Ubuntu
I've decided to use Ubuntu as the Operating System which will interact with my files. Using Ubuntu will allow me to format my hard drive in ext3 which will automatically lock out any windows users from viewing my files. The second advantage of using Ubuntu is the live cd. A live cd does not save anything to the hard drive of the shared computer. You can browse the internet or view you files without saving any history, once you shut down the computer there is no trace of your being there. Also if you use passwords, a key logger installed onto the shared computer will not be able to log your keystrokes (unless there is a hardware key logger).
Storage
I've decided to use a portable hard drive as it adds a level of security to your files, with the ability to physically move it. A portable hard drive allows you to connect to you files from multiple computers.
Ubuntu and Portable Drives
If your shared computer can boot from usb you can install Ubuntu onto the portable hard drive. This gives you the advantage of having a whole OS to yourself which others cannot access. All your files and history will be saved to you hard drive not the shared computer. This also allows you to move between shared computers and keep all your settings.
Social Engineering
The best way to protect your private files is to convince people they don't exist. For example if users know you have private files on you hard drive they will be curious to access them. First we want to place some fake files like our shared files on the drive. Second if other users do get curious and get access to your drive we want to protect the files on the drive using encryption.
Windows
If you have an older shared computer you might be stuck with windows. If you cant boot the computer from cd or usb there are some great tools you can still use. Portableapps.com allows you to use tools such as email, web and video. Unfortunately the files you open will appear in recent documents and your key strokes could be recorded.
If your bios booting options have been blocked it is likely that your web browsing is being monitored. If this is the case you will want to use a proxy to cover your internet tracks.
