It’s okay to check your emails at a cybercafe or even in a public library so long as you know how to secure your online presence. How? Here are some fast and simple rules to live by:
*Always close the browser once you have logged out
Yes, it’s not enough to just log out of your email account. Apparently, you still have to close the browser after checking your emails or simply browsing websites. This is especially true for using free email accounts. For some email accounts, you may still see your username on display even after have logged out. Even without access to passwords, this could still compromise your email security. Just think about ingenious hacks and smart frauds that caused trouble for many innocent Net surfers.
*Delete the browser history, cache, and passwords
Especially when checking emails in a public terminal, you should delete the browser cache. Some people are actually not aware that some browsers automatically keep tabs on websites they have visited. Some even have a record of passwords and some personal information you have used upon surfing the Net. So, why let hackers use any information you’ve left behind? Here are some tips:
For Mozilla Firefox users – Click on Ctrl+Shift+Del.
For Opera users – Click on Tools and Delete Private Data
For MS Internet Explorer users – Click on Tools, go to Internet Options, choose Clear History, Delete Cookies, and Delete Files.
These easy steps will erase any trace that could be used for identity theft, credit card scams, and other types of online frauds.