Re: public APs

Here, the workstations IN the library -- and the computers used by the
librarians -- have wired connections.  The wireless AP is only for
the convenience of people who want to bring their own laptop into
the coverage area *or* (more commonly) their cell phone (to avoid
"data plan" charges as well as homeless people who don't have a
"home" in which to have wired service.

 The immovable ones are wired in, but the portables that are brought out and used when it is busy or for schools computing classes are not. They rely on the Wifi - but are chained to the desk for other reasons.

I don't think there are any "other" devices (perhaps the color printer?)
that aren't wired to dedicated drops.  But, our branch is reasonably
small (~10,000 sq ft -- most of that meeting rooms, etc.) so what's
"out" is likely all there is room for.

Bringing your own bit of kit in allows you to avoid any snoop-ware
that may be installed on the "public access" machines on the library's
wired network (there are no options to connect to the wired network
other than using a prewired machine).

 The network access password is displayed.

Yes.  Ours is posted on the OUTSIDE of the building as people often
sit out front -- esp after hours -- to use the wifi.  It is not
uncommon to see a car in the parking lot long after dark; you
KNOW what they are doing.
Hence my question re: secure transactions (hard to imagine they
have driven over *just* to use the catalog!)
I should visit some of the other places that offer wifi and
see if they are similarly proxied.  For the same sorts
of reasons the library is!
I suspect the free wifi offer is to encourage phone use (beacons
to track customer traffic as well as see what other stores they
consult!)

The question posed is whether or not "every" such AP (coffee shops,
department stores, doctor offices, etc.) has such a MitM proxy
in place, censoring transactions.  And, if not, WHY not?  (this
seems a social vulnerability)

 IDK for sure but I suspect libraries connect to the internet through some national government gateway that blocks most really dodgy sites. Their in house computer expertise is essentially nil.

The filtering is obviously out-sourced.  The license agreement sports
a Cisco logo.  It would be impractical for them to have that sort
of expertise on staff (given that they have even outsourced the
*catalog* -- how hard is THAT to maintain??)

I have a portable sat on my desk that I need to reset the forgotten/not known admin password for right now. Unable to install the latest network drivers because they don't know what the admin password was set to by someone about 5

>
I put sticky labels on each of my devices with the UID of the
"priviledged user" along with the password.  I figure if someone
has broken into my home, a password is not going to deter them
from taking what they want (I don't encrypt disk drives)
>
[FBI visited the local library branch some time ago and carted
off a workstation.  Apparently, someone had sent a threatening
note using it (so they obviously track traffic and connection
history).  Biggest privacy risk, IMHO, is using their printer
as it caches documents on an internal disk...]

 Most printers also leave a hidden signature on every document they print (in very faint yellow dots). Illuminate in pure blue light to see them.

Yes.  They also seem unable to print negotiable financial instruments.

I periodically clean the keyboards, removing the keycaps and
soaking them in soapy water.  Then, after drying, test my memory
of the keyboard layout by putting them back in place, unaided.
>

Only the very top left half trace of the vertical for the L remains.

>
My mice tend to see more wear than the keyboard.  Of course,
fewer "keys" involved there.

 The mouse buttons gradually develop a high polish. At least with modern optical ones you no longer have to remove the rubber ball the defur it!

Yeah, it was really easy to get an idea as to how clean your (physical)
desktop was, back then!  If you found yourself cleaning the mouse every
few days, you likely needed to vacuum the crumbs and assorted sh*t
off your desk!