Public library PCs with zero session resets is a ticking time bomb

Stopped by the central library in Austin yesterday to print a permit form. The last guy on PC 4 apparently logged into his bank, closed the browser, and walked off. JavaScript session cookies were still sitting there, auto-filled his account number when I clicked the username box. I told the front desk lady and she just shrugged, said they reset them 'overnight at some point.' That means 40 plus people a day could be picking up where the last stranger left off. Has anyone else seen this at their local branch and actually gotten them to fix it?

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harpercampbell3d ago

Did they check what browser it was? A buddy of mine had the same thing happen at our library in Round Rock. He sat down to look up job listings and the screen popped up with someone's email drafts still open. He closed it fast, but the damage was done because he saw the guy's name and a message about a medical bill. He told the staff, and they said they only force a reboot if someone complains. He ended up finding a librarian who knew a bit about computers, and she changed the settings to wipe everything after 10 minutes of no activity. Took them two weeks to do it, but it finally got fixed.

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