Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

Users of Internet Kiosks Suggested Avoiding Them Whenever Possible

According to Paul Craig, security researcher and consultant, Internet kiosks have security flaws; therefore it may be unwise to work with these devices while handling usernames and passwords. Softpedia published this on November 27, 2010.

By an Internet kiosk, it's meant to be a system that's installed at universities, libraries, conference centers, airports and other public places for letting people use paid Internet when they wish to go online, however, aren't carrying a smart-phone or laptop.

Also, when these devices are installed their operating system is put under security lock so people mayn't be able to load illegitimate programs capable of impairing future users' security.

Paul Craig, while attending the New Zealand-held Kiwicon Hackers Conference over the end-week of November 2010, showed how vulnerabilities affected 5 separate well-known kiosks, having active Linux and Windows, which if abused could compromise users' security. He told how, with the vulnerabilities, he managed towards getting complete access to the computers that enabled him in running any code as also changing the security configurations that already existed on those systems.

Craig elaborated that the problem wasn't because it was basically unfeasible to construct an Internet kiosk which was fully protected, but because the nature of a normal kiosk user was very demanding. It wasn't merely sufficient that a kiosk provided the facility of receiving and sending ordinary online messages.

Users of kiosks wanted wholly-equipped, popular Web-browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox having a wide variety of add-ons on such systems. It wasn't sufficient to view a website, people as well demanded the facility of reading and downloading PDFs, seeing spreadsheets and documents, opening and watching movie files, etc. These complex demands, thus meant making the security of the systems weak.

Specialists caution that kiosks therefore serve like mediums through which cyber-criminals can widely disseminate viruses, malware and other online dangers.

Conclusively, since kiosks have gotten to be insufficiently safe owing to the complexity of users' demands, people are recommended that they shouldn't use them except when other options aren't available. Most importantly, they must avoid accessing Internet accounts like of online banking and social networks through these devices.

Related article: Users Making Opening Online Accounts To Identify Thefts

ยป SPAMfighter News - 12/9/2010

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next