Email is still one of the main targets for hackers. They can use different methods to steal the password and take control of many other accounts linked to the email. Therefore, maintaining security is essential. In this article we are going to talk about the risks of opening mail outside the home , for example on a public computer in a library. We will also explain what you should do to avoid problems.
Risks of opening e-mail on other people’s computers
Whenever you open an account on the Internet on a public computer you may have certain risks. After all, it will be a computer that many users can access. Voluntarily or involuntarily, they could sneak in a virus, a keylogger or generate any problem that affects your email account. Therefore it is convenient to avoid mistakes .
Password theft
One of the risks is that they directly steal your password . This can happen by different means, as long as you use a computer that is not yours and may have been previously infected. There may be some type of malware that is in charge of spying on those who use that PC and stealing information or passwords.
They could also install a keylogger, which is basically malicious software that will record keystrokes. In this way they will steal your email password without you noticing.
You left it open by mistake
This is more of a user-level error, but it is yet another risk of opening mail on a foreign computer. You may forget to log in and an intruder breaks into your account and reads all received messages, for example. It could even register on platforms using your address and verifying the user.
You should always close the session in case you open any account on a foreign computer, but if you forget about it you can always use the option to close the mail remotely. This will no longer be the session open on that computer.
You keep the address saved
Another risk that you will have if you open your e-mail on someone else’s computer is leaving the address saved . It basically means that you enter your account, for example in Gmail, and the address will be saved, even if no one can enter your account because they do not know the password to access it.
This is a problem as they could start sending you Spam messages. They could put you on a list to flood your spam inbox and also compromise your security and privacy.
What to do to avoid problems
So, what can we do to avoid problems when using mail on a public computer? The ideal, the most optimal, is directly to avoid using the real address on a foreign PC . But of course, you may need to open the email to download a file, for example. In that case what we recommend is to use a disposable email and not your real one.
Another tip is to sign in in an incognito window. In this way you make sure that the address will not be registered, nor will the password. When you have to exit the session, you simply close the window and all the record you may have left is automatically deleted. Of course, keep in mind that this will not protect you from a keylogger or any malware.
It’s also a good idea to change your password after logging in to a public computer. This is useful to avoid problems and doubts in case there could have been some malware that has recorded your password. The objective is to protect the mail as much as possible.