that computer."

A survey conducted last year by Accenture, a management consulting and technology services firm, showed that 88 per cent of those polled felt that personal irresponsibility is what leads to ID theft and fraud.

With PC Tools Spyware Doctor you are always protected against the latest spyware. Visit www.pctools.com to upgrade your protection