When you are working on a computer that isn't yours, whether it is a public kiosk computer or belongs to someone you know, the risk of data theft is higher. You don't know who has been on the computer, what malicious programs may have been installed, or if the owner/service provider has taken measures to keep the computer secure.
This means you may unknowingly expose your passwords, or other information, even if you only use the computer for a few minutes to check your email.
Consider what data you may be placing at risk when using a computer that can't be trusted, and do not access confidential data from an untrusted computer.
If you aren't using your computer, then you can't possibly know how the computer is maintained, if the software is up to date, or if steps have been taken to ensure the computer is secure. Hotels, convention centers, and the like generally outsource their technical support services, so you are relying on the integrity of both the institution's staff and the company providing the service.
Malware may be running on the computer, and you also have no idea who might be watching your network traffic. When you are on a machine you don't own, a keylogger could be recording everything you type. In this situation, your password and other information could be stolen even if you are sending them via a secure (https) web session. They will be captured before they go out over the network.
All these unknowns mean computer kiosks in public places should not be trusted.
In the News: Man sentenced to 10 months in prison for hacking into hotel business kiosks and stealing credit card data
Avoid using your online credentials (NetID and password) for university business, and if possible don't access online business or banking services. If you must do either, follow these steps as soon as you have finished.
