We often need to access web services from public computers, most of which run Windows. There is always a possibilities, especially on public PCs, that they are infected with viruses and Trojans. It can compromise the accounts of the online services that I use from such terminals.

There are also the possibilities of tools like keyloggers which can log everything that you do on these terminals. Doing sensitive work like managing bank accounts or entering credit card details for web services can put you at risk.

In situations like these the best solution is some lightweight distro which can open a browser and let you finish your online business. There are so many such distros but most are full fledged distros which comes with all the bells and whistles whereas all you need is a browser. Instant WebKiosk is the closest solution I found for situations like these.

Instant WebKiosk has been specifically designed with a user's web browsing needs in mind. Based on Debian, it features the fast Chromium browser that loads up automatically at startup making the distrosuitable for web kiosks, multi-user 'web workstations' (cafès, offices, schools, hotels) and digital signage deployments.

According to the official website:

Instant WebKiosk protects your privacy even if it’s fully customizable: users can change its settings (or install “apps” from the Chrome Web Store) but, thanks to its “live” nature and design, after a reset the operating system presents itself with the default settings.

The Chromium browser comes with support for popular media formats such as Adobe Flash and PDF. It also has support for internationalization. So, most of your 'Internet' needs are well taken care of.

For Raspberry Pi lovers, there is a version of Instant WebKiosk for this small ARM PC too.

You can download Instant WebKiosk from here.

Edited by Zachary Bittner