Technology

Think twice before using public computers: Here's why

Published

1 year ago

September 30, 2024

Think twice before using public computers: Here's why

Ever found yourself in a pinch, needing to check your email or print a document while you’re out and about? Maybe you’re traveling and need to send a quick message, or perhaps you’re at a coffee shop and want to catch up on work. Public computers in libraries, hotel lobbies or internet cafes might seem like a lifesaver in these moments. But hold up. Before you start typing away, let’s discuss why you should think twice before using these shared machines.

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Public computers may seem convenient, but there are hidden dangers. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The sneaky dangers of public computers

1) Malware mayhem

Here’s a situation you may be confronted with. You’re checking your social media on a library, cafe or hotel lobby computer, but little do you know, there’s a digital gremlin lurking in the background. Yep, malware on public computers. These nasty programs can snatch your passwords, personal messages and even financial details faster than you can say “identity theft.”

2) Privacy? What privacy?

Using a public computer is like having a conversation in a crowded room: everyone can potentially hear (or see) what you’re up to. Browsers on these machines might be set up to remember everything you do. Your search history, saved passwords and that embarrassing social media video you watched? All are potentially up for grabs by the next user.

Public computers at a library (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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3) Session hijacking

Imagine logging into your email and then grabbing a coffee while still logged in. In that brief moment, a tech-savvy criminal could hijack your active session, gaining full access to your account without needing your password. They could send emails as you, access your contacts or worse, all while you’re blissfully unaware.

4) Shoulder surfing

Public computers are often in busy areas where anyone can glance at your screen. A seemingly innocent bystander could be memorizing your passwords, credit card details or other sensitive information as you type. This low-tech but effective method of information theft is surprisingly common.

5) USB port peril

Those convenient USB ports on public computers? They might be secretly housing “USB killers,” which are devices that can fry your external drive or smartphone when plugged in. Or worse, they could be set up to automatically copy data from any device connected to them.

6) Fake login pages

Cybercriminals sometimes set up convincing fake login pages on public computers. You think you’re logging into your account, but you’re actually handing your credentials directly to a hacker. These phishing attempts can be incredibly sophisticated and hard to spot.

7) Screen capture software

Some public computers may have screen capture software installed, taking periodic screenshots of user activity. This means even if you’re careful about what you type, sensitive information displayed on the screen could still be captured and stored.

8) Compromised hardware

It’s not just the software you need to worry about. Hardware keyloggers – small devices that record every keystroke – can be physically attached to public computers without being easily noticeable. These devices can capture everything you type, from passwords to private messages.

By understanding these hidden risks, you can better protect yourself when using public computers. Remember, when it comes to shared machines, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

Public computers at a library (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Best practices on a public computer

Alright, sometimes you just gotta use a public computer. I get it. But let’s make sure you’re not leaving digital breadcrumbs for the bad guys to follow:

Go incognito: Always use private browsing mode. It’s like wearing an invisibility cloak for your internet activities.
Log out, log out, log out: Triple-check that you’ve signed out of all accounts before you walk away.
Avoid sensitive stuff: Please, oh please don’t check your bank account or shop online using public computers. Save that for your secure home setup.
USB caution: Thinking of plugging in your USB drive? Think again. It’s an easy way to catch a digital virus.
Clear your tracks: Delete your browsing history, cache and any downloaded files. Leave no trace.

People working on computers at a library (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to clear your tracks after using a public computer

Here’s how to cover your digital footprints on different browsers when using a public computer. Be sure to do this before you log out:

Chrome:

Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
Click the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window.
Tap History
Scroll down and click on Delete browsing data.
In the dialog that appears, select All time from the time range drop-down.
Check all boxes for the types of data you want to clear, such as Browsing history
Click on Delete data to complete the process

Firefox:

Click the menu button (three lines) in the top right
Choose Settings
Tap Privacy & Security
Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data (Select History, Cookies and site data and temporary cached files and pages)

Safari:

Click Safari in the top menu
Select Clear History
Choose all history from the drop-down menu
Click Clear History

Edge:

Click the three dots in the top right
Go to Settings
Tap Privacy, Search, and Services
Under Delete browsing data, click Choose what to clear
Select all options and click Clear now

What if I use my own device on public Wi-Fi?

Using your own device is definitely safer than a public computer, but hold your horses: Public Wi-Fi can still be a digital minefield. Here’s how to stay safe when you’re surfing on public networks:

1) Use a VPN: Using a VPN helps protect you against being tracked and helps you identify your potential location on the websites you visit. Many sites can read your IP address and, depending on their privacy settings, may display the city from which you are corresponding. A VPN will disguise your IP address to show an alternate location. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2) Have strong antivirus software: The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

3) Avoid sensitive transactions: Still not the best place for online banking or shopping. Save that for your secure home network.

