Security Basics mailing list archives
Re: Basic Windows Security Question
From: "Steve" <securityfocus () delahunty com>
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 08:46:00 -0500
You problem is really how to support remote employees, those teleworking or working at home at night/weekends. Do you have a citrix system in place or something similar? Cost/benefit for a small firm like yours would mean a loaner laptop would be a better idea for that employee that likes to do work from home on occasion. As others have noted, a policy should address this and other company confidential data electronic and printed. AntiVirus and AntiMalware and desktop firewall software should keep a key logger from installing itself, as noted in your scenario. I see more and more firms that disable USB due to the large security risks associated. I have heard of firms that do not allow data to be written even to floppy disk or CD. You can disable the USB ports on computers if you enforce desktop policy via Windows. I heard of an interesting new technique to really ensure that USB drives, or other USB devices, will work in the corporate environment -- pull one of the metal teeth out of the USB sockets on the computer. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew McIntosh" <amcintosh () networkadvocates com> To: <security-basics () securityfocus com> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 4:20 PM Subject: Basic Windows Security Question Hello Everybody, I am curious to see the different suggestions for this scenario: Suppose you have a small company of less than 100 employees. One of the employees likes to bring his work home on occasion. He does so using a USB thumb drive. One day he catches a [virus, worm, Trojan, spyware, anything you can think of] at home and it winds up on his thumb drive, which he in turn brings to the company network. The company certainly should have anti-virus software in place, which would fix that problem. But what if he unknowingly loads a key logging program that could capture private customer information? What do you suggest? Here is what I could think of so far: Disable USB Port - That would solve the particular problem and create other problems. For instance, substitute the thumb drive with a floppy disk or CD. For obvious reasons you don't want to disable those as well. Restrict user permissions - That could potentially prevent a program from installing itself, but it would also cause the user some grief if they need to install programs themselves, or even do simple things like changing personal settings. Security Policy - Haven't looked into this yet, but maybe there is a way to prevent the use of thumb drives and other specific devices through security policy. What do you think? Thanks! ==================== amcintosh () ntad com ==================== --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earn your MS in Information Security ONLINE Organizations worldwide are in need of highly qualified information security professionals. Norwich University is fulfilling this demand with its MS in Information Security offered online. Recognized by the NSA as an academically excellent program, NU offers you the opportunity to earn your degree without disrupting your home or work life. http://www.msia.norwich.edu/secfocus_en ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- RE: Basic Windows Security Question David Gillett (Apr 04)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers (Apr 05)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Doug . Janelle (Apr 04)
- RE: Basic Windows Security Question Herman Frederick Ebeling Jr. (Apr 04)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Steve (Apr 05)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Sebastian (Apr 06)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Danny Puckett (Apr 04)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Steve (Apr 04)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question C. Francis Pineda (Apr 05)
- RE: Basic Windows Security Question Dante Mercurio (Apr 06)
- Re: Basic Windows Security Question Barrie Dempster (Apr 12)