Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: Other software like Google Desktop V.3
From: Theresa Semmens <theresa.semmens () NDSU EDU>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 13:29:06 -0600
Well, it's obvious we can't stop them from downloading any of the web mail clients, or from setting their mail delivery or forwarding to their yahoo or hotmail address, but we sure can tell them why it's not a good practice to do so. :-) Thanks for the help. I am willing to share the article is anyone is interested in using it. Theresa Semmens, CISA IT Security Officer North Dakota State University IACC 210C Ph: 701-231-5870 E-mail: theresa.semmens () ndsu edu "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison -----Original Message----- From: Brad Miller [mailto:bradmiller () MAIL UND NODAK EDU] Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 1:15 PM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Other software like Google Desktop V.3 Pretty much any web-based email application, such as gmail, hotmail, Yahoo, etc. stores user information on a central server. Also, Apples .mac service has almost the exact features of the Google desktop with iDisk- storing documents/email on a central server. Anyone using an Application Service Provider (ASP) pretty much would have the same concern. The concern over privacy and disclosure of sensitive information as it relates to using 3rd party service providers or web applications is not a new one - a campus notice making folks aware of the risk of using these types of services is probably warranted. To play devil's advocate, one of the arguments against Google desktop is that user's data would be subject to subpoena or that data stored on these servers would be a target for hackers- while these may be a legitimate concerns, users' data stored on a university system/server is also subject to a subpoena and a target for hackers, therefore it may follow that to protect user's privacy, we should recommend that none of these be used. ~Brad Brad Miller IT Security Officer Information Technology Systems and Services University of North Dakota (701) 777-3587 http://itsecurity.und.edu
theresa.semmens () NDSU EDU 2/15/2006 11:32:30 AM >>>
We are planning to put out a campus notice concerning Google Desktop and request that it NOT be installed and used. Can anyone share with me other names of similar software that will do the same thing? Theresa Semmens, CISA IT Security Officer North Dakota State University IACC 210C Ph: 701-231-5870 E-mail: theresa.semmens () ndsu edu "If you believe you cannot do something, it makes you incapable of doing it. But when you believe you can, you acquire the ability to do it, even if you did not have the ability in the beginning." Mahatma Gandhi
Current thread:
- Other software like Google Desktop V.3 Theresa Semmens (Feb 15)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Other software like Google Desktop V.3 Brad Miller (Feb 15)
- Re: Other software like Google Desktop V.3 Graham Toal (Feb 15)
- Re: Other software like Google Desktop V.3 Theresa Semmens (Feb 15)