Glossary
Shared device risk
Shared device risk is the exposure created by using an adult platform on hardware other people also reach - a family laptop, a work phone, a tablet left on the table - where the account can stay signed in and the traces stay behind after you walk away.
GlossaryPrivacyBillingSafety
Where you see it
It surfaces in ordinary places: a session that was never logged out, a suggestion appearing in the address bar, autofilled login details, an icon on the home screen, or a notification arriving while someone else is holding the device.
Why it matters
Logging out is the control that matters most here, because an open session needs no password from the next person to pick the device up. Some platforms end idle sessions themselves after a period of inactivity, but the length is set by the platform and is not something to depend on. Guest browsing and private windows cut down on traces, yet neither helps once you have signed in on a device you do not control.