New York hacker case highlights risks of using public computers

For more than a year, unbeknownst to people who used Internet terminals at Kinko’s stores in New York, Juju Jiang was recording what they typed, paying particular attention to their passwords. Jiang had secretly installed, in at least 14 Kinko’s stores, software that logs individual keystrokes. He captured more than 450 user names and passwords, using them to access and even open bank accounts online. The case, which led to a guilty plea this month after Jiang was caught, highlights the risks and dangers of using public Internet terminals at cybercafes, libraries, airports and other establishments. “Use common sense when using any public terminal,” warned Neel Mehta, research engineer at Internet Security Systems Inc. “For most day-to-day stuff like surfing the Web, you’re probably all right, but for anything sensitive you should think twice.” According to court records, Jiang was caught when he used one of the stolen passwords to access a computer with GoToMyPC software, which lets individuals remotely access their own computers from elsewhere. Full Story