4) Keep your software updated: Those pesky update notifications? They often include important security patches. So be sure to update your software on all your devices regularly.

5) Use two-factor authentication: 2FA is like having a second lock on your digital door.

By implementing these precautions, you can greatly minimize the risks linked to using public Wi-Fi. Always opt for your personal device with the right security measures instead of a public computer when accessing open networks. If you choose to use your own device – an option I highly recommend – consider avoiding public Wi-Fi altogether in such environments. Instead, you can utilize your iPhone or Android as a mobile hot spot for a more secure connection.

A person using their phone as a hot spot for their laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Perks at public libraries

While navigating the potential pitfalls of public computers can feel daunting, your local library offers a wealth of free digital resources that can enhance your online experience without the associated risks. From borrowing e-books and audiobooks with apps like Libby and Hoopla to accessing free movies and career advice through Kanopy and LinkedIn Learning, libraries are treasure troves of valuable services. Are you curious about the tech goodies your library offers? Check out our article on free perks from the library. You might be pleasantly surprised by what’s available.

Public computers at a library (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Kurt’s key takeaways

We’ve covered a lot of ground here, from the sneaky dangers lurking on public computers to the do’s and don’ts of using public Wi-Fi. The bottom line? Be cautious, be smart and always prioritize your digital safety. Remember, while public computers and Wi-Fi can be lifesavers in a pinch, they’re not without risks. If you absolutely must use them, follow our tips to minimize your exposure. But whenever possible, stick to your own devices and secure networks.

Have you ever faced any security issues while using public computers or Wi-Fi? If so, how did you handle the situation? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Trump administration bars former EU official and anti-disinformation and hate researchers from US

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Trump administration bars former EU official and anti-disinformation and hate researchers from US

On Tuesday, the Trump Administration followed through on a threat of retaliation targeting foreigners who are involved in content moderation. The State Department announced sanctions barring US access for former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, as well as four researchers, while issuing an intentionally chilling threat to others, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming, “The State Department stands ready and willing to expand today’s list if other foreign actors do not reverse course.”

One of the researchers the State Department says is banned and now deportable, is Imran Ahmed, who runs the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), an organization aimed at identifying and pushing back against hate speech online that Elon Musk tried and failed to censor with a lawsuit that was dismissed in early 2024. In his decision, Judge Charles Breyer wrote that X’s motivation for suing was to “punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp. — and perhaps in order to dissuade others.”

The other researchers include Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon, leaders of HateAid, a nonprofit that tried to sue X in 2023 for “failing to remove criminal antisemitic content,” as well as Clare Melford, leader of the Global Disinformation Index, which works on “fixing the systems that enable disinformation.”

The press release announcing the sanctions is titled “Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex,” the claimed target of Republicans like House Judiciary Committee leader Jim Jordan, as they’ve worked against attempts to apply fact-checking and misinformation research to social networks. Earlier this month, Reuters reported the State Department ordered US consulates to consider rejecting H-1B visa applicants involved in content moderation, and a few days ago, the Office of the US Trade Representative threatened retaliation against European tech giants like Spotify and SAP over supposedly “discriminatory” activity in regulating US tech platforms.

Technology

Android Sound Notifications help you catch key alerts

Published

11 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Android Sound Notifications help you catch key alerts

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Staying aware of your surroundings matters. That includes hearing smoke alarms, appliance beeps or a knock at the door. Still, real life gets busy. You wear headphones. You get focused. Sounds slip by. That is where Android Sound Notifications help. This built-in accessibility feature listens for key sounds and sends an alert to your screen. Think of it as a gentle tap on the shoulder when something important happens.

Although it was designed to help people who are hard of hearing, it is useful for anyone. If you work with noise-canceling headphones or often miss alerts at home, this feature can make a real difference.

Now, if you use an iPhone, here’s how Apple’s Sound Recognition can alert you to alarms and other key sounds on your device.

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Android Sound Notifications alert you when important sounds happen around you. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What Sound Notifications do on Android

Sound Notifications use your phone’s microphone to listen for specific sounds nearby. When it detects one, it sends a visual alert. You will see a pop-up, feel a vibration and may even see the camera flash.

By default, Android can detect sounds like:

Smoke alarms
Fire alarms
Sirens
Door knocks
Doorbells
Appliance beeps
A landline phone ringing
Running water
A baby crying
A dog barking

That range makes the feature practical at home or at work. Even better, you control which sounds matter to you.

Why this feature is worth using

Here is the simple truth. You cannot hear everything all the time. Distractions happen. Headphones block sound. Focus takes over. Sound Notifications fill that gap. While you stay locked into a task, your phone keeps listening. When something important happens, you still get the message. As a result, you worry less about missing alarms or visitors. You gain awareness without extra effort.

