Most of us access the Internet from different locations -- a friend's house to check email, an Internet café to check a stock quote, or the library to research a term paper. Sharing a computer is a great convenience, but you must take extra precautions to safeguard your personal information.
Here are some tips to help protect your Yahoo! account when sharing a computer.
Do not check the "Remember my ID on this computer" box.
Many sites, including Yahoo!, offer this option. When a computer "remembers" you, it usually sets a persistent cookie that allows the web site to identify you so you don't have to sign in. You'll still be signed in after you close your browsers. This is a convenient option if you are the sole user of a computer, but if you share a computer, do not check this option. Learn more.
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Never leave your computer unattended while you are signed in.
Someone could approach your computer and easily access your account information.
Always sign out completely.
If you use a public or shared computer, it's especially important to always sign out completely by clicking the "Sign Out" link when you finish using Yahoo!.
Clear your browser's cache.
Your browser's cache contains copies of the web pages you have recently visited and stores these files on your hard drive. Clearing your cache is a simple process. Learn how here.
Know the risks.
Some shared computers allow you to install software on them, making them vulnerable to virus attacks or malicious programs such as keystroke logging programs. If you have any concerns about the security of a shared computer, don't hesitate to ask the administrator about the steps they've take to protect their computers.
