Security on Someone Else's Computer

I'm often traveling around and using laptops that don't entirely belong to me. I do business online and my passwords and other information is very important to me.

Can you recommend software that I could install on another computer or USB drive that will have me more secure on other people's computers? Of course I know not to have browsers/applications save passwords, but is there anything I can do to encrypt input information? Who knows who has malware on their computer these days.

 

Isn't it a risk to even use USB devices on an unknown computer? I know most trojans today use USB as a spreading method.

 

If your business can afford it try VMWare Workstation with Ace.

http://www.vmware.com/products/ace/features.html


Try googling portable Vbox or portable vmware player for other options. I'd test these options before relying on them in the field.
Also look into vClone form Iomega.
http://ww2.iomega-web.com/vclone/
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com...-v-Clone-introduces-portable-virtual-desktops

That way your just borrowing the hardware and running your own OS.

 

But, is this practical for someone who is "often traveling around and using laptops that don't entirely belong to me"? Seems to me it's not.

 

I'd look into some of the "portable" Linux distros, like Damn Small Linux, or Puppy Linux, or CrunchBang (there's others, but can't remember right now!...just remembered Slitaz!!) that can be kept on a USB drive, run entirely from RAM like a LiveCD, and set up for persistent storage to save data/settings. Basically, it's an entire computer system that boots from and shuts down to a USB flash drive; either with your data saved natively or, preferably, saved to a cloud site. You can also setup a VNC connection to your home system, if desired.

An added bonus is that Linux systems are typically immune to Windows viruses/malware, which is nice when using others' systems. Your situation makes you a perfect candidate for a portable Linux distro, as it solves ALL the problems you cite!

 

If you look at vClone that is exactly the type of situation to use it.