Using public computers in Rome

Your biggest problem may be finding an "Internet Cafe" as they are rare these days. Or maybe you plan to use the computer at your hotel? Look for security software on the machine. Is it protected with an antivirus and malware prevention?

I carry a small laptop (<4 pounds) and outfit it with the above plus use a VPN when traveling, so I feel pretty safe. I would use a public computer only to do something like print a ticket or boarding pass.

Actually, I went to an internet café in Rome in May 2015. It was my first stop in Europe, I was not well-prepared for the trip, and the Wi-Fi in my hotel was down for the first 2 or 3 days. I don't remember exactly what I was trying to do, but it involved using a USB key I had with me. That was a no-go. Probably the café was worried about getting viruses transferred to its equipment. So don't count on being able to attach something to a computer at an internet café even if--as already noted--you are able to find one.

I don't know anything at all about digital cameras, so I can't offer a solution. I travel with a smartphone and a tablet. I just use the hotel Wi-Fi (which is usually available) when I want to go online. I have a vague recollection that my smartphone photos get transferred automatically via DropBox. Obviously, photography isn't a big part of my travels.

in case my camera is kidnapped

If you safeguard your camera (as you should with all your belongings), chances are this will not come to pass and the whole problem of using public computers will be a moot one. Realistically, you are probably more likely of leaving a camera somewhere by accident than having it stolen. Remember that people used to travel with non-digital cameras for ages and yet nothing happened (absent of carelessness).

I wouldn't want to put a USB into a public computer either, and I doubt any computer will have up-to-date software for transferring photos.

IF I found an internet café I would be very paranoid about using any computer in it. They simply don't exist anymore.

My first trip to Europe after the internet was invented I found multiple internet cafés everywhere we went. I used them too just for quick emails back home. But I have not used one since at least 2010. With my smartphone and all the file saving cloud options out there, I just don't find the need. My last trip to Europe one of the tour members needed to do something on a computer with a USB stick. We looked all over for several days in the various places we stopped for an internet café. Finally found one in a Tourist Info office. But it would not allow anything to be plugged in and it cost about €1 per minute!

Using a USB stick to store your photos sounds like the best idea (of course this means you won't be able to load them to you album until you get back home). I can think of no danger, other than theft or losing it, from doing that as long as your camera allows for it.

With the advent of nearly every bar and hotel offering free internet coupled with the use of ipads and laptops, the internet cafe is nearly gone. I seen a couple associated with money exchanges but in generally do not count on finding an internet cafe anywhere convenient. I assume your camera is using some type of an SD card, so why not carry extra SD cards. Haven't seen it recently but my son has a portable hard drive with an SD card slot. Inserts the card and automatically transfers the card contents to the hard drive. It is really handy for backing up photos if not carrying a laptop or ipad.

Thank you all for the information. I think I’m probably just going to go with purchasing some extra memory cards, and a storage case, and swapping them out daily/every other day. That way I don’t need to look for computers or worry about viruses.