This question isn’t as easy to answer as you might think.

When you’re away from home, don’t have a laptop with you and want to check your email for whatever reason, the only two options you have to get to access the internet (without calling in a favor from a friend or family member) is to use your smartphone or use a public computer.

The safest (and most convenient) choice…

…is your smartphone (iPhone, Android phone, Nokia, Blackberry, etc.), but not because of the network it’s on. It’s because unless someone is looking directly over your shoulder, they can’t see what email address login you’re typing in or your password.

The most secure choice…

…is a public computer specifically rented at a UPS or FedEx store. Why? Because the PC is shut down, reset and cleared of all collected data each time it’s used by someone. That can’t be said for all library PCs. In addition, stations at the UPS/FedEx store are almost always wired and not wireless, adding in extra security because they can’t be “sniffed” wirelessly.

Out of all public computers available for use by regular people, the stations at UPS/FedEx stores are the most secure I know of; they’re purposely engineered that way so the store doesn’t get sued. Even if you instruct the browser to remember every password you use when logging in, all that data is wiped on next boot of the system, and it all happens automatically.

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