Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: Securing common access computers
From: "Brewer, Alex D" <Brewerad () MONTEVALLO EDU>
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:25:35 -0500
We use a 2 different tools, one is Deep Freeze, but we also use Clean Slate by Fortress, they both work exceptionally well. Alexander Brewer * Network Specialist* SunGard Higher Education * University of Montevallo * Technology Services* Station 6520 Montevallo, AL 35115 * Tel (205) 665-8474 * Fax (205) 665-6519 * Brewerad () montevallo edu * Alex.Brewer () Sungardhe com -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Sana Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 4:47 PM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Securing common access computers Deep Freeze too for about 10 years now! But let's not forget to implement "defense in depth" strategies... Enable 802.1x if your switch supports it - this helps to prevent users from unplugging and plugging in their own machines... Physically lock the computer down so it's more difficult to be stolen Put a lock on the computer so it's more difficult to steal the hard drive Set the system to boot from hard disk only (or network if you jumped onto the whole VDI bandwagon) so users cant reboot into their favorite linux hacking distro! Set a BIOS password so that they cant go in and change the boot sequence to CD, etc. When creating the deepfreeze seed file, make sure you have the system set to reboot after hours (based on the location) so that no lingering scripts or software continues to "phone home" after hours. This creates a desktop refresh period. If your seed file contains "thaw space", create a windows scheduled task to purge this space hourly, daily/nightly so that no malicious scripts continue to live in there while we are out saving the rest of the world :) Don't think of deep freeze as an anti-virus program Just my quick two cents off the top of my head... mike.sana. Michael C. Sana MSIA, CISSP, CISM, CISA Information Security Officer Information Technology Services Division Hawai`i Pacific University 1132 Bishop St. Suite 307 Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813 Telephone: (808) 687-7034 Fax: (808) 544-1404 Email: msana () hpu edu "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of SCHALIP, MICHAEL Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 11:06 AM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Securing common access computers We use DeepFreeze, too.....Are there any other options to this software?.....or is this "the state of the art"? -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Zach Jansen Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 2:39 PM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Securing common access computers We use a program called Deepfreeze from Faronics to secure the public lab machines from configuration changes. Basically it removes any changes from a machine upon reboot, returning it to the state it was deployed in. The nice thing here is that students can do whatever they want on the machines, such as install software, change settings, and it's removed on reboot. Faronics has a similar program for kiosk type machines, though it has some additional browser lockdown features. We do have individual logins for accountability, except on kiosk machines, and have few problems with misuse. Kiosk machines are more likely to be abused since anyone can use them without a login. Deepfreeze does tend to make investigation harder, though not impossible. Hardware keyloggers are certainly a threat, though I've yet to run into one in my environment. Zach Jansen -- Zach Jansen Information Security Officer Calvin College Phone: 616.526.6776 Fax: 616.526.8550
On 3/24/2010 at 12:08 PM, in message
<EB4A14AA71CE71448233A27D6E0953B101DF98C3392E () SNHU-CCR-A snhu edu>, "Witmer, Robert" <r.witmer () SNHU EDU> wrote:
Even though we require every student to have a laptop computer, historically our organization has provided personal computers in common areas around main campus/remote campuses for students to access specialized software, print papers, access email or their student accounts, etc. I'm wondering how other organizations are securing their common access computers located in pc labs, library, etc. Specifically, from a hardware point of view, does someone inventory every device for hardware key loggers/recording devices? Do you require users to log into the machine for accountability? Do you restrict users from executing programs other than those you've loaded on the pc? Thanks, Bob Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
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Current thread:
- Re: Securing common access computers, (continued)
- Re: Securing common access computers Cal Frye (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers SCHALIP, MICHAEL (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Amber Weishaar (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Patrick Goggins (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Todd Britton (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers David Gillett (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Terence Ma (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Michael Sana (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers SCHALIP, MICHAEL (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Michael Sana (Mar 24)
- Re: Securing common access computers Brewer, Alex D (Mar 25)
- Re: Securing common access computers Witmer, Robert (Mar 25)
- Re: Securing common access computers James R. Pardonek (Mar 25)
- Re: Securing common access computers Zach Jansen (Mar 25)