Was at the library in Spokane and saw a guy leave his laptop wide open on a table

I took my kids there last Tuesday and we sat near the public computers. A guy got up to go print something and just walked off, leaving his email and everything on the screen. I waited there for like two minutes until he came back. It made me think how easy it is for someone to just glance over and grab info, or even plug in a bad USB drive. Do you guys have a quick rule you follow before stepping away from a public computer?

3 comments

3 Comments

lewis.troy1mo ago

Honestly, people get way too worried about this stuff. It's a library computer, not a bank server. What's someone gonna do, read his email about a dentist appointment? The USB drive thing is movie stuff, nobody's doing that in a Spokane library lol. Just lock the screen if you're really nervous, but most folks are just trying to print their resume.

jana1191mo ago

Movie stuff" happens in real places all the time though. You'd be surprised what a bored person with a cheap USB stick will try. It's not just about reading emails, it's about leaving something bad on there for the next person. Maybe it's rare, but telling people not to worry at all is how simple problems keep happening. Just pulling out your drive takes two seconds, why not do it?

phoenix_thompson41mo agoMost Upvoted

Saw a guy do this at a coffee shop once and I just sat there staring at his open screen like a weirdo for a solid minute because I was too awkward to say anything. @lewis.troy I get what you mean about it not being a big deal most of the time but I've literally watched someone plug a random flash drive into a library computer and walk away. Could be nothing, could be some kid's homework, but it's still sketchy. Honestly just hit Ctrl+L or Windows+L before you walk off, it takes less time than tying your shoe and saves you from being the person whose email gets sent to the whole library.