The risks in plain terms
You do not control a public computer, and you cannot be sure what is running on it. The realistic risks are:
- Keystroke recording. Anything you type, including passwords, could be captured.
- Accounts left signed in. The next person might open your email or documents.
- Leftover files and history. Downloads, browser history, saved form entries and autofill remain unless cleared.
- Shoulder-surfing. In a busy room, people can see your screen.
The safest approach is to minimise what you type and what you leave. A transfer that needs no sign-in, takes seconds and deletes itself fits well.
A safe routine, step by step
On your own phone or laptop
- Open this site and paste the text you need into Send text.
- Choose the shortest expiry that works. 10 minutes is typically enough.
- Turn on Delete after the first view.
- Leave the password empty unless the text is sensitive and you accept the trade-off described below.
- Press Save to clipboard and keep the 6-digit code.
On the public computer
- Open a private or incognito window before doing anything.
- Go to the site, choose Receive text and type the code.
- Copy the text straight into the document or form you need. Do not save it in a file on the computer unless you must.
- Close the private window.
- If you downloaded anything, delete it and empty the recycle bin.
Because the clip was set to delete after the first view, the text is already gone from the server once you have opened it.
Should I use a password on the clip?
A password encrypts the text in the browser, which is excellent against anyone who might later find the code. The catch on a public computer is that you have to type that password there.
- Low sensitivity (a reading list, your own essay draft): no password, short expiry, delete after first view.
- Medium sensitivity (notes you would rather not share): a password you use nowhere else, short expiry and delete after first view.
- High sensitivity (anything involving money, identity or access): do not use a public computer.
Never reuse a real account password as the clip password.
What to bring instead of logging in
- Your phone: open the clip on your phone and read from it, if all you need is to look at the text.
- A USB drive: works, but public computers may block it, and drives can carry malware in either direction.
- Printing: for a one-page document, sending it to the library printer from a private window can be simpler than copying text around.
Habits that protect you
- Do not accept “Remember this password” or “Stay signed in” prompts.
- Avoid browser extensions and toolbars that the machine offers.
- Be wary of any pop-up asking you to install something to continue.
- Do not read out codes or passwords loudly in a shared space.
- Log out of every site you did open, and then close the browser, not just the tab.
- If you notice anything odd on the computer, tell the staff.
Ways to get text onto a public computer, compared
| Method | Signing in needed | Leaves traces | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online clipboard with delete after first view | No | Browser history only | Fastest; use a private window |
| Emailing yourself | Yes, to your mailbox | Session, history, possibly cached mail | Risky if you forget to sign out |
| USB drive | No | Files on the computer | May be blocked, can carry malware |
| Cloud storage | Yes | Session, downloads | Fine for large files if you sign out properly |
| Retyping from your phone screen | No | None | Only sensible for very short text |
If something goes wrong
If you realise you left an account signed in, or typed something sensitive on the machine:
- Go to a trusted device and change the password for that account straight away.
- Sign out of all sessions from the account’s security settings, which ends any session left open on the public computer.
- Turn on two-step verification if it was not already on.
- Check recent activity in the account for anything you do not recognise.
- Tell the staff if you left a document open or downloaded files, so they can clear the machine.
When it is not appropriate
If you need to sign in to a bank, a government portal or work systems, find another way. A public computer is fine for transferring a paragraph of text. It is not a safe place for anything that gives someone access to your money or identity.
Quick checklist
- Short expiry and delete after first view.
- Private window on the public computer.
- No sign-in, no saved passwords, no stored files.
- Close the window and clear downloads.
- Keep sensitive work for your own devices.