How to turn on Sound Notifications

Getting started only takes a minute. Note: We tested these steps on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra running the latest version of Android. Menu names and locations may differ slightly on other Android phones, depending on the manufacturer and software version.

Open the Settings app
Go to Accessibility
Tap Hearing enhancements
Select Sound Notifications
Turn the feature on

Turning on Sound Notifications only takes a few taps in Android’s Accessibility settings. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

When you enable Sound Notifications for the first time, Android will ask how you want to start the feature. Choose the option that works best for you:

Tap the button in the quick settings panel
Tap the Accessibility button
Press the Side and Volume Up buttons
Press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons for three seconds

After you select a shortcut, Click Ok. Then, Sound Notifications will start listening in the background.

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If you do not see the option, install the Live Transcribe & Notifications app from the Play Store. You can enable Sound Notifications from there. Once active, your phone listens for selected sounds and alerts you when it detects one.

Choose which sounds trigger alerts

Not every sound deserves your attention. Thankfully, Android lets you fine-tune alerts.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Go back to Settings
Tap Accessibility
Click Hearing enhancements
Tap Sound Notifications
Click Open Sound Notifications. This opens the actual Sound Notifications control screen.
On the Sound Notifications screen, tap Settings or the gear icon in the top corner
Tap Sound types

You will now see the full list of detectable sounds.

Toggle on the sounds you want alerts for, such as smoke alarms or doorbells
Toggle off sounds you do not want, like dog barking or appliance beeps, if they are not important to you

You can choose exactly which sounds trigger alerts, helping you avoid unnecessary interruptions. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Check the sound history log

Sound Notifications keep a log of detected sounds. This helps if you were away from your phone and want to see what happened.

You can also save sounds and name them. That makes it easier to tell the difference between your washer finishing and your microwave timer.

The log adds context, which makes alerts more helpful.

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Teach your phone custom sounds

Android does not stop at presets. You can train it to recognize sounds unique to your space.

Maybe your garage door has a distinct tone. Maybe an appliance uses a nonstandard beep. You can record it once, and your phone will listen for it going forward. To add a custom sound:

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Open Sound Notifications
Tap the gear icon
Select Custom sounds
Tap Add sound
Hit Record

Record a clear 20-second clip. The better the audio, the better detection works later.

Customize how alerts appear

By default, Sound Notifications use vibration and the camera flash. That visual cue is helpful for urgent alerts. However, not every sound needs that level of attention. You can adjust how alerts appear based on importance.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Open Sound Notifications
Open the gear icon
Tap Ways to be notified
From there, choose which alerts vibrate, flash or stay subtle

This flexibility keeps the feature working for your routine.

Your privacy stays on your phone

It is reasonable to question constant listening. Here is the key detail. Sound Notifications process audio locally on your device. Sounds never leave your phone. Nothing gets sent to Google. The only exception is if you choose to include audio with feedback. That design keeps the feature private and secure.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Android Sound Notifications quietly solve a real problem. They help you stay aware when your ears cannot. Setup is fast. Controls are flexible. Privacy stays intact. Once you turn it on, you may wonder how you lived without it.

What important sound have you missed lately that your phone could have caught for you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

How Last Samurai Standing adds kinetic action to the Battle Royale formula

Published

23 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

How Last Samurai Standing adds kinetic action to the Battle Royale formula

Last Samurai Standing begins with a familiar premise. Desperate samurai dispossessed by the restoration of the emperor enter into a deadly game for a life-changing cash prize — all for the entertainment of anonymous elites. Unlike its inspirations Battle Royale and Squid Game, however, Last Samurai Standing’s violence is chaotic, fast-paced, and kinetic, though it hides a careful choreography that makes the series a more electric proposition than its predecessors.

Viewers have Junichi Okada to thank for that. As well as starring in and producing Last Samurai Standing, he serves as the series’ action planner. Many will be familiar with the results of an action planner’s work — sometimes called an action director, elsewhere a “coordinator,” and even “choreographer” — though perhaps not what the role entails. In the case of Last Samurai Standing, it’s a role that touches on nearly every aspect of the production, from the story to the action itself.

“I was involved from the script stage, thinking about what kind of action we wanted and how we would present it in the context of this story,” Okada tells The Verge. “If the director [Michihito Fujii] said, ‘I want to shoot this kind of battle scene,’ I would then think through the content and concept, design the scene, and ultimately translate that into script pages.”

The close relationship between the writer and director extends to other departments, too. Though an action planner’s role starts with managing fight scenes and stunt performers, they also liaise with camera, wardrobe, makeup, and even editorial departments to ensure fight scenes cohere with the rest of the production.

Image: Netflix

It’s a role which might appear a natural progression for Okada, who is certified to teach Kali and Jeet Kune Do — a martial art conceived by Bruce Lee — and holds multiple black belts in jiujitsu. Though the roots of his progression into action planning can be traced back further, to 1995 when he became the youngest member of J-pop group V6.

