How to?Reviewed: Jan 11, 2026~1 min

How to Protect Your Personal Information Online: Temporary Safe Browsing on Shared Campus Computers

Summary

⚠️Depends / use caution

When using shared campus or public library computers, it's important to keep your personal information safe during temporary browsing sessions. This guide outlines actionable steps for college students using devices with auto-clearing caches and time-limited access to minimize the risk of leaving sensitive data behind.

Safety first

Never leave your session unattended—log out if you must step away.
Stop immediately if a site asks for sensitive information unexpectedly.
Report suspicious activity or pop-ups to staff.
Do not allow browsers to save your passwords.
Do not insert unknown USB devices into shared computers.

Tools you’ll need

Internet browser (provided on public computer)
Headphones (optional, for privacy)

Materials

USB drive (if file transfers are needed)
Strong and unique passwords (memorized or stored securely elsewhere)

Step-by-step

Before starting, ensure no one can see your screen or keyboard.
Open a private/incognito browsing window.
Avoid saving passwords or autofilling forms; always select 'never' if prompted.
Download files only if necessary; immediately transfer them to your USB drive, then delete them from the Downloads folder.
Log out of all accounts and close browser windows before your session ends.
Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash if you saved or deleted any files.
Double-check that you are logged out of all services.
Restart or log off the computer (if permitted) to trigger cache-clearing features.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot delete a file from the Downloads folder, ask staff for assistance.
If unsure whether you're fully logged out, close all browser windows and restart the computer.
If passwords have been saved in error, clear browser history and saved credentials immediately.
If browsers auto-fill information, try clearing form or site data before ending your session.

Common mistakes

Forgetting to log out of email or social media accounts.
Leaving files in the Downloads or Documents folder.
Allowing browsers to remember passwords or autofill information.
Relying only on auto-clear features instead of actively closing sessions.
Assuming incognito mode hides all activity (it only prevents local history storage).

When to call a pro

If you find evidence of account compromise after your session, contact your campus IT or service provider.
If the public computer fails to clear your data after logout or restart, notify staff or campus tech support.
If suspicious software or pop-ups appear frequently, report to library or campus IT services.

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