“Dance experience connects directly to creating action,” he says. “[In both] rhythm and control of the body are extremely important.” Joining V6 at the age of 15, that experience has made Okada conscious of how he moves in relation to a camera during choreography, how he is seen within the structure of a shot, and, critical to action planning, how to navigate all of that safely from a young age.

That J-pop stardom also offered avenues into acting, initially in roles you might expect for a young pop star: comic heartthrobs and sitcom sons. But he was steadily able to broaden his output. A starring turn in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Hana followed, as did voice acting in Studio Ghibli’s Tales From Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill. A more telling departure was a starring role in 2007’s SP, in which he played a rookie in a police bodyguard unit, for which he trained for several years under shootfighting instructor Yorinaga Nakamura.

“What I care about is whether audiences feel that ‘this man really lives here as a samurai.’”

In the years since, Okada has cemented himself as one of Japan’s most recognizable actors, hopping between action starring roles in The Fable to sweeping period epics like Sekigahara. Those two genres converge in his Last Samurai Standing role of Shujiro, a former Shogunate samurai now reduced to poverty, working through his PTSD and reckoning with his bloodthirsty past in the game. These days, it’s less of a concern that the character butts up against his past idol image, he suggests. “What I care about is whether audiences feel that ‘this man really lives here as a samurai.’”

For Okada’s work on Last Samurai Standing, as both producer and action planner, that involved lacing high-octane but believable action with the respect for history and character studies of the period dramas he loves. “Rather than being 100 percent faithful to historical accuracy,” he adds, “my goal was to focus on entertainment and story, while letting the ‘DNA’ and beauty of Japanese period drama gently float up in the background.”

A focus on what he defines as “‘dō’ — movement,” pure entertainment that “never lets the audience get bored” punctuated — with “‘ma,’” the active emptiness that connects those frenetic moments. Both can be conversations, even if one uses words and another communicates dialogue through sword blows. This is most apparent when Shujiro faces his former comrade Sakura (Yasushi Fuchikami) inside a claustrophobic bank vault that serves as a charnel house for the game’s less fortunate contestants.

“The whole battle is divided into three sequences,” Okada says. The first starts with a moment of almost perfect stillness, a deep breath, before the two launch into battle. “A fight where pride and mutual respect collide,” he says, “and where the speed of the techniques reaches a level that really surprises the audience.” It’s all captured in one, zooming take with fast, tightly choreographed action reminiscent of Donnie Yen and Wu Jing in Kill Zone.

So intense is their duel that both shatter multiple swords. The next phase sees them lash out in a more desperate and brutal manner with whatever weapons they find. Finally, having fought to a weary stalemate, the fight becomes, Okada concludes, “a kind of duel where their stubbornness and will are fully exposed” as they hack at each other with shattered blades and spear fragments.

A still image from the Netflix series Last Samurai Standing.

Image: Netflix

It’s a rhythm that many fights in Last Samurai Standing follow, driven by a string of physical and emotional considerations that form the basis of an action planner’s tool kit: how and why someone fights based on who they are and their environment. Here it is two former samurai in an elegant and terrifyingly fast-paced duel. Elsewhere we see skill matched against brutality, or inexperience against expertise.

“I define a clear concept for each sequence,” Okada says, before he opens those concepts up to the broader team. From there, he might add notes, but in Last Samurai Standing, action is a collaborative affair. “We keep refining,” he says. “It’s a back-and-forth process of shaping the sequence using both the ideas the team brings and the choreography I create myself.”

There is a third factor which Okada believes is the series’ most defining. “If we get to continue the story,” he says, “I’d love to explore how much more we can lean into ‘sei’ — stillness, and bring in even more of a classical period drama feel.”

As much of a triumph of action as Last Samurai Standing is, its quietest moments are the ones that stay with you. The charged looks between Shujiro and Iroha (Kaya Kiyohara) or their shuddering fright when confronted with specters of their past. Most of all, Shujiro watching his young ward, Futaba Katsuki (Yumia Fujisaki), dance before a waterlogged torii as mist hovers. These pauses are what elevate and invigorate the breathless action above spectacle.

The pauses are also emblematic of the balance that Last Samurai Standing strikes between its period setting and pushing the boundaries of action, all to inject new excitement into the genre. “Japan is a country that values tradition and everything it has built up over time. That’s why moments where you try to update things are always difficult,” Okada says. “But right now, we’re in the middle of that transformation.”

That is an evolution that Okada hopes to support through his work, both in front of and behind the camera. If he can create avenues for new generations of talent to carry Japanese media to a broader audience and his team to achieve greater success on a global stage, “that would make me very happy,” he says. “I want to keep doing whatever I can to help make that possible.”

_{The first season of Last Samurai Standing is streaming on Netflix now, and a second season was just confirmed.}

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